Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Nelson.
Hi Gina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, VioletBox Jewelry started in 2016. I was very picky about the jewelry I wore and whenever I went shopping, I thought, “I could save money and possibly make that myself,” so I did. I started with little earrings that were minimal yet made a statement. I started wearing my pieces everywhere I went and one day, someone wanted to buy my jewelry right off of my ears! It still happens to this day. I finally decided in 2020 to hunker down and really dedicate myself to making handmade pieces of jewelry. It was a great stress reliever for me and I love being creative.
Now in 2021, I do pop-up shops at least once or twice a month to meet my customers and future customers. I love having the opportunity to get my work out there. The purpose behind VioletBox Jewelry is to allow an individual to express themselves even through just their accessories. I work in the medical field full time and we all have to wear the same scrubs, but I like showing off my personality without being unprofessional. During the pandemic, I figured one way to help overworked medical employees feel a little better was with just a turn of their head or a touch of their wrist. Sometimes feeling my earrings dangling on my ears gives me a boost of confidence, which we all need now and then. We are working on an app for the Apple store and currently have an app for the android store. I am excited about our growth and the journey VioletBox Jewelry is on.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. I did not have the discipline required to handle the custom orders I was receiving in 2016. I was inexperienced and hadn’t worked on a business plan. I was running on faith and “I can try”. It was an on-and-off venture. Finally, I sat down and did the research on how to become a legitimate business and really work on my inventory. It took a lot of confidence to step out of my box and talk to strangers, but I know I needed to do it.
I started doing pop-up shops that required me to talk to people, sell my pieces and offer them an experience. I struggled to get my business to pay for itself in all honesty. The first few months it was hard to get my name out there. It was hard to take my own photos or ask my husband to take my product photos. It was difficult to actually sit down and post regularly on my socials and it was also difficult for me to figure out my branding. Oh my gosh, was that difficult for me. I had to decide what shade of purple really worked for VioletBox Jewelry. There are a lot of shades of purple. Doing the research and treating my business like it was a priority helped a lot. I started the business while I was still in college so balancing my passion, my full time job, and school was a hurdle. You grow from your experiences and I have definitely grown from mine.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At VioletBox Jewelry, I make handmade jewelry. The pieces range from Earrings to necklaces to bracelets and rings. I mostly work with beads and wire at the moment, but I am looking to expand my mediums. I would say currently, I specialize in beaded bracelets. I make chakra bracelets and charm bracelets. They are my best sellers besides the custom pieces people request. I am proud of my growth in all honesty. If you look at my photos from 2020 and look at my product photos now, it is a huge difference. You can see the work put in and what I have learned. I’m proud to offer great quality jewelry at an affordable price. I think what sets me apart from others is the personal relationships I try to build with my customers. You can call me, text me, email me. You deal with one person who knows your piece’s journey start to finish. I pride myself on my work. I try to make the jewelry an experience not just an accessory. I want people to look at what they purchased for themselves or others and remember the moment fondly.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about our city is the opportunity for growth and networking. You can make friends, business partners and more here. The possibilities are endless! You can shape the life you would like to have and almost any avenue you are trying to find is available. For example, on the side, I am also a mermaid. I go by amethyst and have a koi fishtail. It is a fun hobby to have and there are a lot of people who enjoy it as well.
What I like least about our city, that’s a good question. I would say the construction. There is a ton of it and it can be confusing to navigate at times. It seems endless. Some of the things I could mention that I don’t like, I can still find. You just leave the city limits and you can find horses, cows, nature. So it’s not all bad, if you want it, you can find it. If you don’t like your situation change it! Orlando gives you those opportunities.
Pricing:
- Earrings range from $12 – $20
- Necklaces range from $15 – $30
- Rings range from $10 to $30
- Bracelets range from $12 – $40
Contact Info:
- Email: Violetbox2016@gmail.com
- Website: VioletBoxJewelry.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/VioletBoxJewelry
- Facebook: Facebook.com/VioletBoxJewelry
- Twitter: Twitter.com/VioletBoxJewelry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRBultyh7b_XiDnrllgang
Image Credits
Credit: Jeremie Nelson (photographer) for some of the photos Instagerm.com/JerFaced Facebook.com/JerFaced
