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An Entrepreneurial
Spirit
Gloria-Jean Browne
My entrepreneurial spirit began in the mid 70's at the age of 15, when I started my 1st business while still going to high school. I was making bead jewelry of course, which I sold to family, friends at school, spring fairs, and even through a few clothing boutiques.Back in the 70's there wasn't any where near as many bead stores or suppliers as there is now (the internet wasn't even thought of then.) The selection of beads and findings were very limited. The only bead shop I could find sold mostly wooden beads and no findings, so I had to make my own from wire.
After I graduated from high school I joined the Canadian Armed Forces where I served for 20 years. I have even been honored with two medals: Canadian Decoration (CD), and the United Nations Peace Keeping (UNEF II).
The picture on the right is me in combat gear during boot camp.The picture on the left is me riding a camel near the pyramids while serving with the UN in Egypt.
Still creative and interested in crafts, I started my 2nd business in the mid 80's, part-time while continuing to serve with the Canadian Forces. Country decorating was very big then, so I made country crafts where I exhibited in all kinds of craft shows from 1 day fairs at local schools to 1 week events at major shows. During this time I also sold my crafts to a few local gift shops. By the time the mid 90's came the market was saturated with country crafts, but I still had a creative urge and my entrepreneurial spirit was ready to expand. So in 1995 I took an early retirement from the Canadian Forces (after serving 20 years) and started my 3rd business called Canadian Home Business Productions, where I designed and wrote a series for business guides titled "Crafts is Your Home Based Business."
Shortly after I had finished writing 26 business guides I opened my first retail store called "Where Angels Gather". It was a specialty shop that sold only angels and angel products (which many I made myself of course.)
I don't mean to brag but it was a great store, and I even won three awards - locally, regionally and nationally.
Locally: Aurora Chamber of Commerce
"Best Business Award";
Regionally: York Region In Celebration of Woman
"Small Business Woman of the Year";
Nationally: Canadian Gift and Tableware Association
"Canadian Specialty/Niche Retailer of the Year", for excellence in retailing.
After six years my husband was transferred 4hrs north, so I sold the business and moved north. (I think in this move I had more boxes of beads, beading supplies and books, and craft supplies than I did of personal effects.)As I was unpacking and realizing just how many beads and beading supplies I had, I said to myself "Gee Gloria, you have so many beads you could probably open a bead store!." Of course with my entrepreneurial spirit just dying to get active again, I did!
After some market research and preparing my business plan I open my second retail store
"Bead Goddess, Bead Emporium & Gallery."
It was so much fun and my customers were great and eager to learn jewelry making skills. I not only carried 1000's and 1000's different types of beads and beading supplies but I also designed and produced my own bead jewelry kits, held beading workshops (anywhere from 4 to 118 attendees), children birthday parties, home jewelry making parties, and I also carried many of my customer's finished jewelry on consignment.
After 4 years my husband was transferred north, again. But this time to a small community where there is not enough population to support a bead shop. So sadly I had to close my bead store. BUT, I still design and produce bead jewelry kits and sell them and other beading supplies at Bead Shows and over the internet. (My 4th home business.)In my spare time I have decided to create this web site "Beading-Design-Jewelry.com" to share with you my 30 plus years of designing, producing and marketing bead jewelry and crafts. I hope this site has been helpful to you in your journey of designing and selling bead jewelry. If you have any questions or comments or would like to share some of your beading tips and techniques, please contact me
as I would love to share them!
Happy Beading!
Gloria
p.s. If you would like to know how I am able to build this website with no website training nor html knowledge then just click on the image below and find out how you can turn your passion into an e-business.
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