Today we’d like to introduce you to Reid Cole.
Hi Reid, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for crystals and minerals arose from a deep interest and respect for the art of jewelry, and a desire to learn more about the rare and beautiful stones involved. A friend gave me a garnet crystal as a gift in the summer of 2019, and then my collection really started. At the time, I was working extremely long hours at a high-stress job in Logistics. Collecting and selling minerals online and at weekend markets/music festivals became my number one hobby and favorite distraction from a job I was less and less satisfied with every day. In February of this year, with my mental and physical health really suffering from the demands at work, I made the decision to quit and pursue my mineral business full time. I’ve traveled all over the Southeast this year doing shows, and been able to pay the bills doing something I love. Now I’m just trying to keep growing, keep doing bigger shows, and make this a sustainable business for myself for years to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been some challenges along the way so far! First, making the decision to leave a stable, well-paying job to pursue this business. As unhappy as I was in that position, leaving it behind to face an uncertain future was daunting, and it took me many months to work up the courage. Even after taking that step, I think addressing and managing feelings of self-doubt remains a regular and important task. Things won’t always go in your favor, but you can’t stop working, and can’t give up on yourself or your goals. Financially, it has also certainly been an adjustment not having a “regular paycheck” anymore, but the satisfaction of supporting myself doing something I love and want to do is pretty hard to beat.
We’ve been impressed with Terminus Crystals LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is an Atlanta-based source for crystals, gems, and fine mineral specimens from all over the world. I work with a network of suppliers spanning several continents to source rare and aesthetic pieces for collection, home decor, and metaphysical use. I work hard conducting market/pricing research and negotiating with my suppliers in order to be able to offer clients prices well below retail value on stones which are genuinely worth it. A mineral collection can absolutely be an investment, so I take pride in offering great deals on rare and sought-after material likely to increase in value. I have a large and frequently-rotating inventory, and am also happy to help in sourcing any particular mineral you’ve been searching for that I may not currently have in stock. Beyond the monetary value of the crystals I sell, I am constantly trying to learn as much as I can about the geological origins, locale histories, and other interesting information about both my stock and the field in general. I think this information is just as, if not more important than the money side of things, and I love to share it with people! It feels wrong to me to sell a crystal, or anything really, that you are not prepared to educate people on and answer their questions.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me at this stage of my life is finding a way to support myself and pursue my personal interests without having to sell my time, my body, and my soul to a corporation which does not value me. As I am on that journey myself, I want to do everything I can to support the people around me who might want to do the same thing.
Pricing:
- I sell crystals and minerals from $1 to $1000+, and try to have something for everybody!
Contact Info:
- Email: terminuscrystals@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TerminusCrystals
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terminus_crystals
Image Credits
Reid Cole
