Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Fendler.
Hi Samantha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The idea of Weld ATL began in the summer of 2022. I had recently become a first time mom and was trying to navigate all the new that life was throwing my way. Although I knew being a mom would be my top priority, I knew I wanted an outlet outside of motherhood where I could find independence, flexibility, and the ability to be creative. I knew I wanted to create a business where I could be my own boss, so the search began for what this could be. Permanent jewelry was a relatively new concept that was being introduced to the Atlanta area, and I knew immediately it would offer the things I was hoping for. It was something that allowed me to create, be social, and something that could be mine. I invested in training and hit the ground running. At the beginning, it was me constantly putting myself out there. I would reach out to local businesses asking if I could pop up. After months of pop ups and social media pushes, I began to really get the name out there. By the first 6 months, it was something I could no longer juggle by myself. Fast forward to 3 years later, Weld ATL is now a team of 7. I get to focus primarily on the backend of the business making sure we have everything we need to keep the business successful whether that be outreach, stocking materials, finding new products, creating corporate relationships, or scheduling. The other girls help bring the vision to life by helping weld at the pop up and private events.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It took a long time before I would consider this is “smooth road”. I’ve never run a business before, so I had a lot to learn about what it means to be a business owner. Getting the business started was by far the hardest part. Having to take the leap of faith into investing in myself was scary, but the most rewarding thing I could have done. It was a lot of trial and error in learning how to create the best product, learning how to weld, figuring out how to get my business seen, and how to stand out when other permanent jewelry businesses started popping up. I also had to learn how to let go of trying to handle it all, which was something that was hard for me to do. Hiring a team I could trust and depend on was by far the best thing I’ve done once I learned to let go of all the responsibilities.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Weld ATL specializes in permanent jewelry. We create a new piece that also comes with a fun, memorable experience. Jewelry is such a special way to create a memory or represent a sentimental moment. This is what I have f0und to be the most meaningful thing. We offer a variety of chains and charms, which people are able to use to in multiple ways. Maybe they want something fun to match family or friends, but often, they want to symbolize something extra meaningful in their life. There’s been times where clients get something to represent a lost loved one, a difficult cancer battle, or as a connection to remind them of their family fighting for our country over seas. This is when I realize what I’m doing has meaning and this is what I’m most proud of. Getting to be a small part of people’s lives is the biggest blessing, and something I didn’t even realize I would be doing when I began the company. Our jewelry can be a daily reminder of something so meaningful.
In addition to our permanent jewelry, we have also stepped into tennis bracelets. We have traditional removable tennis bracelets and we also have a signature design that can be made into a permanent piece.
Any big plans?
Plans for the future would be potential growth outside of Atlanta. The idea of starting a Weld in other cities would be such an exciting adventure.
Pricing:
- Permanent Jewelry Starting at $48
- Tennis Bracelets starting at $700
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weldatl.org
- Instagram: @weld_atl – https://www.instagram.com/weld_atl/
Image Credits
Bre Cashman – Seemingly Ordinary – @seeminglyordinary.cs
