Pinterest and Entrepreneurs

A recently new social networking site has come out: Pinterest. Why do you think this can be useful for a jewelry designer like me, to inmerse in another social platform?

Let me share with you some tips & some of the research I did before inmersing into Pinterest.

Pinterest is basically a virtual cork board or scrapbook where you can "pin" and tag images and websites that interest you. Not only that, but you can also post your own images, too. Just like any social networking site you can share content, follow users, tag and make comments. Currently, I have 13 boards with many pictures pinned. Here are a few:

Some people may think an image sharing website is fun, but it can also be helpful in the professional and entrepreneurial world. According to an article from BlueGlass, many use Pinterest to help guide their buying decisions. Now what does this have to do with entrepreneurs?

If people are looking for buying advice from this social networking site, entrepreneurs can sign up and have their brand get seen easier. It will especially be helpful for those businesses, like mine, who do not have the money or resources to compete against big name brands. Pinterest can help people find other products that are not the same brands advertised day in and day out. Although pinterest works by invitation only, you can request an invitation from the website :)

Another beneficial aspect of Pinterest is having a "pin it" button on your website. For instance, if I went to Robert Lee Morris Jewelry and really liked her content, I could click the "pin it" button and pin her website to my Pinterest for all of my followers to see. Not only would it show her website picture, but the "pin it" button would also provide a link to go directly to her website. 

Encouraging your followers to share your content can be helpful, too. From an article written by AJ Kumar on entrepreneur.com, How to Get Your Content Shared More on Pinterest, you can't assume that people will automatically share your content. They may need encouragement to go above and beyond to share with family, friends, employees and coworkers.

For a young jewelry entrepreneur like me, signing up for any and every social networking site is important because getting your brand name out their is what needs to be done as soon as possible. The more people that you can connect with, the more people talk about your product. Pinterest helps you by visually displaying your products on a website that people go to for occasional buying decisions. As Evelyn Brooks Designs, I am constantly trying to make more people aware of my brand and learn about my new jewelry designs as well. Because of today's technology and smartphones, it is much easier to connect with others and build professional relationships.

How EWINT became my family…

This one my most special write up in my history as a jewelry blogger entrepreneur.

In late November of 2005 I met a wonderful lady Marga Fripp. Who became one of my 1st mentors in helping me built the confidence I needed to pursue my career as a jewelry designer. I have heard about Empowered Women International from one of my 1st clients who was already a supporter or Empowered Women International. After my 1st meeting with Marga, she allowed me space to exhibit my 1st jewelry designs at their 1st front door retail space in their Alexandria office/shop then called A WOMAN STORY SHOP.

Then during Summer of 2006; I signed up for the Artist Entrepreneurship Training Program given by Marga Fripp and her team. During this training we would learn about marketing, how to present ourselves, how to speak in front of potential buyers and mainly how to built a professional portfolio. We were the 2nd group of artist entrepreneurs taking this training.

There I met the most amazing group of artists. Artists entrepreneurs coming from different countries from Afghanistan to Argentina, Peru, Hungary, Romania, United States, etc... And we all had something in common, a bright an creative mind & soul that needed guidance. Most of us with no relatives near us. With lots of dreams under our arms to fullfill. During our1st class we shared our personal story and each story brought tears to most of us.

I can still remember a refugee from Afghanistan who did beautiful portraits and created beautiful paintings with a very unique pattern, who looked like the new version of Picasso. Briefly I’ll tell you her story. She would teach art to women and the art center for  women was taken all of a sudden and shut down because they could not do that, otherwise their life was in danger and they could get killed. I could not believe what I was listening. She was lucky to arrange her paperwork and come to the States as a refugee.I admire the endurance of this lady named Fatana.

