In October of 2016, I decided to take a leap and turn my jewelry making hobby into a certified, woman owned business. Fast forward 3 years, and my brand, Nautically Northern, is now sold in over 80 stores across the country, and we are growing more every day. Over the past three years I have had the ability to meet so many great people and experience so many amazing things. It is not always rainbows and sunshine though; there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes running a business that I never realized until I started my own.
The saying “dreams don’t work unless you do” is the most accurate way to describe life as a small business owner. The business relies on how much time and effort you put into it. I have seen other business owners who start out and expect “it” to happen overnight. I am not sure what that “it” is but the odds of “it” happening in the blink of an eye are slim. It takes trial and error to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, what your target market is, and the best way to reach them without spending thousands of dollars.
Thankfully I have been able to fund Nautically Northern on my own with savings from my full-time job, but that has caused some additional obstacles. No matter how supportive my friends and family are of my dream, in the end, the success or failure of the business is all on me. I am the owner, the book keeper, the designer, the maker, the salesperson, and every other position I have to be in order to get the job done. Sometimes the stress can be a lot. It feels like all eyes are on me, watching my every move. It becomes clear who is around to lift you up and who is there for a handout. I have days that I just want to go back to working 9-5, but at the end of the day, the good people in my life are always right there cheering me on.
When I started Nautically Northern, I did not know much about running a business. From sourcing materials, designing websites, developing wholesale strategies and everything in between, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes. There are plenty of companies out there that you can hire to manage different aspects of your business but no one is going to be as passionate about my business as myself. This attitude, I think, has really contributed to the growth of my business. If there is an issue or when someone has a question, I can take care of it without having to send an email and make a phone call to a third party. Yes, it does take more time (that I don’t always have) but it adds a personal touch to my business that I would not want to change. This is how I create those special connections with my customers and really integrate my business into the community. After all, dreams don’t work unless you do.
The balance of working a full-time job and trying to grow a business is not easy to maintain. It requires late nights and missing out on weekends. My typical schedule means working Monday through Friday at my full-time job. Monday through Friday nights for my business and working weekend shows and events. Days off are a rare treat. While it has been great for business, it is mentally exhausting. After work during the week, I come home and fill orders or restock items I sold that weekend. If I am lucky, I can squeeze in an hour to go to the gym and decompress. I have learned that giving yourself a break, even if it is a small one is important for both my mental health, and for fresh business ideas.
Every day I am so thankful for the opportunities that my crazy life has given me, and that I have worked for. I am constantly learning more about myself and my abilities, and know that I put my best foot forward every day by making items designed to help bring a little piece of someone’s journey to the surface where they can see it, feel it, and share it with others.
Remember to shop small and shop local. You don’t need to spend money to support small businesses. Liking our social media pages, sharing our posts or even telling your friends is such a wonderful way to help small businesses. Without your support, our ideas would only remain ideas.
Your hand made jeweler,
Laurel Ryan, Founder
Nautically Northern
