We were lucky to catch up with Leslie McBride recently and have shared our conversation below.

Leslie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I would have absolutely started my business earlier had I known just how fulfilling my business was going to be. My husband and I were living in a tiny apartment in Savannah, Ga. We never saw each other due to conflicting schedules and I just didn’t have the space to create. I was waiting tables and putting myself through the dental assisting program at Savannah Tech. Unfortunately due to health reasons I had to stop but I never ever thought I would be living in Charleston, SC., happy and running a small successful business. NEVER SAY NEVER….

Leslie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I had been a collector…ok maybe hoarder for some time and when we moved to Charleston and had a bigger place, I realized just how much I loved to hunt for vintage treasures. Once I began collecting and styling the items I had collected over the years, I thought why not sell them? This led to collecting oysters and then having the bright idea along with everyone else, “What if I paint them in gold?” I went on to fabricate oyster trinket dishes as well as earrings.

They were the perfect unique Christmas gift. That venture started my Etsy shop and then a year later I started on social media. Since then, it’s been nothing short of a daily learning experience. I totally started from the ground up and now I’m so grateful to be doing pop up markets as well as consigning and sourcing pieces for my clients.

All in all, it’s a total labor of love. I’ve learned and continue to learn every day. I’ve met some amazing people in this crazy field of study and I’m grateful to still get inspired to do it everyday.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

It was very organic and I was so afraid to put myself and my work out there. The opinions, the judgment that can come from all that. My best advice is to stay consistent, stay connected. I wouldn’t have a business without social media and I couldn’t imagine another way I could have started my business. I’ve been inspired by so many people along the way and I couldn’t imagine my business without them in it.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Again, this is where I have to touch on social media, like Instagram. It took me a long while and sometimes I felt so silly but just trust yourself and your dream and it will happen. You have to take that leap. If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/lowcountryeclectic
• Instagram: lowcountry_eclectic