EWINT artists were invited to speak & exhibit at Strathmore Mansion in Rockville – MD (picture above & below)

I also met the person I call my American sister, her name is Cheryl. She is an illustrator who created beautiful elder fairies and each of them with a story. I have also never heard of anything like this. We became so close, we would talk about work and personal issues. She would come to my studio and give me feedback on my new designs. She was great about it, too. Because her dad used to own a jewelry business in Providence, RI. So she understood the business  very well because her father operated a family business for many years. And I had no clue BACK THEN, about how things work in the States in the jewelry business. Since then I have learned A LOT and I keep learning

She met a wonderful man, married and moved to Montana. Now she travels the world while continues working on a big project about the elder fairies. Can’t tell you much about it but I know it is going to be BIG. Things may take time but when you are focus and passionate about what you want in life, things will come your way.

Me and Cheryl remain friends and even though now she is Montana, we keep in touch.

She called me, yesterday, telling me she was in town for just few days. So I cancelled everything else I had for the rest of the afternoon so I could be with her. She is my older sister like she says and that is what you do for family. I also needed some quality time with my girlfriend. My American sister I met during the Artist Entrepreneurship Program.

The relationship we built with our classmates was incredible. Among immigrants I think we feel related cause in many ways we face similar experiences. We are far away from home, we miss our food, we miss our friends, we miss our family. Simply our culture. In the United States, we don’t even kiss each other to say hello…instead you shake hands. In some countries even men kiss each other, here in the States, it will probably be taken as a sex thread. Anyways…I am not going to talk about the many differences between countries.

This post is special because no matter how much time has passed and even though we have a busy live. I will always feel I can come back home and visit EWINT headquarters in Alexandria. They truly became my family. I don’t get to see Marga or the other girls as often as I would like to, but at least in special occasions we get together.

I can still remember also when Marga Fripp came to visit me when I gave birth. She knows my family lives in Peru, my in-laws in St. Louis (although they were around briefly when Tyler was born) she knew I needed support around myself, especially to make sure I would continue pursuing my dreams in my new home country and that I would continue with my jewelry business

Technorati Tags: marga fripp,ewint,empowered women international,evelyn brooks designs,cheryl gordon,entrepreneurship program,business entrepreneurship program

On May 5th Evelyn Brooks Designs @ The Embassy of Peru

What an honor! In late January 2012 I received and invitation from the Embassy of Peru to be part of Passport DC 2012

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To be honest I have been waiting for this moment but as I always think when the time is right, things will come to you (of course sometime you have to knock doors, too). So I thought this MUST BE our time! To be considered one of the most notable Peruvian artists living in Washington DC and having the opportunity to share my jewelry designs with thousands of people at the Embassy of Peru during Passport DC, means a lot to Evelyn Brooks Designs. Perhaps I could also say that hard work is giving its rewards…FINALLY…huh?!

Who is Evelyn Brooks? I consider myself a young jewelry Hispanic American mompreneur who came to this country nine years ago to marry a wonderful man, with many dreams under my arm to fullfill. I also wanted to prove my parents that YES you could be a professional mompreneur, having a husband and child to take care of BUT if you balance your live style; YES YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

Just as many other immigrants who are business owners and who want to see their business growing especially in a different country  than the one they were born,  it isn’t easy. Being invited to participate in events like Passport DC is something to feel proud of.  Thanks to the Embassy of Peru for considering my work to be part of Passport DC 2012 and for their continue support!

Evelyn Brooks Designs will showcase her Nasca Collection inspired in the Nasca Lines and will continue promoting the famous Peruvian huayruros through this new jewelry collection. Don’t know what huayruros are? Huayruro seeds come from the rainforest of Peru. It is believed that huayruros bring good luck, positive energy and prosperity to whomever wears them. The Nazca Jewelry Collection is available in sterling silver and 18kt vermeil gold. Prices range from $38- $750

 

Want to know more about the Nasca Lines? Love Peruvian history?  And have the time and money to travel. Explore my beautiful country Peru, DON’T WAIT!  Did you know?…The famous city of Macchu Picchu located in Cuzco, is considered one of the 1000 best places to visit before you die.

Stop by my booth at the Embassy of Peru on May 5th and get a complimentary good luck charm!

Sincerely,

Hasta la proxima

Evelyn Brooks

Nanny swap? a new option for mompreneurs…

You’ve hear of the show wife swap, right?  Well..I am going to throw an idea out there for a new reality show …how about The Nanny Swap. What is it? Some of you are probably doing it already, but I am totally new to this, and I like to give some ideas to the mompreneurs out there who don’t know what else to do to continue working on a budget finding time for working while spending time with your kids.

