Happy New Year! My 2024 Business Resolutions

Beginning 2024 with a cliche jewelry maker selfie!

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been slower at jumping back into the swing of things this year. I’m wanting to be more intentional with my business plan and not get swept into the current of just making jewelry and doing things to have “something to post”.

This last year showed me that I need to do things much differently than I have been accustomed to doing for the past decade. With record low sales and virtually no visibility on social media this past year, I’m finally realizing that I need to make some big changes.

With two young boys, my priorities and schedule have also significantly changed.

Below are some of the changes I’ll be making this year.

• I’ll only be selling online what I have made and available to ship. I’ve been trying to do this for a couple years now, but I always ended up reverting back to the old way of making things as they are ordered. It’s a hard habit to kick.

• I will be focusing on all new designs and products. I will continue to make some of my staples and more popular items, but their availability will be limited as they are made. Expect to see some hair pins, ear cuffs, different styles of hoops, etc.…

• I will be adding some of the non-jewelry gift items that I carry in my booth at Westside to my website to be purchased online.

• I will be spending more time on the marketing end of my business and not cranking out as much jewelry as I have in the past. Selling your work takes just as much (if not more) effort as creating your work so you will be seeing more quality posts (and hopefully more visible). I’m going to finally start making reels more regularly. My goal is to video myself working if I can figure out how to get decent footage.

• I will be keeping my blog (journal) updated.

• I will be sending out more regular newsletters (make sure you are on the list!). I’ll be offering a "Deal of the Week” so you will want to make sure you are on the list! Scroll down to see this week's offering!

• Lastly, I’m going to download TikTok on my phone and open an account which I am not excited about at all. I might change my mind about this one.

My work can still be found at @westsidemarketgreenvillesc as well as a couple of local shops. Currently, until I build up my “ready to ship” inventory, these locations will have a broader assortment of my work.

My website is currently stocked with my remaining one-of-a-kind (OOAK) gemstone pieces. I’ll let you know when I get the non-jewelry gift items listed.

Looking forward to seeing what 2024 holds!

Canvas Rebel Magazine Interview

What an honor to have been interviewed by Canvas Rebel Magazine! You can view the article here: Meet Kara Mavar - CanvasRebel Magazine

TEXT:

We recently connected with Kara Mavar and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always been creative and artistically inclined. I remember making all sorts of things as a kid and then selling those things at our family’s garage sales.

During high school and college, I worked at a grocery store. I managed to get the gig of hand lettering signs and was so happy to have that little outlet for my creativity.

Then, after getting married, I worked as a pharmacy technician. I had no creative outlet and found myself very unhappy. I dreaded going to work everyday. I desperately needed an outlet for my creativity and one day I just decided to take a leap: I quit my job and decided to try my hand at making jewelry. I started selling my designs on Etsy and also started a Facebook page, and then things just really took off! That was about fifteen years ago and I haven’t looked back.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I have always loved art and was a studio art major in college. My dream was to be a children’s book illustrator, but now I’m a self taught metalsmith instead, and I couldn’t be happier!

I design and make each piece individually. I do not use any molds or any type of reproduction methods.

I use a variety of metals ranging from aluminum to 14k gold filled, but my favorite metals to work with are silver and copper. Because of the different metals used, I am able to offer high quality, unique pieces in a wide range of prices.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Recently, I opened up a little studio shop in a location that unfortunately does not get a lot of natural foot traffic. With a large overhead to cover, I began offering to teach jewelry-making classes. I started small and am slowly building them up and hope to offer more variety in classes soon. It was not at all what I initially envisioned, but I am really enjoying it. In addition to bringing in additional revenue, the classes also serve as great advertisement for my shop, plus, my clients and I have a blast making jewelry together!

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

My goal from the beginning has always been to be able to work from home doing something that I love.

Now, with two young boys, my goal is still the same but with the added goal of maintaining flexibility to spend time with them.

Now Teaching Classes!

I’m finally doing it! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to teach jewelry classes. Well, now since I have the space to do it, I am! Tonight, I’ll be finishing up the last of my first three class sessions for my Bird’s Nest necklace. It certainly isn’t an easy project to start off with, but everyone has done an amazing job so far! I have one more session for this class on April 19th, and then I’ll be teaching a hand stamping class!

