Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Ballard.
Hi Brooke, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
This is the part where I say something cheesy about my success and about how I have my life together, but that isn’t the case. Janey Bee Jems stem from a pipe dream of a younger me with a desire and aching need to work in the fashion industry; it has taken a lot of long nights to get to where I am. My story is long, as most are, so I’ll keep it short. In May 2015, I decided to trash the idea that the only viable path of life for me was the medical field and, in turn, it was like I opened Pandora’s box! You see, I was balancing between the sweet line of chaos and order and that is where the magic happened!
Janey Bee Jems started as a tassel necklace in my parent’s kitchen, and now I’ve worked with over 60 retailers nationwide. I’ve sold tens of thousands of necklaces and earrings, and I’ve shipped all over the world! The business grows every day and so does my heart. The love that creating magic has brought me is not something I can put a price tag on. I’m thankful for my customers, for my family, my supportive friends, and for the opportunity to sell things I’ve made with my own little hands. To be honest, I do all of this with hopes that maybe someone will see the magic and discover that there’s so much magic in them too.
Growing up, I loved to be creative, but I was taught that it was just a realm of an afterthought or a “hobby”. I had passions, and I felt like I always knew where my heart lies, but every environmental factor for me pointed to a career in science. I was taught by my school and my parents that careers involving the medical field were the only option and that no matter what, I was to seek stability and income.
I was an undergrad nursing student for nearly three years before I had my wake-up call. Within a matter of a month, I had made a switch to fashion. I was suddenly transferred to the merchandising department, working full-time as a children’s retail manager and buyer, and deciding to start my own business. This happened in May of 2015, and I never looked back.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think I’ve made compromises occasionally in my wholesale partnerships. Some I regret, but all of the experiences I am thankful for. I’ve worked with stores that have tried to take advantage of me, especially at an earlier age. When I first started wholesaling, I worked with this one store that I won’t name, but the buyers insisted on taking my pieces apart and building them to what they wanted during every meeting.
It felt like I was compromising so much of myself just to work with this company. By the end of the meeting, my designs were no longer mine. I would always leave and just cry in my car. It’s safe to say, I no longer work with this store! I eventually reclaimed my power and cut the account completely. In business, I still work with the occasional difficult buyer, but that’s just how it goes.
I try to be the most accommodating and professional, while still standing my ground. The difficult moments make the amazing ones so much sweeter, and it all has helped me grow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in statement pieces that are not mass-produced, so I may create a design, make a couple of them, and then you’ll never see it again. This makes my customer feel special because not many others will have the same necklace or pair of earrings that they do. This helps me also with staying fresh in the design process and also prevents me from burning out creatively.
As far as my creative ritual goes, My environment is really important to me for my creative space. I have to have a lot of natural light and good energy. Depending on my mood, I’m either watching The Office or listening to my “Create Some Pretty Things” Spotify playlist. I’m also learning that clutter hinders my mood greatly, so I try to keep my space clean and organized.
The skills I use to create are self-taught, which means I’m constantly learning something new, and my process is constantly evolving. I learn best “hands-on”, so I pretty much just tried to make a necklace one day. No youtube tutorials or anything, just beads and string. My first designs were not very stable, but they were so important to my creative process!
How I measure success has changed over time, and I’m so thankful it has. I use to measure success by volume. If I was making over 300 pieces a week, then I was successful. But now, if I’m creating pieces that I’m proud of, regardless of volume, that is success to me. The pieces that I put my heart and soul into cultivating my definition of success, especially if it is a piece that I made because I loved it, not because I thought it would sell.
I think what sets me apart from others is my passion. I never thought my business would grow to be where it is, so every milestone and every new day is truly a gift to me, and I spend a lot of time expressing my gratitude for it. All of my designs come from the heart, and to just be doing what I love every day is absolutely priceless.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think I’m most proud of how I’ve evolved as a designer and as a business owner. I’ve been working on my work-life balance the last year, and It has been really rewarding. It’s refreshing to not constrain yourself to a typical 9 to 5 workday.
I listen to my body and especially to what my soul needs, and I plan out my day from there. As someone who has always held herself to a very high, almost unachievable standard, I’m really trying to be kinder to myself, and not take unnecessary things so seriously.
Contact Info:
- Email: janeybeejems@gmail.com
- Website: janeybeejems.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeybeejems/?hl=en
Image Credits
The Hatches Photography + Video
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