Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Jackson.
Natalie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am the owner of The Frazier Stone Company, which consists of several business endeavors. I began making custom jewelry in 2012 while I was being a caretaker for my mother. My mother purchased a beautiful bracelet for me and one day, it popped. I sent it in to have it repaired, only to have it break again when I got it back. After looking closely at the materials used to make it and the construction of the bracelet, I surmised that I could fix it myself. This sparked my curiosity and creativity. After doing lots of research and practicing the craft, I decided to launch a custom jewelry-making business and Frazier Stone Jewelry was born. I have been making high-end custom jewelry since then.
My social media following grew organically and I would frequently get messages from other artisans about the beauty of my hand-crafted jewelry and beading supplies I used. I was getting ready to move to another location and it made sense to downsize some of the beads that I had accumulated (and I had accumulated a lot!). One day I went on my Instagram page and told my fellow artisans that I would be selling some of my beading stash. I was not prepared for the response. My beading stash sold out quickly and the inquiries just kept coming. As a result, I went to a bead show and purchased the kinds of beads I would normally use in my own designs and began selling them to my followers. And in alignment with who I am, I added being a beading supplier to my business. This sparked the launch of Frazier Stone Beads & Gems (now The Crafting District), a company that specializes in exquisite gemstones and crystals. Later I added other products including patches, seed beads and large stones for home, business and office decor.
To say THANK YOU to all of my supporters, I decided to give back to them by hosting an event called The FSJ Bead & Bubbly (Bead & Bubbly). At this event, jewelry artisans come together to collaborate, share ideas and make jewelry. After the success of the first event, I started collaborating with fellow artisans and decided to add workshops so that participants could learn or practice skills. In addition, the event now includes all kinds of crafting, for example at the last event we featured workshops on how to use the Cricut (cutting machine), how to bling and how to make waist beads. This gave fellow artisans a platform to teach and share their expertise. These events happen annually and are continuing to grow.
The Bead & Bubbly event is where I began making strong connections with fellow artisans and wanted to create a Team of creatives to move forward with some of my endeavors. My husband Monzel Jackson was my first official team member followed by Tanya Bradwell, the owner of UCBeadz Custom Jewelry & TanyaB. Crafting. Other team members include Talaya Jones, the owner of Charmed by TJ and Jewell Anderson, the owner of The Jewel Zone. My team and I have been working diligently to improve the existing offerings of The Frazier Stone Company and to create new products and services.
In my most recent endeavors, I have launched two other branches of The Frazier Stone Company, to include The Crafting District and The Crafting Club Elite. The Crafting District will include materials and tools jewelry designers and crafters need to create their custom items. The Crafting Club Elite is an exclusive membership created to provide jewelry makers and crafters with the skills, knowledge and support they need to grow their businesses. This will include coaching calls and face-to-face & online classes. In addition, I provide one-on-one consultations and coaching for artisans.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are very few African American women who are well-established gemstone beading and gems suppliers. I remember going to a large vending event and being the only African American supplier there. One of the vendors who was assigned to set up next to me went to the event organizer and requested to be moved. I was taken aback by that but I know my rightful place and did not let it deter me. I continue to be persistent in making connections with others in this industry but it is a challenge when you are met with those types of people and experiences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Frazier Stone Company?
The Frazier Stone Company consists of Frazier Stone Jewelry, The Crafting District (formally Frazier Stone Beads & Gems) and The Crafting Club.
Frazier Stone Jewelry – I create custom (one of a kind) jewelry using exceptional quality gemstones and jewelry findings. I specialize in making gemstone beaded bracelets and necklaces. My “substantial” necklaces are one of my signature products. I also teach jewelry design and jewelry construction to jewelry artisans.
The Crafting District – We provide jewelry artisans and crafters with quality supplies to make handmade crafts. This includes high-quality gemstone beads and gems.
The Crafting Club – Provides online courses for those who want to start a business or add on to their existing businesses. It also consists of a paid membership into The Crafting Club Elite. In this membership, participants receive weekly coaching calls and monthly tutorials and challenges to improve their knowledge and skills. All with the goal of helping them grow their businesses.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I definitely believe that this industry will continue to grow. During the pandemic many people began searching for ways to supplement their income while they were limiting the amount of time going outside. They began crafting and selling to bring in more money. Now that this has become a more viable option for many, I can see that people want to build their businesses more and more. The idea of entrepreneurship has become more attainable and people want to learn how they can scale their businesses. The crafting industry is definitely going to continue to be hot.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thefrazierstonecompany.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thefrazierstonecompany
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thefraziersonecompany
Image Credits:
Peymac Consulting LLC @peymacmedia on IG
