Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Martini.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A few summers ago, I wanted to find something that could serve as a creative outlet and something that I could build on. I spent a couple of days scrolling through the Internet, Etsy and Pinterest to find inspiration in different kinds of mediums. I sat down with my dad one night and started telling him about my ideas and he took me to Michael’s the next day to look at supplies. I ended up getting mostly polymer clay because that was what I was most interested in and gravitated towards. I quickly decided that that was going to be my medium of choice. It was something that I could truly create anything with and earrings were starting to become one of my favorite parts of an outfit to make a statement with. After making that decision, I started working with the clay and trying to figure out my process and what I wanted to do with my small business. Some of the big decisions that I made early on were doing this business through Instagram, making it a customizable experience for my customers and donating a portion of my proceeds to North Texas Make-A-Wish.
I launched Martini Made Co. in August of 2019 and recently celebrated one year this past August! I feel like I have grown and changed many things in that short amount of time but have continued to create unique statement pieces for my customers. I’ve juggled this small business with an internship, a full-time college course-load, work, leadership positions in my sorority and more. In that one full year, I’ve had pop-ups, a giveaway, my earrings in a store, and many awesome orders in between. One of my favorite parts of the process and owning a small business is the interaction I have with my customers. It is so fulfilling to be able to make someone’s vision come to life and for them to love the end result.
Today, almost a year later and close to graduating college, I am continuing my work on Martini Made Co. and constantly changing and progressing. I recently created some awesome ghost earrings for the spooky season that was a hit and am planning on doing another giveaway to spread some holiday joy this month. Although I don’t know where I will be in the next year, I plan on pushing forward, learning even more about the medium, fine-tuning my process, and continuing to make some awesome earrings.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel like I have definitely had to work through some obstacles and challenges throughout my experience as a small business owner. One of the main challenges has been balancing my small business with other parts of my life. Although it can be hard at times and there have definitely been some long nights, I make sure everything gets done. Another obstacle that I have had to overcome is my process. I’ve recently changed how I attach the posts to my earrings because knowing that there is a possibility of the post coming off was not something I liked. My new process for putting posts on the earrings include embedding them in the clay before baking, so the chance of the post coming off is way less likely. This took me many tries to find a way that I liked and knew would be best for my process. I’ve chosen to keep pushing through my struggles, learning more about the medium and understanding how I can be a better small business owner and maker.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Martini Made Co. – what should we know?
Martini Made Co. is a small business that allows you to customize polymer clay earrings. From choosing the color(s) of the clay to the style earring you want, it is a completely customizable experience and the end-product is unique. I believe that this is one of the things that sets my small business apart because I can create something that a customer envisioned. It gives them the chance to be part of the process and have a say in the final product. Another thing that sets my small business apart is the monthly donations to North Texas Make-A-Wish. North Texas Make-A-Wish is such a wonderful organization that I have continued to learn about and love over the past couple of years. I started to learn more about the organization during my freshman year of college through my sorority because it is our national philanthropy. I currently serve as the Make-A-Wish Co-Director and have been able to educate my community and chapter on the positive impacts that Make-A-Wish has on so many people while also planning and implementing events to raise money for the organization. Donating a portion of my proceeds has been such an uplifting part of owning a small business. Every single order that I receive has a percentage going directly to what I donate.
While there are many things you can create with polymer clay, I chose to focus on earrings because they are such a fun accessory that can make a statement and because they are one of my favorite things to add to an outfit!
Some of the things that I am most proud of as a small business owner is creating connections with my customers and being able to fulfill their visions. It truly does make me proud to be able to send them a product that they had a part in creating.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Some of the most important qualities that are important to my success are organization and determination. In order to continue with my small business and be successful, I plan my weeks out so that I am able to get everything that I need to get done, done. This includes planning out what days I do my homework, meetings that I have, other obligations and when I can work on earrings. My process for creating earrings is a long one. From working with the soft clay to baking it and then perfecting them before I put them together, it can take up to several days to get it all done and ready to be packaged. This is also taking into consideration the time spent doing other things on my checklist, like homework, while also working on earrings. This can definitely lead to stress and a lack of motivation overall, which is why determination is another important quality to be successful. Without determination, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. Along with support from my family, friends and customers, my determination pushes me to continue doing what I love and creating beautiful earrings.
Pricing:
- My prices range depending the style earring a customer chooses, for example, a stud can be $3-$10 while a dangle is either $20 or $25.
- My prices range from $3-$25.
- The price for shipping is a flat $4.
Contact Info:
- Email: martinimadeco@gmail.com
- Instagram: MartiniMadeCo
- Facebook: MartiniMadeCo
Image Credit:
Landry Leatherwood
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