We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Holmes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Hi Sarah, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
My self-discipline comes from my self-worth. Self-worth is the basis for everything we do. How we create our lives, our drive, our mission in life. The more self-worth and self-awareness we have, the better we are able to care for ourselves and in return for other people we come into contact with.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My jewelry career has always come first in my creative endeavours. My first love is fine jewelry, with a focus on one-of-a-kind engagement rings, Our demi-fine jewelry collection focuses on delicate jewelry made from sterling silver and gold-fill with gemstones. Each line has a special place in my life and allows me to focus on unique designs using different materials and stones.
The jewelry industry is always changing and growing, so it is important that I keep evolving as a designer and artist, so I am able to challenge myself and push my own limits to expand. I am currently taking more courses to learn new skills to further my fine jewelry knowledge.
I just launched our Spring Collection with a focus on pearls and gemstones. i added bright colours as accents to enhance the designs and make them stand out.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance is definitely number one. If you allow yourself to become let down by challenges, then you aren’t going to be able to rise beyond the really hard things that every business faces.
Multi-tasking is my second skill that I acquired early on through my years of work before I became a jewelry designer. As a small business owner, you have to wear many hats while you are doing many small jobs within your business, and get to know the ones you do well, then prioritize them. Ask for help on the rest.
Learn how to read people is the third. This is extremely important to the success of your business. You have to know quickly who is your ally and your support system, who you can lean on.
For anyone starting out, I had a boss tell me one day, the best people on his team are the ones that can leave their personal things at the door when they start work.
Trust yourself above all else and put your best foot forward no matter what you are doing.
Try to stay present and remember that everyone you meet has something to teach you.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest obstacle my business is facing is to go from selling at in-person events to selling online. Online is a whole other ballgame. I am having to learn how to market my products through social media, something that literally changes weekly.
We are doing online marketing through different social media platforms and emailing clients on our newsletter. There is a fine line between sharing our story of what we have been up to and not coming across salesy.
This all takes time on top of making our jewelry and running the other parts of a small business.
To help my business grow I am taking a course on social media marketing, I took a brand photography course at the beginning of the year as well so I could level up my photos for social media.
I have reached out to organizations in my city that help entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses online.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maleia.ca
- Instagram: themaleiacollective
- Linkedin: Maleia By Sarah Holmes
Image Credits
Photos by Sarah Holmes