One of my good friends told me why don’t you come one morning to my house and babysit my two kids while you also bring your son, so they can play while me and you work, of course one adult had to be in charge at a time. By doing so I could work two hours then we swap and my friend would work two hours…not bad huh!?  Have you thought about it? Sometimes we also think is the nanny really doing her job? Are the kids34 watching TV all the time? Me and my friend both want the best for our kids, just as most mom’s out there. We will have them interacting more, socializing, reading, YES watching a bit of TV but most importantly  running a lot to get them tired, so they get their 2 hrs. nap in the afternoon and we could continue working 

This is my little one getting involve in my daily routine as a mompreneur

Our 1st 30 minutes, we talked about how our businesses are doing, how we are working our schedule to find time to work and focus on our different projects (all these while the kids were already running around). After that I got into her home office and worked for two hours, during that time my friend watched the kids, gave them snacks and so on. Then I came out and it was my nanny time. I played with the three of them and started to make lunch for all of us. Without even noticing it, it was almost time to go home and my little one looked like he needed a nap, too.

I found this to be very motivating and really exciting. I truly look forward to do our nanny swap day. We saved money on nanny services, we also had some quality girlfriend catch up and spend time with our kids. What a great day!

 

Photo courtesy www.business-opportunity.biz & www.positioningblogging.com

Do you have any suggestions? What are you doing to continue your mompreneur path? If there are any ideas you would like to share with me through my blog. Please do so…

Let your kid be involve in your mompreneur path, sometimes be flexible and make it a mommy and me playdate in your studio. You know all they want is just be with mommy

Hasta la proxima!

Evelyn Brooks

JEWELRY DESIGNER TRAVELING ON A BUDGET

Dear friends, I am writing this email from the Boston Gift Show. I wish I could have read suggestions on how to travel as a jewelry entrepreneur on a budget; especially when you are doing those so called wholesale shows.

We are ALL living though times in is economy and we certainly have to watch every penny we spend, right?. And especially if you are doing a show far away from home. In this case I had to consider not only the booth fee, electricity, gas & parking but I also had to include airfare, hotel & meals and transportation.

So I search my hotel on Priceline and I also made a few calls/emails to my friend who work at different hotels to see if I could get a friends & family discount but their rates were higher than the one I found. In this opportunity the Boston Gift Show had special hotel rates if you booked directly with them, so I found a fairly decent hotel 6 miles away from the Convention Center for about $80, pretty descent huh?!

Don’t forget that when you travel you need to arrange pick up/drop off from the airport, too. Thank GOD I have SO MANY friends & family spread all over so luckily there is always someone living wherever I go. Although in the beginning I was thinking I don’t have anybody in Boston and it ended up that one of my good friends from high school lives only 15 minutes from the airport. We probably haven’t seen each other since high school but once we saw us it was like the time never passed and we reconnected very easily.

She picked me up from the airport and took me back to the airport. That saved me like $40  each way. The Best Western Adams INN in Quincy Massachusetts where I stayed, offered complimentary breakfast and complimentary shuttle service to and from the Boston Convention Center. Right there I saved $35 cab ride for each they of the show, and it was a four day show. So you can imagine how much I would have spend in just cab rides.

Anyways, another advice if you are trying to eat at the convention center – NEVER DO IT – How can you save money and help in this economy charging $3.50 for a bottle of coke or $3.25 for a cup of tea or coffee!!!? I think that is outrageous. The 1st day of the show I had to pay but then I saw my neighbors who brought chips, nuts, crackers, cookies, sandwiches for launch so they did not have to buy lunch. So lesson learned next time I plan on coming ready, right?

I look forward to come back to The Boston Gift Show in 2013

Hasta la proxima!

