In today’s Creative Babes post, we’re talking to Megan Reynolds of . I’ve been a fan of Megan and her jewelry for YEARS. She’s one of the kindest people out there, and one of my favorite things about her business is that she uses it to give back to important causes (particularly those that help women around the world). Learn more about her business, causes, and potential superpowers below.
When did you get started making jewelry? Has it always been a business or did it start as a hobby?
I’ve always loved jewelry and started making jewelry when I was 10 years-old. By the time I was in 6th grade, I started selling some designs to my teachers. When I was 16, I really started getting into gemstones and by the time I was graduating from high school, the idea for Flawed Perfection Jewelry was already forming. When I was 18, I started FPJ (during the same month I started college, August 2009) as a “real” business.
How has your business evolved over the years?
My business has gone through a lot of changes in the last five years. For the first couple of years, I focused on designing gemstone pieces, many of which were one-of-a-kind. In 2012, I started incorporating Swarovski crystals into my designs. Now, I design exclusively with crystals and became a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ingredient Branding Partner earlier this year. Now, our line is all about customized sparkle, a big change from the first line we had!
What has been your favorite part of running a jewelry business?
My favorite part is having the power to have see my visions come to life and see my customers glowing when they put their new designs on (I guess that’s really two favorites ;). Being the boss is nice too!
What has been the most challenging?
One of the biggest challenges has been finding the confidence to sell myself and my story. When I started college (and my business), I was so shy, quiet, and reserved on campus. However, I started to realize that the more confident I sounded about the business or school, the more people listened, respected me, and connected with my business and its purpose. The entrepreneurship program I was in was only 20% female, so I frequently had to prove myself to the males in the class. By the time I graduated, I was the go-to person for public speaking advice (big change from the start of college).
Can you tell me a bit about the charity organizations you’ve supported through your businesses? How do you choose the organizations and what types of causes are closest to your heart?
I LOVE giving back and using my business for good. Every month, I give back a portion of sales to different charities. Most of the ones I choose help oppressed girls and women around the world. Since 2013, I’ve given to many of the charities that Half the Sky supports. They focus on five areas: gender-based violence, trafficking, education, economic empowerment, and maternal mortality. Additionally, I’ve given to other organizations that help girls, including the Malala Fund and Girl Up. In fact, 10% of all sales through the end of December are going to Girl Up.
Do you have any creative hobbies aside from making jewelry?
Honestly, making jewelry is my main hobby (and job). I do love to work on my family genealogy and spend time with family and friends.
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Oooo…good question! I think I would love to teleport. No travel/trip time? SWEET!
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Thanks so much to Megan for being a Creative Babe! If you’re interested in being featured in a future post just email wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com. And be sure to visit Megan on her sites below!
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