Meet Sallie Dean of Resin by Sallie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sallie Dean.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Even from a young age, I always wanted to have accessories that really stood out. In my Freshman year of college, I decided that statement earrings worked the best to get my message across and add a pop of color to any outfit. I went with bold yellows, danglies, and even bright pink puffles to accentuate my everyday outfits. In my senior year, I grew tired of seeing the same old, same old within Instagram models and even in my own photos. I figured, “Why not make my own?” The very next day, I made my first pair of earrings– Resin by Sallie was born. While I am still a very small company, I have since expanded to making commissioned and personalized earrings for anyone and everyone. I also started making key chains with inspirational quotes next to real flowers within the resin.

Has it been a smooth road?
One of the toughest aspects about working with resin is the unpredictability. The majority of the time, customers who commission earrings or keychains want a specific color flower– which is amazing! However, sometimes when the certain flowers have been cured within the resin, they cure to be a completely different color. For example, I’ve had bright red flowers turn bright green, and dark purple flowers turn bright yellow. It’s truly a gamble each time, but that’s what makes it so much fun! Resin, in itself, is a very hard and tedious process to create every time– the curing process is a challenge– but I love being able to make people happy with their finished products.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Each set of accessories created by Resin by Sallie is one-of-a-kind. I gather and purchase all of my flowers locally, within the Chattanooga area. With each commission, I search for the proper color and arrangement for the customer’s desires. Then, I collaborate with them to use their favorite shape, glitter, and sometimes, even bugs! Each of my pieces is unique and made with love, and I love being able to create such personal products for my dear friends and customers.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chattanooga is a fairly big city, with connections to strong cities like Atlanta, Nashville, and Knoxville. The Chattanooga art scene has really put its best foot forward within the last two years, and I am proud to be a local artist. While I am not in a definitive “hub” for small business, there truly isn’t a different city I would rather be in– it all feels personal, while still feeling like the world is my oyster. That being said, word of mouth has helped my business out loads!

Pricing:

• Larger earrings range from $12-$15
• Smaller earrings are $10
• All key chains are $10

Contact Info:

• Email: skathryndean@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/resinbysallie
• Facebook: facebook.com/resinbysallie

Image Credit:
Headshot was taken by Savannah Amos

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