We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tasia Munger. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tasia below.
Hi Tasia, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
When I first started making jewelry, I wanted to make myself things that would fit me. Everytime I bought things at the store it would be too big or just not right. I started making bracelets, then went on to earrings, then necklaces etc. When I saw my friends they would ask about where I got my jewelry. That’s when it all changed. I was making jewelry for all of my friends and family while still working a 9-5 job. I never took classes or went to school for it, I am completely self taught. People started to request pieces or certain colors of jewelry. That was around 2007-2008.
I knew that there was a need and a want from people around me that I could help with! Making people feel special and seeing their face after I created a piece for them was so heartwarming for me.
I started my business small and sold some jewelry at venues that my friends bands were playing concerts at. I never made money, it all went right back into the business, upgrades to tools and more supplies. I was making unique pieces that no one else would have, no one else could just go to the store and buy another one. Each piece was different than the next. I then went on to bigger vendor events and met a lot of people and made a lot of connections in the community. Fast forward to 2018, I was in a job I wasn’t enjoying. An opportunity came up to be featured in a local boutique! I quit my 9-5 to create jewelry full time and my business soared from there! Now everyone knows that if they buy jewelry from me there are very few, if any, just like it!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a very outgoing, happy person! I love to be social and meet new people. Whenever I see something I like or think it will be fun to make, I recreate it and teach myself new mediums and crafts all the time! A couple of years ago I wanted to learn how to macrame, so I bought cord and taught myself all the knots (a lot of trial and error), learned how to make art out of those knots and fell in love with it! This has been a super trendy and ongoing craft! I habe made backdrops for weddings, wall decor and even pieces with antler sheds! Recently, I taught myslef how to do some metalsmithing. I got all the tools and materials needed (which is a lot), trying to not get overwhelmed with everything that goes into it and started making rings out of sterling silver! This has been a long time dream of mine to start but I was always so intimidated by it. I met a local artist and fellow metalsmith at a local vendor event last year. She was so kind and supportive and told me to just go for it! When I am working or attending a vendor event, I love to hear stories and meet new people. Putting myself out there, meeting people, making connections and having an amazing following has gotten me to where I’m at today! All the time people bring an idea to me and want me to create or recreate something they have in mind. We put our minds together and I put my imagination to work and come up with something I think they will love! It never gets old hearing their kind words of how its more than what they hoped for. I make about 100+ pairs of earrings a week. They are devided up into the shops I am featured in around Northern Colorado. I always do a little happy dance if i see someone out in public wearing my creations! That will never get old!! I would say I am most proud of staying true to myself and making each piece by hand and making it unique. God blessed me with a creative gene and I will push my limits everyday to see how far he takes me!
Have you ever had to pivot?
I was only about 19 when I started making jewelry. I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life, to be an entrepreneur! I always told myself I would be the next Kendra Scott! The home we lived in at the time didn’t give me much room to let loose on creating things. I also had to have a job to, you know, pay the bills and be an adult. I stopped making jewelry for a few years. Got married, got a couple dogs, and had a son! I was working full time in a retail position. I loved it most days, but other days I just wanted to be my own boss and make my own schedule, especially after becoming a mom! I have always been a natural leader and loved stepping up in a group to be a leader when needed. That helped a lot when I became the team leader in the clothing and accessories department of a very well known corporate store! My husband and I bought my Mom and dad’s house when our son was about 1 year old. My mom taught me everything about crafting and making something from nothing. She also had a craft room put in the house. Now, it was all mine! When daycare was more expensive than what I was making at my full time job, we decided it would be best for me to be a stay at home mom! It was amazing to get to spend that time with Max and being able to watch him grow up from a baby to little kid. Once he was in school full time I got another full time job. I loved what I was doing but again, I just wanted to be on my own doing what I loved! Making jewelry, which I never stopped doing One day, It was time to say goodbye to that job. One of my friends I met through vendor shows told me she was moving her shop to a brick and mortar and she wanted to carry my jewelry! My life would forever be changed!
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
After I was featured in a local boutique for the first time I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life! I wanted to spread more and meet more people! I was still trying to get into every vendor event and holiday market I could! If I wasn’t in them, I was attending! I would of course carry around my business cards everywhere I went, and making posts about everything I was making. I would wear nothing except what I made. I was a waking advertisement! There was an event I went to with some of my family, that I saw a really cute pop up boutique. I have never just come out and said, I make jewelry, will you carry my stuff?! I was very nervous and started to make small talk with the owner. I put myself out there and told her what I did and asked if she ever carried local artists. She was so sweet and got my info. Later that week she was buying wholesale from me and selling my items at her pop ups! I learned that day, you have nothing to lose and a while lot to gain! I wanted to contact more people around Colorado, introduce myself and what my business has to offer. Today Stellula is featured in about 10 different small businesses! Every single one came from me stepping out of my comfort zone, introducing myself, or joining shows where business owners love what I create and want to support me. Marketing for me is being social and stepping out of your bubble to meet new people and make new friends!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stellulabytasia.com/
- Instagram: Stellula by Tasia
- Facebook: Stellula by Tasia
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Tiara Rose Photography -headshot of myself