Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Lennon.
Hi Kristen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started Five Lemons in January 2018. It came about when I had wanted some new earrings that were funky and different but everything that I came across on online at the time was more than what I wanted to pay. (Because as a mom, spending $17 on a pair of earrings feels crazy.)
So I did some research and started playing around with making my own. My coworkers loved what I was wearing and started buying them from me. The idea that this could actually be my job sparked from that. Just shy of two years from the start, I was able to quit my job of 13 years in December 2019 to do Five Lemons full time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
That first year was thrilling and a bit bumpy. Learning which metals are best to use was an eye-opener. I had to throw away three months’ worth of work because they weren’t stainless steel. And trying to balance full-time job, family life and for that first year, just online sales. The second-year was a bit harder; I added trying to do different events to showcase my work into the mix.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mainly make stainless steel studs and dangle earrings. The designs come from other small businesses that sell their artwork for this specific reason. I use vintage books or wallpaper. Recently, I’ve really gotten into making earrings out of polymer clay and Vintage pieces. I’ve had a lot of fun finding vintage cabochons in different shops all over the country. I think what sets me apart from other earring makers is the eclectic mix of what I have. I don’t mass produce the same design, so when you come to a market or an event-they are all one of’s. So as a buyer, you’re really feeling like what you’re getting is unique and different and not what everyone else is wearing.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family and friends have been huge supporters. They were my earring testers and sounding boards for ideas. They are always telling others about my work, handing out business cards and reposting my social media posts. But my biggest cheerleader has been my husband James. He is one of the Five Lemons in Five Lemons Company (My business is a play on our last name, my love of lemon themed things and our family. My husband and I, we have three children so we are the five Lennon’s/lemons) without his help I wouldn’t/couldn’t have started this crazy dream.
Pricing:
- Online stud earrings range from $6-$11 depending on if they are vintage
- Dangle online & In-person earrings range from $10-$25
- In-person market pricing the studs are $8 or 3/$20
Contact Info:
- Email: 5lemonscompany@gmail.com
- Website: Etsy.com/shop/fivelemonscompany
- Instagram: 5lemonscompany
- Twitter: 5lemonscompany
