What makes a wedding craft business successful? Every time, it comes down to the personality behind the name. The best wedding suppliers are dedicated, inspiring and entertaining. It’s no secret that we usually follow a different path in life: it takes courage as much as craftsmanship to bring a wedding craft business to life. I asked Tracey Phillips at Bridal Designs to share her personal story. Tracey’s business began with her sister’s wedding 8 years ago, and she’s now a multiple award-winning wedding business owner.
“I live in beautiful North Devon, minutes from the seaside and a short distance from some of England’s most charming wedding venues. Northcote Manor is just around the corner – and I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to get married.
A seaside wedding in Devon, by Taylor Barnes Photography www.taylorbarnesphotography.co.uk
“For the last 8 years I have been making handcrafted wedding jewellery. I have always been a ‘crafty’ person and when I decided to try making jewellery things grew and grew until my sister asked me to make her wedding jewellery. I made a few sets, she chose the one she wanted so then I plucked up the courage to approach some local bridal shops to see if they would be interested in stocking the remaining sets. Much to my surprise they all said yes!
Bridal Designs wedding jewellery, handmade in Devon
The website came to be not long after this and after a lot of work I’m very pleased with it. I have made some great friends in the wedding industry but special mention must go to a lovely online group of wedding jewellers who are known as ‘The Sparklies’! We talk about all sorts of things, from jewellery to life in general.
Bridal Designs Wedding Jewellery handmade in Devon
My jewellery has been featured in Bridal Magazines, on blogs and in photo shoots. Every handcrafted piece is made by me at my antique work desk. My desk was an antique shop find, it’s actually in two different parts, an old oak desk below that looks like it was owned by a old fashioned bank manager, and the top is a writing desk, they fit together perfectly.
“I’m creative, friendly, a control freak and a perfectionist… I will quite happily work til late into the night to get something finished, I hate leaving things half done! When you buy your jewellery from me I work with you throughout the process: if you phone up it’s me that will answer, and it’s me that makes your jewellery for you and can answer any questions you have. I gave up drinking tea as it was me who had to make that as well!”
Tracey has recently celebrated success with an award from the West Country Wedding Awards and was chosen as the most popular jewellery designer by the Wedding Industry Experts Awards.
Not bad for an independent jewellery designer from Devon, hey?
www.bridaldesignsweddingjewellery.co.uk
www.facebook.com/Bridaldesigns
@BridalDesigns
https://plus.google.com/102613508449785851276/
what do you think?