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Guest Interview: Lisa Braithwaite of Elle B. |
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Articles, How-To's and Interviews -
Guest Interviews
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Written by Administrator
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Interview with Featured Artist Lisa Braithwaite of Elle B.
(originally published in 2004)
DivaTribe: How long have you been doing what you’re currently doing?
Lisa Braithwaite: I’ve been making jewelry for as long as I can remember! When I was young, I made seed bead necklaces for my Barbies (had to pull of their heads to put them on, though, since I didn’t know how to make clasps). I have made jewelry for myself, mostly earrings, for at least twenty years, and sold some here and there. Elle B. officially became a business this year (2004).
DT: How did you get started professionally?
LB: My husband and I have dreamed of starting a business, of any kind, for years. We have many ideas, for individual businesses as well as partnerships, but hadn’t been ready to make the commitment – especially since I started a nonprofit seven years ago which has taken up most of my time, and where I still work part-time.
When I got laid off for the third time in four years (from my other part-time job), my husband suggested that I take the opportunity to start a business. I took the suggestion seriously, and started researching a couple of our ideas. What did I have to lose? Job security?
During this time, the owner of a store where I shopped started complimenting my earrings. I ended up putting a small display in the store and making some sales, and that was the birth of Elle B.
DT: Do you do this full-time, or do you have other full- or part-time employment?
LB: I am the founder and
Executive Director of a nonprofit organization called Body Electric,
which promotes sports, physical activity and gender equity for women
and girls (www.bodyelectric-sb.org). I’ve been paid for my part-time
position there since 2003. For the first six years, I worked full time
at other nonprofit organizations and ran Body Electric in my “spare”
time. That’s a long way of saying that Elle B. is my other part-time
job.
DT: What’s the most satisfying part of your business?
LB: I enjoy the independence of
working for myself. I am highly disciplined and self-directed. I love
working at home, because it’s comfortable and convenient, and I don’t
get distracted by co-workers (I can be pretty chatty in a work
environment). Well, sometimes I probably work too many hours because
I’m at home.
I also have very high expectations; I prefer working alone because it’s
much easier to meet my own expectations than to insist on others
meeting my expectations. Mostly, I enjoy the creative aspect of making
something with my own hands, something new every day.
DT: What did you have to learn the hard way?
LB: I’m still learning, since
the business is new, but one thing I picked up right away is not to
underprice my work. When people get used to buying your product for
less than it’s worth, they are going to be very unhappy when you get a
clue and start pricing it accurately!
DT: What can we look forward to from you in the future?
LB: I’m enjoying learning new
jewelry techniques, especially working with metal clay. I will always
love beaded jewelry, and will continue to design it, but I will also be
branching out into more sculpted silver.
DT: Any parting words?
LB: I’m just so dang excited to
be working for myself! I prefer to succeed or fail based on my own
decisions and choices, rather than on issues that are out of my control
like state budget crises or organizational dynamics. There is no
bureaucracy, no administration, no committees to interfere with my
momentum. I encourage everyone to explore being your own boss!
It’s not all fun and games, and it’s definitely scary at times, but I
believe the challenges will be worth it to stand on my own two feet as
a self-reliant, self-supporting business owner some day.
Site: www.ElleBStyle.com
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