We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsay Collins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsay below.

Hi Lindsay, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job

Each time you create an item or provide an experience for a customer, it must be cultivated with love and joy to make it magical.

I spent nearly 18 years as the sole proprietor for my small business as a hair stylist. When I first began that career, I quickly realized there was an opportunity for a more meaningful path in what I provided for my clients. Yes, I was providing a service but I had been given the chance to make it a more special interaction. When you take the time and create a space that allows for connection to grow, you’re rewarded on levels that go beyond just a job. You have the ability to reach people and enrich their lives, as well as giving yourself more purpose. I believe that is what sets Clay Bae Designs apart and I believe the people I interact with can feel that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Clay Bae Designs is a handmade jewelry and accessory small business. I make handmade pieces, mostly jewelry, for the divine feminine. When you wear a piece of my jewelry, I want it you feel the joy that lives within and know that it was made with love. My hope is that your inner Goddess, your divine feminine, is revealed, and that you feel confident and radiant.

I identify as a creative individual who as always found the need to work with my hands. I started out at age 19 as a Hair Stylist and perused that career until my second child was born. I became a stay at home mom but I found myself longing for a more creative outlet. I started working with clay and other mediums as a way to satisfy that need. I had no real clue what I was doing, however the joy I found from making art again felt special. It gave me joy. I started to grow from there with creating wearable art and small trinkets. Looking back, I’m not sure I thought twice about beginning the business. I jumped right in and Clay Bae Designs was born.

I got the idea for my brand name, Clay Bae, based on the fact that I mostly work with clay. The word Bae refers someone who loves you dearly, someone who provides joy and love. That best describes the message behind Clay Bae Designs. I want bring joy to the divine feminine through my art.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My customers are the best advertisement for growing my clientele. I believe my most effective strategy for growing my clientele is to share the joy I feel when creating my art and interacting with customers. I think most women can identify with the need to be reminded they are special and allow themselves to take a moment to celebrate themselves. As women, we are often wearing so many hats in life and it can be overwhelming. If a woman is getting herself ready for her day, reaches for a piece of jewelry I made and feels joy when she puts it on, then I am doing my job. When she goes out into the world to live her life, that joy is infectious and a ripple effect is created.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I have my own website through Shopify. I sold on Etsy for a few years but I wanted my vision for my business to come through. It is difficult to convey that vision with a standard platform such as Etsy. However, there are pros to the traffic that platform creates. Ultimately, for me, designing my own website was the right option. I am able to reach customers with my brand mission and I think the design I’ve created helps bring that message across. The biggest con of creating your own website is the cost associated with building a site.

Contact Info:

• Website: claybaedesigns.com
• Instagram: @clay_bae_designs
• Facebook: fb.me/claybaedesigns