Today we’d like to introduce you to Tj Johnson.
Hi Tj, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Ten years ago, I started jewelry making as a hobby. I needed a distraction from the outside world, so I buried myself deep into jewelry making. What makes my jewelry unique is that I use nickel-free chain in my bracelets. The Chain is how I came up with my brand name Chains Charms Love. Surprisingly I myself do not wear much jewelry, but I decided to give it a go since I was creating pieces on a regular. I wore my bracelets to work, the grocery store, big events, basically anywhere I could gain exposure. I started receiving compliments on my jewelry, and that`s when I knew I was creating attractive pieces!
Year 2015, I was fully invested in becoming an Artist. I attended craft shows, set up at local coffee shops, sent out emails to most local boutiques trying to get my work into as many local shops as possible. Summer of 2016 I finally got my jewelry into a local gift shop twenty minutes from my home. My bracelets were flying off the shelf, and I finally felt accomplished!
Spring of 2018 the owner of the gift shop decided to relocate to Florida closing their doors after so many years of business. I was back to my 8th coffee shop set up selling my bracelets. I sat at that coffee shop for 7 hours and sold 3 items. The crowd was simply not into the type of jewelry I was creating.
November 2018, I decided to join Etsy a handmade platform for Artist. My first five months on Etsy I received no sales. One night I was awaken by an unusual sound on my phone. It was a notification of my very first sell on Etsy. The next day I woke up full of motivation and inspiration I created over 20 pieces to add to my shop. Over the next nineteen months, I had over six hundred sales on Etsy I was well on my way to achieving my goals.
Currently, I am working on my own website to sale my jewelry alongside my Etsy shop. I have achieved well over one hundred five star reviews on Etsy. Nothing makes me happier than to make another person happy, to bring joy to my customers, to have my passion become their fashion statement. My goal is to become a well-known jewelry artist around the world.
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?
Jewelry is an extremely hard niche to be in, so no it has not been a smooth rode. There are currently over 4.3 million jewelry artist on Etsy alone. My biggest struggles have been exposure and lack of support. Although I have gained a few sales from family and friends. 97 percent of my success has been from people who don`t even know my name, but simply admired my work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I hand make bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, and home decor. I specialize in chained jewelry. Most of my bracelets contain nickel free chain attached to the finished product. It’s not often you see chain on a bracelet. This is what sets me apart from other artist. I am most proud of my drive, my motivation to create a new piece every day, to keep going despite the slow days, etc. I work on my brand every single day. I am most proud that my work is admired by so many people across the world. Every time I get a sell I am excited to see what state or country it is shipping to.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband Donny deserves so much credit although he is not a part of my business he brings so much motivation and inspiration to my journey. Some of my pieces were designed strictly off suggestions he have made. He also makes sure my supplies like shipping envelopes, etc. stay fully stocked. My seven year old niece Andii is also a huge motivation to my success. This past summer she helped me get organized by sorting and color coding my beads. She also offered to model some of my kid jewelry designs.
Contact Info:
- Email: chainscharmslove@gmail.com
- Website: etsy.com/shop/chainscharmslove
- Instagram: instagram.com/chainscharmslove
- Other: chainscharmslove.faire.com
