Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Tarver, Jr.
Hi Mitchell, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent my childhood on a farm in southeast Alabama, where I started my rock collection by digging through the red clay dirt in search of buried treasure. Little did I know these digs would lead me to my dream career! I never found treasure, but I did find my passion for crystals and gemstones.
I purchased my first pyrite bracelet on an annual family vacation to Chattanooga, TN and never thought much about crystals until many years later.
In high school, I studied C++ and HTML with aspirations of becoming a computer programmer or a video game designer. After completing an internship at the University of Alabama the summer following tenth grade, I decided the work was too mentally exhausting and ran for the hills.
Once college appeared on the horizon, I realized time was running out and I needed to choose a major. I decided to study hospitality management at Howard University in Washington, D.C. I loved to travel and eat, so working in hospitality seemed like the perfect fit. I could earn plenty of money while seeing the world and getting discounts on luxury hotels and cuisine. After three summer internships at some of the most luxurious hotels in D.C., it was time to take a real job, forever crushing my paradigm of what my adult life would be like.
As fate would have it, I disliked the monotony of the work and the money was hardly enough to live comfortably in D.C. Despite working crazy hours, I still barely made ends meet. Even though employees received 50% off hotels within the brand portfolio, affording them on my salary was something I could only dream about.
I disliked the rigid structure and scripted life of a corporate employee. My bright-eyed, 21-year-old self contemplated spending the rest of my life existing under this complete dominion. I would rather die! My future looked bleak.
It was around this time that I remembered my passion for crystals and purchased The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall. This book re-ignited my bracelet-making passion and inspired the creation of my first collection, which I gifted to several of my closest friends.
My BOYBEADS journey began soon after I accepted that a full-time career in hospitality was not for me. My attitude at work went sour; I strayed from the script on the phone with customers, and eventually got called in for a meeting with human resources. I knew I would be fired, so I cleaned out my desk and took my belongings with me to the meeting. It was the best day of my life!
That night, I called a friend in South Carolina who owned his own business and he recommended that I start a website selling the bracelets I had been making for fun. BOYBEADS was born on November 11, 2011.
Shortly afterwards, I moved to Harlem and stumbled upon Sugar Hill Market- a carefully curated collective of independent local artists who came together to sell their wares in the parlor floor of a stunning brownstone that doubled as an art gallery on West 132nd Street in Harlem. To my surprise and delight, I was invited to join them on Sundays to sell my jewelry. In addition to selling boybeads directly from my website, I now had a physical location to interact with customers face to face. This was the beginning of many beautiful friendships, partnerships and a whole new chapter for my company.
With years of hard work as a solopreneur and a strong support system of friends, family and customers, the company prospered through uncertain economic times and continues to thrive.
When the coronavirus struck New York, I fled the city and went home to Alabama for safety. While visiting Atlanta, I found The Village Retail, a store founded by Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon and located at Ponce City Market, offering goods from around 25 black owned local entrepreneurs. After vending at several of their events, I was invited to sell my jewelry in the store. Experiencing the overwhelming display of support and positivity among the village community motivated me to relocate my company to Atlanta in August of this year. I am overjoyed and delighted to live in a city filled with limitless opportunity for everyone and not only the lucky few.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, the road has been smooth for me, however, there have been several struggles over the years. One of my main struggles with business has been maintaining the discipline to allocate profits back into the business instead of paying myself more when sales are good. The excitement of living in New York for the first few years after starting my business came along with many temptations, few of which I could resist. I often found myself splurging on designer clothes, fancy brunches and vacations when those funds would have been better used on advertising, inventory or hiring help with my responsibilities. The last few years have brought many surprises for small businesses and it’s always good to be prepared financially for potential hardships in the future. I learned the hard way when I was hit with an unexpected tax bill a few years ago and had to scramble to find the necessary resources to settle the debt. In business, there is always another surprise expense and it often seems to come at the worst possible moment. Proper preparation, saving and forecasting can help prevent the stress and struggle of finding resources in times of unexpected expenses. Another struggle has been that of creating a good work-life balance. Because I work from a home office, I often find myself working long hours and readily allowing my work to overlap with my personal time. For several years, I did not have a schedule for my work week and usually worked around the clock. I’d find myself responding to emails after midnight, scheduling posts for social media or ordering supplies when I should have been at the park with my dog. I had no boundaries and my work dominated my entire life to the point of mental and physical exhaustion. Truthfully, I have only recently learned to work on a schedule and to prioritize self-care, mental health and a balanced social life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is creating semi-precious crystal beaded bracelets and necklaces for men. All are welcome to enjoy my collections, but they are designed with men in mind. At the time of starting my company in 2011, there were a few high-end mens jewelry designers and many low-end designers. I wanted to create a company that was somewhere in the middle of the road- enter Boybeads.
I’m most proud of bringing high quality natural crystal jewelry to men who may not have previously understood the difference between natural and artificial stones. As we are beings made from the same materials as natural crystals birthed by our planet, wearing them in jewelry form can bring many benefits both physically and spiritually. My jewelry collection is not simply made for beauty but also for to assist in spiritual alignment and ascension. No, I do not sell the idea that simply wearing a crystal bracelet will magically transform someone into higher consciousness. However, I strongly believe that connecting with specific crystals with intention can raise awareness and open doors that may have been long closed. The most rewarding aspect of my participation in sales events with the public is observing the process of a customer finding that special piece that calls out to them. I never know which piece of jewelry they will like because it’s not for me to know. Whichever piece is right for them will whisper to them quietly-so I never need to enforce a heavy sales pitch. The heart wants what it wants and I wouldn’t dare try getting in the way of that.
I believe it is my consistency that sets me apart from others. Over the years, I have seen many designers come in strong and suddenly ghost when things don’t go as planned. Others have taken extended breaks from creating and randomly reappeared after months of absence. Consistency is key in any business. Even when sales are not strong, it is necessary and respectful to show up anyway. Life has taught me that slow and steady wins the race. I have learned to move at my own pace and not to compete or compare my business to others. I stay in my own lane and I love it here.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for networking is to know yourself first. Who are you? What are you looking for in a network? How do you learn? I learn best by observation, so anyone I can watch is a mentor for me in one way or another. I take notes from everyone because everyone has something to teach. I have never enjoyed networking events because they seem too forced and desperate. My most valuable allies in life are people I met while going about my business in my everyday life. We did not plan to meet- the universe just brought us together and we vibed. I highly recommend self-help and YouTube as a primary means of learning. Before seeking a mentor, do all the research you can do on your own first. You may find that you don’t actually need a mentor at all but a friend instead.
Pricing:
- Bracelets- $35-$60
- Necklaces $60-$200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boybeads.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boybeads
- Facebook: https://www.fb.com/boybeads
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/boybeads
Image Credits
N/A
