Today we’d like to introduce you to Bev Feldman.
Bev, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved making things with my hands, but as things got busy and life got in the way, I put my creative pursuits on hold. Over time, I lost the belief that I had a creative bone in my body.
However, I still felt the pull. After many trips to craft stores, where I drooled over the jewelry-making supplies but felt overwhelmed, I settled on a jewelry simple kit. I still didn’t quite know what I was doing and it looked like something I would have made when I was 10, but I attempted something I hadn’t done in years. I sought opportunities to learn more and hone in on my skills. I overcame my fear of failure, eventually signing up for a metalsmithing class, and my confidence grew.
In 2011, I got the nerve to put a few of my handmade creations up on Etsy. My product photography was horrendous and did not do my work justice, but getting over that initial hump set me on a path to start selling my jewelry.
Since I first put up those five listings on Etsy, so much has happened. I learned new skills and my style evolved. I got a better understanding of the values I wanted to instill in my business and the type of jewelry I wanted to make.
I also went through some massive life changes, including purchasing a home and having two children. Being a mom has had a huge impact on how I run my business, but it also has afforded me the flexibility to be home with my girls which are by far my favorite part of having my own business!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes and no. I, fortunately, have not had any major crises in my journey, but it’s been a steep learning curve. There have been great successes, such as doing my first full official launch of a full line in August 2017, hiring a local photographer, Lorna Stell to photograph my work and applying to and being accepted to my first trade show.
There have also been disheartening disappointments, such as 12-hour holiday show where I only made back the cost of the show. Also, running a business where you make everything myself is challenging when you have children at home!
My biggest piece of advice is to start a newsletter for your business the moment you begin. That is one of the greatest long-term investments and doesn’t necessarily cost you anything. I have had repeat business from customers I met years earlier, and it’s because I understood the importance of having a newsletter even from the beginning.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Linkouture – what should we know?
I am a jewelry designer and metalsmith who handcrafts minimalist eco-friendly jewelry for value-driven women. As someone who cares very much about sustainability, I am proud to create a product that I can stand by. Over the years, my style and the materials I use have changed to better align with my values. I use recycled/reclaimed sterling silver in my designs as much as possible. Any leftover silver scraps and metal dust from the creation process are collected and recycled again.
The packaging I use to mail orders is both minimalist and eco-friendly and can all be reused again. I use pillow boxes that are 100% recycled and made in the U.S., wrap them in bubble wrap that I salvaged from packages I received, and send them off in a 100% recycled poly mailer that is reusable and recyclable.
Most printed materials I enclose, including my business cards, are from Red Sun Press, a cooperatively-run, unionized local printer based in Jamaica Plain that uses environmentally-friendly printing practices.
I work out of my home studio in Somerville, MA, which I am proud to say is 100% powered by our city’s optional renewable energy program. We have a small home garden that grows tomatoes, kale, and whatever other veggies my husband is able to grow. We also use a service to compost any food waste.
I also believe in the importance of giving back and have donated several thousand dollars over the years through jewelry sales to organizations, including the ACLU, NRDC, and Water Aid.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I feel very fortunate that my parents, my mom, in particular, did so much to foster my creativity throughout my childhood. She enrolled me in classes at our local community arts center when I was young, brought me on numerous visits to our local crafts store for me to try out different mediums, and did countless craft projects with me. There was even the time when I was about 9 years old and I was homesick for the day that she ran out to purchase yarn and knitting needles for me when I decided I really wanted to learn knitting. In 7th grade, when I decided to rally a couple of my best friends to sell jewelry at our a local art show, my parents stood behind me 100% even though I’m sure they realized at the time, it would not be a profitable endeavor.
Even though I came from a household where academics and doing well in school were very highly valued, I always felt that my creative endeavors were encouraged. It made me a life-long learner which has aided me in learning about entrepreneurship while also recognizing the importance of making time for creative outlets.
Pricing:
- Jewelry ranges in price from $32-$297
Contact Info:
- Website: www.linkouture.com
- Phone: (617) 863-6645
- Email: bev@linkouture.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Linkouture
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linkouture
Image Credit:
Lorna Stell Photo
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