We were lucky to catch up with Wendy L Weber recently and have shared our conversation below.

Wendy L, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

Designing jewelry has brought in many weird jewelry jobs over the years. But I have to say the weirdest thing I have made was just this past year. I had a gentleman ask me to make earrings for his daughter who worked for N.O.A.A. tagging whales. But in her free time enjoyed fishing with her dad. He presented me with 4 small beige oval shaped boney items and asked me to make earrings for her. I said sure. Then he asked me if I knew what they were…And I did not. He then told me they were the eardrums from the Red drum fish species. I guess my face looked perplexed. I never knew fish had ears! So, I guess we are never are to old to learn something new! And he was thrilled with the earrings I made.

Wendy L, 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?

Jewelry by Wendy, that explains what I have chosen to do with my life since graduating college in 1979. I am one of the fortunate people that got to do what they went to college for and have never regretted one day! For many years I sold my handcrafted sterling silver jewelry to Galleries. Now in my retirement, my goal was to open an Art Gallery. I was a single mom that raised four wonderful kids. When we vacationed I would take them into many of the galleries I sold my jewelry in and they all carried Art I couldn’t afford to purchase. I promised myself many years ago I would change that, and now I own my own Art Gallery-Jewelry store with affordable Art for all. I still design handcrafted “one of a kind jewelry” for customers and when I moved to North Carolina I designed a line of Seaglass Jewelry. This is very popular at the ocean, considering its made from glass that comes out of the ocean. I also love to make anything to do with freshwater pearls. You can see my work at www.jewelrybywendy.com

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I have always wanted a business. And I have never had any money. But I am very creative. I did a ton of craft shows and saved enough money to pay a months rent. And then I called my Dad up and proudly told him I was going into business in a month and needed four jewelry cases. I faxed him some drawings and he got started making them. They are still with me today and are the center point of my gallery. I put my entire gallery together with items from Habitat from Humanity and garage sales. All the tables are painted white so it gives a very blended appearance so all the Artwork makes the statement.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite sales I run that bring lots of customers in is my Sale at Valentines Day. Now remember I am a jewelry store as well as a gallery and carry many jewelry artists besides myself. I have my Annual Chocolate Bar Sale. I wrap red or pink paper around mini Hershey chocolate bars and on the inside of the paper I write either a discount from 10% to 30% off or a “Free Gift..” The gifts come from my artists that donate one of their pieces of art. Everyone is a winner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jewelrybywendy.com
• Instagram: www.jewelrybywendync
• Facebook: www.jewelrybywendync.com