Meet Lauren Ball

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Ball a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi LAUREN, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is definitely something I still struggle with as an artist and small business owner.

Even after almost 5 years running mybusiness, I still sometimes worry if I’m not good enough or making mistakes. The way I overcome that feeling is through a variety of methods and self-reflection.

I first remind myself that it is in fact ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of life and as long as I learn from them and improve upon them, then I’m still doing well.

I also remind myself of how much growth I’ve had compared to when I started. I was originally a Pastry Chef and had been working in the food industry since I was 15. When I decided to finally leave the food industry, I had no idea what I wanted to do or where to begin finding a new career I could feel proud of.

I began working with resin originally as a side project and a way to make homemade gifts for my friends and family. I learned everything through research via books, videos, blogs, and just trial and error. I kinda cringe today looking back at those first pieces I made and at the same time, I can feel pride because it was a completely new skill I had taught myself.

I also pushed myself to take risks. Taking that leap to become a full-time entrepreneur was terrifying. Not having regular paychecks and set work days wasn’t something I had ever experienced. I debated for months if I was making the right decision, if it was even possible for someone like me to accomplish this.

Looking back on it, I am so proud of myself for overcoming my fears and doubts. I never want to go back to a “regular job” again.

Being a small business owner with a focus on art has allowed me to meet so many amazing people, both customers and fellow vendors. I’ve been able to travel more, attending various festivals and special events. I can proudly say I made everything I sell with my own two hands. It’s a wild feeling, but so worth it.

Of course there are always going to be off days. Of course there are always going to be days where I didn’t sell much or had something go wrong during an event. The point is to keep going, to remind myself that I can overcome obstacles. Reminding myself that even one step forward is still progress. I created this choice and opportunity for myself and that’s pretty awesome.

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?

Hello, my name is Lauren. I am the owner/designer of Desert Dog Designs, a small boutique jewelry store in ABQ, NM which opened for business in April, 2020.

I have always been a creative person and before starting my own business I was a Pastry Chef for over 10 years. I loved the creativity I had making desserts, but I was burnt out working in the food industry. I needed a change. Thus, Desert Dog Designs was born. I’m in love with my work again! Inspired by Nature, I now create unique handmade jewelry made using epoxy resin & real flowers. A gift of nature one can cherish all year long!

I take inspiration for my designs from the natural world around me. When I create a piece of jewelry I want it to invoke a story or memory of a beloved space from the natural world. I want you to dream of walking through a spring meadow bursting with life or relive a moment when you passed through an overgrown forest. I want you to remember the mystique and wonder it evoked. Life should be an adventure, no matter how small. I hope I can share that with you through my art.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with new creations such as fantasy inspired masquerade masks. These masks still have a natural theme to them ( think of a Dryad or forest spirit). I handmake each mask using foam clay, hand-carving and painting the masks while adding moss or faux botanicals to complete the process.

I sometimes incorporate my jewelry onto the masks as well to add a special look to the piece. For example I made a moon goddess inspired mask once that incorporated one of my crescent moon pendants featuring a white forget me not. It was one of my favorites and I was very tempted to keep the mask for myself.

I have really enjoyed making these masks. They allow me to really run wild with my creativity and give customers something even more unique to look forward to. They are often reserved for special occasions or my large events such as Renaissance Festivals.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

As someone who mainly attends in-person events to promote my business and sell my work, I would say one of the most important skills to have is good quality customer service. I thank my years of experience in the food industry for this, but I cannot stress enough how important it is for vendors as well. A basic hello and smile to someone passing by my booth honestly makes a huge difference for making sales. It doesn’t matter how amazing your products are, if you sit there with a frown, starring at your phone and not engaging with the public, your sales will suffer.
I am a very shy person by nature, but I have learned to be outgoing during markets because it really makes a difference for making customers feel welcome at my booth.
Another area of knowledge that is so vastly important is money management and budgeting. That goes from anything from taxes, to understanding how to balance your business costs vs profits, savings for inventory or equipment, the list goes on. I am still honestly working on my money management skills. Business taxes alone are unfortunately a necessity and it’s good to learn all the ins and outs before starting your business. If you can afford it, hire an accountant. It will make your life so much easier.
Lastly, I would also suggest learning basic marketing and design skills. Taking the time to really make my booth stand out from the crowd with elements that fit the theme of my work really helped create a story my customers could engage with. It helps make my products and business be remembered. Just as with the customer service skills, your products could be amazing, but if you haphazardly throw them on a table without organization, customers may not take the time to even look. You want to draw the eye even from far away. Use height or color to amplify your work. I promise you, you’ll have much better results!

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?

My number one obstacle is frankly that sales have been down across the board for a lot of vendors over the last year. It has been frustrating to see lower sales on markets that in previous years were some of my best. It’s hard to overcome this of customers are just not willing to buy items like art and jewelry when the economy is in a state of decline.

I have been working to combat this several ways. First by offering different items that still fit the theme of my business. I also try to have various price tiers that allow a customer to still buy something they love even if their budget is very low.
I have also been working to try new venues outside my normal events I do each year. It allows me to assess which markets are more profitable and worth my time for the hours worked.
Lastly, I am working to add my pieces into more local gift shops. Gift shops allow me to connect with customers who may not attend markets and promote my business to a much wider audience. It also gives me the opportunity to have some income coming in even if I don’t have markets lined up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.desertdognm.com
• Instagram: @desertdognm
• Facebook: @desertdognm