| Working with beads and jewelry has been a lifelong passion for Mary O’Hare. For years, she sold beading supplies as well as her own creations at craft shows and on consignment at local boutiques. Other jewelry hobbyists sought out Mary for her quality products and expert assistance.
Before long, Mary decided that she could turn her hobby into a business. In 2003, she set up shop in a small, out-of-the-way location in Aiken, S.C. The combination of affordable rent and loyal customers helped Mary make a profit for two years. But she knew she could do better.
“I was really two businesses in one,” she explains. “One is creative—designing beaded jewelry—and the other is making them. I enjoy them both, but being more of an artist than a businessperson, I lacked the perspective to make an informed decision.”
While attending an Aiken Chamber of Commerce seminar, Mary heard about SCORE’s free small business counseling services. A call to the local chapter put Mary in touch with Bill Roberts and Bob Stabrylla, two retired sales and marketing experts. They helped Mary sort through her options.
Going the production route and selling products through gift stores and Web sites might generate more profit, “But it would require me to be a salesperson, a role I’m not comfortable with, and I’d spend less time designing,” she says. “I also would need other people to make the jewelry, which would give me less control over its quality. In other words, I’d lose the personal touch that set my work apart.” |
