Bryttani Graddick is a human resources professional, lifelong learner, and Creator & Founder of HeartWear JewelryTM. She works with creative Christian women to help them build statement jewelry collections that are *almost* as unique as they are! Her original designs are created in small batches so that women know they are wearing a distinctively different piece from what they'll find on anyone else. HeartWear JewelryTM provides beaded and polymer clay jewelry that is lightweight, unique, and great for sensitive skin. Bryttani believes in empowering women to be their complete and authentic selves, and it's hard to do that when dressed in the same things as everyone else.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

Of course! I'm a wife, a mommy to 3, and I work full time while running this small (and growing) business. Jewelry, for me, has always required extra customization since my ears are unpierced and my skin is super sensitive. While I did not go to school to study jewelry, I believe that how we present ourselves plays an integral part in how we feel about ourselves. Jewelry is just one way to show off our personalities.

What inspired you to start your business?

I've always enjoyed converting earrings to suit my unpierced ears. If I ever wanted to wear earrings, it was a definite necessity! I've always dreamed of making my own pieces -- necklaces, bracelets, etc. -- but it wasn't until I had daughters of my own that I felt the pull even more strongly. Their skin type is the same as mine, and their ears are also unpierced, and I didn't want them to have the same struggles and feel on the sidelines when shopping for beautiful and trendy pieces to wear.

Where is your business based?

HeartWear JewelryTM is based in the heart of Georgia -- Macon, GA. I'm born and raised in the city, went to college -- undergrad and postgrad -- in the area, and we're raising our family in the city. Macon is known for its rich history of music and arts, and I'm honored to contribute what I can.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Before starting the business, I created several jewelry pieces as Christmas gifts for my family and coworkers. After getting compliments on where I bought the pieces and questions on how they could get more, I knew I had to keep going. I started this business as a sole proprietorship to start small. I worked with our city's small business development services department to ensure that I had the necessary permits, licenses, and documents for state registration. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

HeartWear JewelryTM thrives on word-of-mouth referrals. Many clients purchase gifts for loved ones and their coworkers to give thoughtful, more personal gifts. Our returning customer rate is above 50%, which indicates that women we work with enjoy what we have to offer. While being active on social media also helps, our satisfied clients are our best source of prospective clients.

What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?

After being in business for two years, the most significant challenges have been finding creative ways to keep our community engaged and satisfied with what we offer. To overcome this, we periodically send out surveys to our clients and email list with questions on their preferences, challenges they face when shopping for jewelry online, and more. This real-time client feedback has been invaluable to helping us keep a finger on the pulse of our client needs.

I've found that clients appreciate the opportunity to share their perspectives on the products and their opinions of the business overall.  

How do you stay focused?

As a wife and mother who works full-time and serves in church, the best way I've learned to stay focused is to set a schedule for myself. It's easy to get stuck in continuously making pieces, brainstorming blog posts, and updating the website. However, keeping track of what's most important at that time (for the week, month, quarter) and scheduling time to tackle those things has helped me stay on track.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

When you think of buying jewelry -- in person or online -- there are typically a handful of brands that come to mind. Our biggest differentiator is the collaboration between the clients and HeartWear JewelryTM. Of course, women can purchase directly from the site, but they can also customize a piece from the site or even create a piece from scratch. This level of customization is because I want women to understand that they have the power to ask for anything in life that they want. They do not have to simply accept the status quo. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Similar to the attention that we give our clients when considering their options to shop with us online, the most effective way HeartWear JewelryTM has grown is through the way clients are treated. It's the small details and the follow-ups that I find clients appreciate the most. From handwritten thank you cards to personalized video messages, to emails tailored to where they are in their jewelry journey, meeting clients, where they are, has been invaluable.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Understanding what problem you're solving with your product/service, for whom, and why is a great place to start. Too often, as small business owners, we jump ahead into the solution without considering how the person would be affected. Once you've understood that, the direction you can take with other aspects of the business -- from marketing to product packaging to product offering -- will be much more apparent. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app varies by month, but it's a word puzzle game I love playing right now. It's challenging enough to keep my interest, but it's relaxing because it allows me to have some low-stakes fun. Low-stakes fun is always welcomed in a season of life, profession, and an entrepreneurial journey full of decisions

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Canva is my number one favorite business tool because it helps me create polished, professional, and consistently branded images for social media and the website. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

This might sound strange, but I don't have one. Don't get me wrong, there are several business coaches I've had and have, and memberships I'm part of to hone my business and marketing skills; however, there's no one person that I'd like to model myself after. Good or bad, that's my honest answer.

How do you balance work and life?

Compartmentalization is everything. While I'm "me" in everything I do, it's only natural that some things spill over into other areas. That being said, I'm learning more and more the importance of doing things to take care of myself so that I can pour into others. To do that, I try to keep my lists separate from each other and know when it's time to step away to do something else or nothing at all.

What's your favorite way to decompress?

This is so hard to do, but the older I get, the more I realize it's non-negotiable. When I relax and unwind, I'm binging Netflix and eating barbeque chips if I'm not spending time with my husband. Over the last few months, I've started the Grey's Anatomy series (believe it or not, for the first time), and I'm now on season 8. Let's say I get the hype!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

For the next six months, my goals are to maintain systems that make my business work best. I want to get clear on what works and what works better to continue to reach clients and help them build the confidence to show up as only themselves.

How can our readers connect with you?

HeartWear JewelryTM is active on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok -- all @heartwearjewelry.

www.HeartWearJewelry.com

https://facebook.com/heartwearjewelry

https://www.instagram.com/heartwearjewelry/

https://pinterest.com/heartwearjewelry

https://tiktok.com/@heartwearjewelry