Stir Studios…indie wares
today we conclude our interview with Leeann from Stir Studios…
How do you set yourself apart from the next designer and is that important?
I think it’s extremely important to set yourself apart from other designers. My bestsellers are always pieces that customers have never seen before. While I do try and stay up on the trends and the Pantone reports for each season, I really try to make my work as original as possible. This can be difficult since jewelry making is an art that has been around for thousands of years and there are honestly only a few ways to put a necklace together. I just try and focus on what I am good at doing and just kind of let my ideas flow. Sometimes I make something fantastic and sometimes I make something that has to be taken apart as soon as it’s finished. I think experimenting is half the fun of crafting.
What would be your best advice to that new designer just getting started?
My best advice would be to get involved with other designers. Luckily, I fell in with a group of eight other local designers, and we started our own collective called The Handmaidens. We sell at shows together, have craft nights together at a local diner, and we put on a large independent show twice a year called The Handmade Market. We have designers come from all over the country to sell their wares here in Raleigh, North Carolina. Getting involved with these other women was hands down the smartest thing that I did for my business. We help each other with everything you can think of such as marketing, pricing, suppliers, and feedback on our new lines. It’s also amazing how much we push each other to get better at our crafts. There are tons of craft groups all around the country now, thanks to the branches of the Craft Mafia; but there are also great communities that you can join on-line as well. I believe that having that kind of support and answers to questions from other designers was crucial for me in the beginning of my business.
