Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Fraher.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I sometimes ask myself this question as well! I suppose, in short, I got to where I am today because of the never-ending creative spark under me. I have a constant need to create. If I don’t have my hands in a project, I feel empty.
Since childhood art class has always been my favorite. I started painting at a young age, and had always wanted to go to art school, but I wasn’t sure I would have a guaranteed career. So I became a nurse. I have been working in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, with female offenders, since 2003. I love my job, but my passion is art. So I started becoming more serious about oil painting, and eventually ended up with a few custom jobs. I gained some confidence, and eventually opened an Etsy shop. Foolishly, I assumed I could easily sell my paintings with little effort. I quickly realized that wasn’t the case, I never sold a painting, but I also didn’t try very hard. So I continued to paint for my own satisfaction. If I met someone in my travels with specific requests, great, if not, more art for my own walls. And I happily continued on this way for many years.
Fast forward to 2013, I had my first baby boy, Ozzie. And in 2016, my girl, Olive. After Ozzie was born I continued to paint, then he became mobile. Most of my work is decent size, averaging 14″x18″, and greater. I didn’t have a place to let anything dry, and couldn’t have a little one crawling on the floor with wet oil paint. It just wasn’t practical, or safe. My creative outlet then became the kids… Halloween costumes, birthday’s-creating and designing party invitations, building cupcake tiers etc. But I was making. I have always worked with multiple mediums. I have made resin tabletops, clocks, paper crafts, metal sculptures, it’s endless. So trying to keep all the materials needed for my various projects organized, is difficult to say the least. There’s never any rhyme or reason to my craft organization, I understand it, but I admit it’s pretty dysfunctional. I periodically go on a “organize my craft bins” binge, while doing so in October 2017, I stumbled across some beads. I decided to make a necklace. Interestingly enough, I really don’t wear jewelry. I’m not very fashionable or hip at all. I wear scrubs everyday, and work odd hours. I currently have a four year old, and a two year old, I am always on the go. While everyone else in the house is pretty squared away, I’m kind of a mess, along with my craft organization. It was wearing on me, I was sick of looking disheveled. I figured I would make and easy to throw on necklace, maybe it would help me feel, and look, a little more put together. Plus, it’s something to create. I ended up receiving a few compliments, and that was it, the “why not re-open my Etsy shop” idea popped into my head. And to my surprise, here I am. I reopened my shop mid-November 2017 with a new name, new product, and new attitude. Since then I have made about 60 sales. The difference is, this time, I’m trying.
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?
Since this is round two, some may think I would be a little hip to the Etsy game by now. I’m not. I wasn’t hip to all the extra work once you start making sales either. Its small things such as “oh no, I ran out of bubble mailers and packing tape.” Or running out of ink to print packing slips and shipping labels. There have been a few all-nighters, now that I am becoming more of a business. I can’t put off a customer’s order because I’m tired. I am obliged to fulfill orders in a timely manner. I want to ensure fast delivery of a quality product. I also had to learn how to Instagram, and manage a Facebook page, which I am still learning. Marketing skills, how to get you noticed, customer engagement etc. You really have to self-promote. I never really showed people my art, they saw it if they came to my house. I am still a little uncomfortable presenting my products on social media. But I suppose if I want this little business of mine to continue on, I should accept the help social media can bring. The photography is hard and time consuming. And it’s hard to be a Mother of two children under the age of five, while working as a full time nurse. But with anything in life, there will always be obstacles and challenges. I am really learning a lot, and doing something I really enjoy. I get better and better as time goes on. The alternative is a second round of failure. I don’t plan to fail again; I welcome all the upcoming obstacles that await me with open arms.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about JulerysMess – what should we know?
My business is JulerysMess, derived from jewelry/Julie/and lack of arts and crafts organization skills. I make jewelry, primarily earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, for now. I intend to figure out how to make rings eventually. I use a lot of semi-precious stones, crystals, and wood in my pieces. I hope to be able to use higher quality stones and materials eventually. I don’t specialize in anything just yet, I feel like that takes years, I have only been around for six months. And I don’t think I am known enough to be known for anything just yet, I’m the new kid on the block, hopefully in the future though! A lot of my pieces are considered statement jewelry. But what I think sets me apart a little, is that although they are statement, you can wear a lot of my pieces without making a scene. I use bright colors in just about everything, but they stay subtle or small enough to stand out. And what I am most proud of as a small business is simply that I have a small business. I am doing it. I am making 1-2 sales a week pretty consistently now. It’s pretty cool to see orders from people across the country; I still get excited every time I make a sale. That will never get old. It’s a great feeling knowing I am able to create something that other people enjoy.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Motivation, I have to stay motivated. I periodically start to get bummed out if I am not making any sales. I’ll get down; start wondering if it’s worth it. Then boom, a sale with come through. I have to keep going now. It’s also a total bummer when I have a creative block. When you make things, and can’t think of anything to make, it stinks. I don’t want to fail again. When sales are slow, I start creating more products, or I will photograph older pieces again, critique myself, learn from it. I just need to stay busy, and keep learning. Creativity and sales will come if I keep plugging away…hopefully. Success shouldn’t be easy though, you should have to work hard to succeed. It makes it all worth it. And it’s fairly easy to stay motivated when you’re doing something you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Etsy.com/shop/JulerysMess
- Phone: 508-400-2930
- Email: jslay84@gmail.com
- Instagram: @julerys_mess
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulerysMess/
Image Credit:
Matt Tieuli with all images that include myself.
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