Evelyn Brooks

Technorati Tags: Evelyn Brooks Designs,Boston Gift Show,Best Western,Urban Expositions,Boston Convention Center

 

 

 

 

A PROFESSIONAL JEWELRY PHOTOSHOOT…

When I first started to create my jewelry pieces, I was taking pictures of my own jewelry pictures (who doesn’t start like that, huh!?), but I am not a professional photographer. I’ve tried for so many times to do my own pictures and I took many pictures but could never give them the right white background or the right black grayish background plus you could see the shadows, light reflection etc., etc.….I took quick photography classes, did some internet research on how to photograph your jewelry and still was not getting that perfect professionally looking picture.

In the beginning…I couldn’t afford to pay for a professional photo session of my jewelry pieces. So I post and add on the famous craigslist and got me freelance photographers that were looking to gain expertise in product photography and who wanted to add experience to their resumes.

These were my 1st pictures taken by me a not professional jewelry photographer…not so good right?

Then it was time to launch my men’s Moschik catalog and I was not going to invest so much time in creating a whole new jewelry collection with poor pictures and poor presentation. Two of the most amazing relationships were born. My catalog designer Alvaro Luna & my professional photographer Rui Barros. I personally find that there has to be good energy,  positive attitude and willingness to work with your business partners (that is how I call them).  Just as me they want the final product to speak highly of their work. I believe I can sense energy VERY well and I was not afraid when my dear friend Alvaro was taking the responsibility to re-design my image/logo/designing my catalog everything till he handed me my Moschik Men’s catalog.

I also knew it was going to take some time. It was not going to happen in a couple days…although I wanted see the final product ASAP.

One of the first things Alvaro asked me was you need a professional head shot…I was thinking OMG another expense to the creation of my men’s catalog. BUT I can still remember what he said to me: I refuse to create the catalog with a picture that you have cropped from some wedding and put it in this professional jewelry catalog. He said go to Rui Barros Photography. He will do your headshot.

This was my 1st professional headshots as a jewelry designer

Then our photo-shoot for the catalog took us a whole day at The Park @ 14th in Washington DC, models came on time, photographer and Alvaro took care of styling models & the photo-shoot. We ended exhausted but with amazing photos to be used in our Moschik Men’s Catalog.

What to order my catalog? (click here)

I have been working with Rui for quite sometime now. I’d say at least five years. We have shot my jewelry pieces at his studio in Arlington, VA. It usually takes us a whole day. Every time I come in he has some new tool to shoot faster and have higher quality pictures, better lighting or the latest new gadget in professional photography. Another important thing to mention is that you have to communicate well how you like your product to look like, if you want to highlight some areas more than others, etc., etc.…My advise as a jewelry entrepreneur is do some research  before you call someone to do your professional product photo-shoot. I have done so much research about it that now I feel confident to share my ins and outs about shooting jewelry pieces.

Rui is so dedicated to what he does, that I totally trust his work and I know no matter what my pieces are going to have a professional look. The look I need as a professional jewelry designer.

My Nazca Jewelry collection has recently being photo-shoot again by Rui, take a sneak pick at it

 

If you are trying to take your jewelry business to the next level and want to bring it to high end boutiques, museums, fine art fairs and so on…don’t waist your time trying to make it yourself. It is more beneficial to invest your time in what you know best. In my case I rather use my time designing more beautiful jewelry pieces. In Spanish there is a phrase that says: AL CESAR LO QUE ES DEL CESAR = GIVE UNTO CESAR’S WHAT’S CESAR

Hasta pronto

Evelyn Brooks

Technorati Tags: Rui Barros Photography,Alvaro Luna,Evelyn Brooks Designs,Jewelry Photography,Jewelry Business Photography,Photograph Jewelry,Nazca lines,Nazca Jewelry

LIVING AS A JEWELRY ENTREPRENEUR IS UNCERTAIN…

How great it is when you are at an art show and a couple people come into your booth, wondering a lot about your jewelry, asking you questions about how you make your pieces, why the red & black?, Are you local?….And then the best question of ALL. Do you do wholesale? DING DING…OF COURSE…

That is how a met business partners Edward Hart & Eric Nelson owners of Artfully Gifts & Chocolate  at the Alexandria Fine Arts & Wine Festival on October of 2011. We scheduled time to meet so we could talk about possibly placing an order to carry Evelyn Brooks Designs at their Alexandria location.

