Collaboration | Gioiellini Designs | Brand Story
Hey Friends! In these strange times, it is becoming apparent that our world of marketing and retail is changing and it may never go back to the way that it was. At least not completely. I wanted to write about a recent collaboration I did with a small shop; give her a bit of a spotlight - because her merchandise is stunning. However I also wanted to speak directly to small shops and start a conversation about how they can take these strange times and this new market and build on it. So this is a bit of a mash-up post, stay with me. I promise I have a message and I hope it inspires you.
As you all are probably aware, the Corona Virus pandemic has changed the world and we are still stumbling around in the dark trying to find our way. While this can cause anxiety and make us all scared and nervous, there is also room to reinvent and grow in the darkness.
One of the things that I associate with darkness is sleep. I could see how darkness could feel lonely or scary but the best way to dig your way out of a not-great situation is to first start with your outlook - I’m not at all say that is the solution 100% of the time but its always a place to start. So in the darkness you sleep. You regenerate. You energize, and you renew. That is exactly what you can do with your business in this backward, upside-down time.
Consider the market before Instagram, or before online commerce really hit the scene. Our worlds were right on the precipice of change. Something big was happening and no one knew exactly what to expect from the inevitable change. Does this sound familiar? That’s because we each find ourselves in that very same situation with this pandemic. We have reached a point where priorities have shifted, not only in life but also in our business. This means that our services and how we connect with the consumer/customer have changed too.
The best part about all of this is that every single one of us is going through this at the exact same time. So what makes you different from your competitors? What ensures that your outcome will be a positive one? Take action. No one knows exactly what the “correct” answers are here but I promise you that the more that you actively choose to change the things you can control, the better your odds. Now is the time to invest in your business. Take action by beefing up your branding, or finally creating that business social media account. Maybe you need to update your equipment to streamline your business. There is so much that you can do to invest in yourself. Dive into your business and consider “what’s next”. It is rare that the whole world stops moving. Think of this time as a chance to shift your focus from maintaining to building.
One of the ways Lucia, owner of Gioiellini Designs, a small jewelry retailer, decided to take action is to contact me about helping her spruce up her website with new photography content.
Her beautiful contemporary designs are inspired by architecture. So we played on that by photographing them in a similar fashion. The clean, graphic approach to imagery helps convey her brand message of contemporary simplicity.
While I have been creating some powerful content for her, she has been consistently updating her website and posting on social media; all while fulfilling orders! I have been thoroughly impressed by how much drive and determination she has. It makes me so excited to be a small part of her growth.
There are few things that inspire me more than watching someones hard work pay off. Gioiellini Designs has its very own personality and she is fierce! I cannot wait to see what else Lucia does in this time of reinvention and growth. I am so thrilled about the places she is taking her business and that our paths crossed in this way.
This is just one example of how small shops can take action to improve their business during the pandemic. Lucia found something that she knew would serve her business and her customers and she jumped on it. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture but it does have to be meaningful to make an impact on your customers.
I have so loved working with Lucia and would love more clients like her but I’m not going to sell myself and my services to you. Not here. Not in this conversation. This space is for reflection and inspiration. I genuinely want to inspire others to invest time and energy in themselves and their business. Your business help provide an income for your family, and a service or a product to your customers. The investment you make in your business exponentially grows the impact to your customers. When you collaborate with other industry professionals the human connection grows even further. By extension investing in your business and collaborating with other entrepreneurs is just people helping people… And that my friends, is the best part about humanity.
I hope at the very least this has reenergized you and reminded you why you are an entrepreneur. You are awesome. You can do this!
Thank you Lucia for the opportunity to serve you and your business. If you all want to see more of her awesome jewelry please check out her website or etsy.
xoxo,
Haylie