We were lucky to catch up with Skip Benefiet recently and have shared our conversation below.
Skip, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I think that this is an ongoing challenge for anyone who is a creator or their own boss. For me it isn’t about overcoming it and never having these feelings again, it’s more so about addressing these feelings of self-doubt as they come up and pushing past them. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, to think that you are behind your peers. Up until pretty recently I was definitely doing just that, trying trending audio on my reels just to get some visibility, trying to post things “on trend”. I realized that I wasn’t being my authentic self, I wasn’t enjoying the business side of my business which I find is just as important as the art itself. Once I realized that and started being my true self in all aspects of my business the imposter syndrome went out the door. I’ve been living by the idea that my art and business isn’t for everyone and that’s okay.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Skip and I am the owner and sole operator of Malachite Silver Co. My company was born out of boredom during the pandemic and has since turned into my full time job which I could not be more stoked and honestly sometimes scared about. The name comes from my late dog Malachite who was always by my side when I first started smithing, he’s in my logo and brand and it is such an honor that every piece I create has a little bit of Mal in there, that his legacy lives on through my art. I create handcrafted, sterling silver jewelry out of my in-home studio in Portland, Oregon. I am focused on creating sustainable, wearable art that is meant to last a lifetime. I source all of my supplies from other small businesses, a lot of them being in the PNW and Portland in general, keeping profits in the community and with other small businesses. I am focused on sustainability through every step of my creative process, from where I purchase my stones to how I get products out the door and every step in between and have committed to using quality, sustainable packaging.
I have some big goals in 2024, one of them being to have a collection release monthly, so stay tuned for upcoming releases!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For silversmiths I would say that having some quality tools are so worth the extra money. Not all of your tools need to be top of the line but I started with budget tools and eventually ended up buying more quality ones to replace them. Tools are so important and truly help you to work more efficiently and effectively.
Be yourself! Going back to being your true authentic self was so freeing for me, it truly helped take a lot of pressure and stress off of myself and got me back to loving every aspect of running a business.
Take the time to practice, to fail and try again. There are so many times I still fail when smithing, I melt a whole piece at the end or saw the incorrect piece etc. Practice is the only way you are going to learn so do not be afraid to fail. We all fail but it’s getting back up and trying again that truly matters.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would absolutely love to collaborate with any other makers. I would love to create some pottery jewelry as well as some more high end, statement pieces. I recently did a collaboration with a friend who does casting and together we made an amazing bolo with casted tips designed by the customer and it was so fun! Really, I just want to connect with more artists out there so I am absolutely open to any collabs where we can bring some unique art to the world.
Anyone interested can email me at malachitesilverco@gmail.com or via Instagram @malachitesilverco
Contact Info:
- Website: www.malachitesilverco.com
- Instagram: @malachitesilverco
- Facebook: Malachite Silver Co.
Image Credits
MCMD Photography