When I walked into the shop, I immediately fell in love with it and the variety of gifts they have to offer, BUT their hot coco’s with famous hollywood names is an ingenious idea. So if you are in Alexandria, stop by and see it for  yourself. If you feel in a mood of ice cream you can find it here, too

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I went there the other day and saw a mom with two kids trying to get some gifts…and as a mom I admired what she did…she got a cup of ice cream for each of her kids, sat them on the tables and she peacefully got her gifts…I was thinking inside myself  WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

Getting into a new boutique or gallery is always a uncertain. We did not know if my jewelry designs were going to work or not, but Edward & Eric saw my work as a great fit for their gift shop. And indeed I brought my 1st pieces by the end of November, they quickly sold and have been selling non-stop ever since.

Later in January we talked about launching my Nazca Jewelry Collection at their Alexandria location just in time to celebrate Valentine’s, too.

This exclusive line of jewelry is an extension of my eco-chic collection and it is inspired by the Nazca lines, which represented a celestial Inca calendar used for rituals related to astronomy, the Spring 2012 Nazca Collection evokes mystery and mythology. Legend has it that the Nazca lines were built by an ancient Peruvian civilization called Nazca, located in the south of Peru.

The collection is hand-made with natural seeds of red, black, and hand-texturized sheets of silver. This new collection will feature necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for women. Prices range from $68 - $950.  

Now if you have the opportunity and travel to Peru take at least to days to visit Ica and go to the town of Nazca. Where you can take off on a little airplane and fly over The Famous Nazca Lines. Once you are there, you will understand more closely my jewelry collection inspired by the Nazca Lines.

Hasta la proxima
Evelyn

Technorati Tags: jewelry traveler,nazca lines,jewelry entrepreneur,evelyn brooks designs,artfully gifts and chocolates,sterling silver jewelry,red jewelry,ecofriendlyn jewelry,artistic jewelry,mompreneur,jewelry marketig,jewelry trends

More Valentine’s Gift Ideas…

 

 

My angels are a great gift when you are thinking about giving something special & affordable to  someone special or simple to say Thank YOU for our friendship 

Want to go for something classy? These sets passion red huayruro pieces are favorites among my clientele….The knots in between each huayruro bead and the silver heart in the middle of the bracelets makes an statement.

What to go romantic & exotic. This is one of my new assymetric onyx heart necklaces hand-wired with huayruro seeds around the heart. Length 18”

If you like to order it…email me @ evelyn@ebrookdesigns.com

Want to buy more pieces or add to your excisting collection order

The Evelyn Brooks Jewelry Catalog (click here)

Hope this helps you find and give you ideas for the PERFECT Valentine’s Day!

Hasta la proxima!

Technorati Tags: valentine's day,valentine's gifts,evelyn brooks designs,jewelry ideas,jewelry entrepreneur,angels jewelry,heart jewelry,red heart jewelry

Caution, redesign underway!

I was reading Entrepreneur Magazine (as you guys may already know I read this magazine FAITHFULLY) and it reassured me that redesign is not a word I should fear when it comes to my website. Many people fear change, but often times change can be beneficial. That being said, the Evelyn Brooks Designs website is undergoing redesign very soon  to make it more interactive for all you jewelry shoppers out there .

This is how I plan to undergo redesigning Evelyn Brooks Designs website:

These are my advices to consider when re-designing your new jewelry website:

1. Clean it out! Only include what is relevant to the site.

2. So easy a monkey can do it.  Make sure that your website is easy to navigate through and buy from. You must make it as simple as possible for customers.

3.  Engagement. Plan to engage the customers more. How, you may ask? Some ideas are promotions and special services.

4. Take a look at the analytics.  Look at the amount of people who view the site, where web traffic is coming from, etc. This way you can see what works and what does not.

5. Ask for help when needed. I know I am no expert at web design, that’s why I’m getting help! Don’t refuse it, web design professionals are at your disposal.

6. Feedback. I want to hear from my customers. After all I am serving you. Let me know what you think about the Evelyn Brooks Designs website.

I will keep you all posted as the renovations are made!

Love,

Evelyn Brooks