We were lucky to catch up with Marley Chase recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marley, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, where more than enough banana breads were made, we brought home our mini-goldendoodle named Oakley (our honorary co-founder)- clay & oak began.

This small business started within the Berkshire mountains, and has recently made its way out to Eastern Massachusetts’ North Shore as of January 2022. I’ve always had an eye for art and design. As a young girl I would spend hours in the craft aisles, and create jewelry for family and friends., This small business has given me the capability to share my passions with all of you. After more than 3 years of experience in creating unique, hypoallergenic polymer clay earrings, from the bottom of my heart, I love what I do!

Marley, 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?

As a young girl, my grandparents always made sure I was busy but also entertained by my love for arts and crafts. They humored me by allowing me to spend hours in the craft store aisles, encouraging me to create anything my heart desired. Whether it was my own fashion brand, becoming the next Picasso, or selling my jewelry at their workplaces- creativity was always encouraged and supported.

After graduating college and settling into my adult life with my now-husband, I was a teacher at one of the local high schools. At the time the pandemic hit- I was out of work for what was supposed to be 2 weeks to flatten the curve, to then months without human connection. I was more anxious than I had ever been, and felt extremely isolated. My husband and I had adopted our first dog, Oakley, and I absolutely needed some additional activities to keep my mind off of what was going on in the world around us. My mom had recommended that I get back into crafting- more specifically in creating jewelry. When I was younger, I had sold my hand beaded necklaces and ID badge lanyards in both my mom and nana’s offices (both in the medical field). Where I was bustling with custom orders throughout the local hospital. But the difference between then and now- was that I wanted to work on a “hobby” that was different and what most people hadn’t dabbled in. When researching jewelry methods, polymer clay caught my attention. Yes, I had worked with clay in my high school pottery class, but was intrigued by the concept that clay could be jewelry. So I went to the craft store, spent hours of research and began making my first couple of trays of earrings..and let’s say I’m a perfectionist. And I may have told my husband that I was “awful” at this, and should just hang up the towel (again, this was only after my first couple of attempts at making jewelry). Thank god I listened to him and kept trying it out- or I would never be where I am today. I had so many earrings that I created that I decided that I should maybe go ahead and sell them.

Now after almost 4 years in business, I’ve sold thousands of pairs of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other handcrafted items- all made by polymer clay. I’ve had the honor of creating custom earrings for some of life’s biggest events- weddings, retirements, birthdays, you name it. I am so proud of the work I’ve been able to create with my hands, and the beauty that has come from it. The attention to detail is something I pride myself in, and it shows in each peace that I have the opportunity to create.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started this small business via a social media platform called Instagram- we all know it fairly well. At the time of launching this business, I created our account and friended practically everyone I knew, hoping to get them excited to what I was about to launch. With 30 pairs of earrings to sell in July of 2020- I took orders via Instagram DMs. I also only provided local pick-up and drop-off, as I knew the only way to get my pieces out there was to cut out the shipping costs. And within 2-3 days my entire inventory had sold out. Before I knew it, I was being asked when my next “drop” would be. I had found that because my earrings were one-of-a-kind, that customers knew that once that style was sold, it was gone- meaning I never re-created the design again.

Another way I grew my social media audience was collaborating with small businesses to give away products each month. To create brand exposure for being a small business, to grow my current followers and to forge connections/relationships with other businesses. As this audience began to grow, I also began searching for consignment opportunities- a great way to get into some storefronts without the overheard responsibility of the store. Plus, creating additional social media exposure!

My biggest advice to small business owners on social media is to be different with your sales tactics, allow yourself to stand out in your craft/service and to continuously build relationships with other small businesses.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Exceptional customer service has always been a great strategy for this small business. As a teenager, I worked at a shoe store where customer service, alongside with high-end products was a recipe for continuous and loyal clientele. After the years I’ve had running my own small business, I practice this same strategy I learned well over a decade ago.

Coming to the realization that yes, things happen to where you need to be accommodating in your business is a tough pill to swallow but is easily respected by customers. Making your consumers a top priority is an act that will provide great relationships within your customer base.

Contact Info:

• Website: clayoakjewelry.com
• Instagram: clay_and_oak
• Facebook: clay_and_oak

Image Credits
Merissa Conley, Illume Photography Atlantic Northeast Company Brit Perkins, Photographer Jessica Maranda, Photographer