Meet Chelsea Salomone and Jaymi Palmer of Clever Bear Leathers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Salomone and Jaymi Palmer.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Our story is a little bit unique because we actually started our business by accident. Jaymi and I are best friends and neighbors. We were searching for the perfect birthday gift for a friend but couldn’t find exactly what we were looking for in the price range we wanted to spend.

So Jaymi made a pair of earrings, and we posted them on Facebook. Before we knew it friends were asked to order, then friends of friends, and twice, total strangers bought the earrings right out of our ears on the street!! (True story!) We decided to create an Etsy shop to keep orders a little more organized, and our business has grown organically from there!

Our jewelry line is sold in more than a dozen stores now, The majority of our business still comes from our Etsy shop and trunk shows we host in homes. We still make all of our jewelry by hand at Jaymi’s house and package and ship it around the corner at Chelsea’s.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We have been so blessed because our business has exceeded every expectation we ever had. I guess that’s easy because we really had none going in, haha!

We started our business last February (2017), and by the end of March it really took off. It’s been fast and furious, and we’ve learned a lot along the way in terms of how to run things more smoothly. We literally started out keeping orders on a sticky note and hand delivering the list to Jaymi’s house. We would show up to retail stores with some earrings on a stand and as we were parking the car thinking, “Okay, what do we want to say? What should we charge them if they’re willing to buy?”

Obviously, we’ve had to streamline things since we’ve grown and come up with systems and processes. The fun thing about our business is that it’s grown organically, it wasn’t something we planned or strategized.

And now we have a team of three other girls working with us, and we absolutely could not do what we do or be successful without each of them?

Clever Bear Leathers – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Clever Bear Leathers is a jewelry line with one of a kind, handmade pieces.

Almost everything we make is customized in one way or another and all of it is made by hand, which really makes our stuff one of a kind.

What makes us really unique, however, are our customers. Without them, we couldn’t do what we do. We have the very best customers, most of whom we now consider friends. Because we interact a lot with our customers, customizing their pieces and learning the story or the reason for the gift they’re making someone, it really creates a special bond.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think success is enjoying what you’re doing, doing it with integrity, and for the right reasons. I think it’s rare to make money doing something you love alongside someone you love, so that’s success to me! Also, personally, I think success means keeping my priorities in line and putting my family first. – Chelsea

I agree. We both said from the beginning our friendship came before our business, and we’ve kept it that way. I think also honoring our commitments at church, with our families. Anything that comes beyond that and any kind of success we have is just a cherry on top. – Jaymi

Pricing:

• Earrings $18
• Necklaces $28
• Cuff Bracelets $24

Contact Info:

• Website: cleverbearleathers.etsy.com

Image Credit:
Hilary Jocelyn Photography

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