Thursday, August 16, 2012

Woman in Business profile: Divergent Designs Studio

For Liz from Divergent Designs, a unique distinct artisan jewelry business, starting a business blossomed from one simple phrase that she uses to describe her passion: "Art is my life and I live to create." Working in an art related field was a given for her. Liz originally started jewelry design and construction as a hobby during high school and went on to minor in jewelry in college because she says that she found it to be a lot of fun working with all the different types of tools and materials. After college it remained something she did in her spare time she never really thought about it being a real business until she lost her job as a graphic designer in a local print shop. "I made a pair of earrings as a gift for a friend and they urged me to pursue it as a business and I thought, why not? I'd like to work from home, on my own time schedule and be my own boss. It's my pleasure to share my creations with the world in a mutually beneficial way." Liz explained.


Liz says that she didn't have to invest a lot of money at the start for materials or tools since she had acquired a good deal of them already while it was still just a hobby. She tried to take advantage of as many free resources as she could, and the internet helped her a lot in that regard. Websites like about.com, manta, linkin, facebook, zibbet, pinterest and more were very helpful to her in the beginning.

Her jewelry business is unique because she strives to provide distinct artisan jewelry pieces born from natural materials at affordable prices. Liz believes that quality is better than quantity. Therefore, all of her items are not mass produced, but are crafted one at a time for each client. She also believes that time is valuable, so you won't have to wait long to receive your items. All items are shipped one business day after receiving cleared payment via USPS priority mail. All items are proudly made in Michigan, USA!

When asked what advice she would give other women who are interested in starting their own business, Liz suggests to find something that gives you happiness and pursue that. "I know people say that a lot, but its true. If it doesn't make you happy, you won't have the motivation to actually turn it into a business and keep up with all the day to day stuff. Your passion and your love for what you do will show in your work and your customers will respond to you positively as well." Liz said.

"Also, the internet is your friend, use it. It's full of free resources to help you promote yourself and your business. Join groups, message boards and post listings for your business." she explains. "However I strongly advise against using those free business card printing sites, especially ones that put their logo and info on the back of the card. The stock is wafer thin, the graphics are generic and the designs aren't anything that will get you noticed. Invest in a graphic designer for your logo, business cards and banner ads. This will pay off in the long run when it comes to building a professional image for your business and building trust with your customers. (I also offer these services through my graphic design website: http://divergentdesigns.com)" Be sure to check out her graphic designs services also for your own business!

Liz says that nature has inspired a lot of her work. She likes natural stones and rocks, also really likes bold colors. She says that she's always trying to find a way to incorporate nature into each piece. But her work in general is also inspired by lots of things; like the client themselves, the materials, the weather, music, ancient cultures, textures, anything really. Liz says "Life is full of inspiring moments if you're paying attention. As for the inspiration to start the business I would have to say my family and friends for their support, belief and urging me to open my own shop."

Be sure to visit Liz's websites to see the types of jewelry she creates. They make great gifts for family and friends! While the items in the shop currently focus on feminine themed jewelry, she plans to expand the inventory to include more masculine items such as cuff links and tie clips.  

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