South Carolina Voyager Interview

What an honor to be featured in the South Carolina Voyager magazine! Read the full article below here.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Mavar. 

Hi Kara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up in Iowa but made my way to Greenville to attend college where I studied 2D studio art. While there, I met my future husband, Luke. After we were married, we stayed in Greenville while he finished his degree. We fell in love with the area and have been here ever since—over 15 years! 

Early on, I took a job at a local pharmacy, but it left me drained and unsatisfied; it wasn’t a good fit for my strengths or interests. I needed a way to express my creativity, so I randomly decided to try my hand at making jewelry. One of my sisters encouraged me to start an Etsy shop to sell my jewelry. It wasn’t long before I discovered that people didn’t just like my work, they seemed to love it! And I, likewise, loved making handcrafted pieces that I designed from thought to finish! Realizing that I could earn an income from doing something I love was the push I needed to start my own business. Soon Karisma by Kara was born, and things took off from there! 

Throughout the years, I have learned various techniques, and my style has developed into what it is today. I’ve participated in numerous trade shows, each of which really helped to get my name out there, often leading to partnerships with local shops who requested to carry my jewelry. Then, in 2020 I was able to open my own studio/shop at Hampton Station, which is a dream come true! In addition to selling at my shop, I also still sell on Etsy as well as on my own website. My newer collections and one-of-a-kind pieces can be found at karismabykara.com. 

My days are full running the ins and outs of a small business and, more importantly, being a mom to my two sons Clark (4) and Austin (8 months). I wouldn’t change anything though. Except maybe add a few more hours to the day! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve definitely had my share of ups and downs. Being a small business owner can at times be stressful, discouraging, and lonely. During these hard times and times of self-doubt, though, I’ve found great encouragement from other small business owners. We’re a strong community, and we experience similar struggles, so I’ve found that everyone is always eager to lend a helping hand or listening ear. Additionally, running a business while raising small children also has its own set of unique challenges. However, I’m learning and relearning how to better manage my daily tasks since schedules quite often change! It’s been good for me, though, and has pushed me to be more focused and purposeful with my time and goals. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a self-taught metalsmith focusing on .925 silver pieces, but I also love to incorporate other metals such as brass and copper into my designs. Most of my pieces are inspired by nature, but I also enjoy experimenting with other styles. My background in studio art as well as years of practice in working with wire has influenced my current work and enables me to create both aesthetic and easy-to-wear pieces. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
So many people! My wonderful parents laid the groundwork for my current success. They encouraged me to pursue the things that interested me, while at the same time didn’t put undue pressure on me to pursue things that weren’t a good fit for my skills and interests. This allowed me to discover my love for art and to pursue it with confidence and support. My husband is also my key cheerleader. Luke embraced my dreams with me, even when I up and quit my pharmacy job and then went a $500 shopping spree to buy jewelry supplies! My three sisters have also always been a consistent source of encouragement and often help me with wording or editing various verbiage for my business. My sister Kelley regularly watches my boys when I’m at my shop on the weekends. Chris and Ken Durham first saw my potential and hired me to work at their bead store; Susan Tate discovered me there and hired me to help teach her jewelry-making class. Liz Daly carried my work for years in her Downtown Greenville location. I could go on and on about various friends and family who have supported me throughout the years. They are a part of my success, and I’m so thankful! 

10 Year Anniversary Celebration Kick-off Giveaway!

Hey everyone! Karisma by Kara turned 10 years old last month but I didn't have a chance to celebrate. I promised a giveaway this month so here it is! I’ll also be planning some more fun things to celebrate all next month so stay tuned!

P.S. While you are here, be sure to comment on this blog post with a link to one or more of your favorite pieces for bonus entry points!

*One winner will randomly be selected to win one DIGITAL $100 gift card to be used at KarismabyKara.com. Cannot be used toward custom orders or wholesale orders. Gift card must be redeemed within 90 days of receipt. The winner will be announced on May 4th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just a few of my personal favorites from recent years…