We recently connected with Taryn Armstrong and have shared our conversation below.

Taryn , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

CAE’s Crystal’s came to be purely out of love and laughter

My nephews and myself would go out rock hounding (and we still do!) and find the coolest crystals, minerals and adventures along the way. I’ve always had an interest in rocks, crystals and honestly, just being outdoors in nature. Being able to feel the pressure of day to day life and stress melt away, when my feet hit the ground and its just me and nature.. It’s the best. It would always hit a reset in me that I needed.

I was able to gain a new love and appreciation for crystals, build my knowledge and curiosity and then with inspiration from my nephews; Cohen (C), Aiden (A) and Easton (E), CAE’s Crystals came to life!

Taryn , 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 want CanvasRebel readers and this amazing crystal community to know that I am just like them. We are special in our own ways and to never let anyone tell them differently. I feel like I grew up thinking I wasn’t ever special or that I wouldn’t be able to make something of myself (that imposter syndrome is real y’all). I’ve gone through some hard things. I’ve lost some amazing people in my life, that really helped shape who I am. I’ve been through a divorce that really shook me to my core. I’ve moved away from home, started a whole new life. only to have to move back again. I feel like I spent years of my life just doing; I wasn’t LIVING, I wasn’t believing in myself. Not in the way that I can and do now; with the help and support of my little community. I get to be that person for others now. I get to help them build themselves back up, cheer them on, or just be their escape. We’ve really become that for a lot of people and my hope is that we can just continue to grow.

My goal is to make CAE’s Crystals a full time, sustainable business, all while growing this amazing community that has grown simply out of love and a need that some of us may not have even known we needed. Our crystal community has no color, no gender, no political views. We just are. We’re us, you can come how you are and you’ll always be loved and accepted. Knowing that I was a part of creating that, it makes me heart so happy.

I have never felt so much passion for something so simple as a “rock”. Some of my friends called me crazy because when I pick up a crystal or a rock I can feel the vibration, the frequency, sometimes it feels like its telling a story and I’m the outlet. But I don’t think it is crazy, and I know I’m not alone. It may be “different” but who gets to tell us what is “different”? I knew I wasn’t alone and so it was a journey to set out and find my people so to speak.

Since opening my shop I have found the most amazing community within the Crystal industry. They’re the main reason I am here. I opened my shop because I wanted to find that community, to bring joy and happiness to others by sharing crystals and rocks with them. So, here we are!

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

Just being myself. I’m genuinely true to myself when I’m meeting with people, sharing on social media or down to when I am writing my thank you notes to my buyers. I think that being yourself is the best tool you can have sometimes. Especially now, in this world where we are trying so hard to see people for who they are, what they can be and where they are going. I read in a book once, ‘like calls to like’ and I feel like its so fitting. I want to attract an audience of just plain good people, beautiful in their own way and supportive of everyone and their individual wants and needs. I feel as though, if I can be true to myself and be this person, share that this is how I am. Then our community will continue to grow with like hearted people. Will we meet some “bad eggs” along the way? Sure. But the good will always outweigh the bad in my world.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Consistency. And by no means am I at all a social media influencer status lol. We aren’t there yet folks (heyy, like, follow and share?! lol), but we will be someday, I have faith. That being said, consistency has gotten me where I am. With all things in life, change will be the only constant. You have to go with the flow, know that some things will totally flop and that’s OK! I am always asking my audience what it is that they like, what they want to see and making sure that I am keeping their interest too. You really have to remember that growing a business isn’t always about what attracts new customers or clients, but also what keeps the ones that you already have. What got that support there in the first place and how do you keep it? How do you evolve from there? There’s always change and you just have to know how to read people and what works in that moment, because it wont always be the same thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caescrystals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caescrystals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caescrystals
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-armstrong-0995a7209/
• Other: TikTok: @caescrystals