I have been speaking to hand-made practitioners to get a better understanding of how running your own independent business goes, also to get any advice on starting up.
Lennie Beare is a jeweller from Norwich who makes silver jewellery.
I've always loved designing things, from redesigning my bedroom weekly as a child, to studying Design and Craft in Brighton, the thing that has always excited me has been designing. And the only way to really do that is to work for myself. After specialising in small metals at uni, making jewellery for someone else wouldn't have been enough, it had to be for me.
What are the perks of having your own business?
There are two things I particularly love. The first is the satisfaction of drawing up an idea and then later that day having the physical object in front of me. And the second is being able to say, it's a sunny day, I don't want to be inside, I'm going to enjoy the outside and no one can stop me.
What are the downsides / struggles?
I spend a lot of time on my own, and I love being surrounded by people, so I find that quite difficult. You also have to be your own motivator, there isn't anyone there on the days that you're procrastinating or struggling to say, 'come on Lennie, you've got this, make something good!'
Do you have any tips for people starting up?
Be social media savvy, when I started using instagram for my business I worried that I would be boring my friends who follow me, but it's such a useful tool and you soon realise that you're friends are just happy to see you being productive. If you get lonely, then listen to the radio, thousands of people are all listening to the same thing at the same time and I find that very comforting, I'm part of a community, while just sitting in my studio.
What are the perks of having your own business?
There are two things I particularly love. The first is the satisfaction of drawing up an idea and then later that day having the physical object in front of me. And the second is being able to say, it's a sunny day, I don't want to be inside, I'm going to enjoy the outside and no one can stop me.
What are the downsides / struggles?
I spend a lot of time on my own, and I love being surrounded by people, so I find that quite difficult. You also have to be your own motivator, there isn't anyone there on the days that you're procrastinating or struggling to say, 'come on Lennie, you've got this, make something good!'
Do you have any tips for people starting up?
Be social media savvy, when I started using instagram for my business I worried that I would be boring my friends who follow me, but it's such a useful tool and you soon realise that you're friends are just happy to see you being productive. If you get lonely, then listen to the radio, thousands of people are all listening to the same thing at the same time and I find that very comforting, I'm part of a community, while just sitting in my studio.
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