Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Haley.
Hi Cheryl, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended Alabama A&M University (Go Bulldogs!!!), where I majored in Speech-Language Pathology, which is my first passion. While working full-time as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Atlanta, Georgia, I was fortunate to have my summers off and, as a result, was able to explore my second passion, which is expressing myself through fashion and jewelry. I began designing and creating handcrafted jewelry during my time off, and I quickly realized that I had an eye for creativity. With an innate entrepreneurial spirit embedded in me from my parents (my father owner of Heritages Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, GA and my mother retired owner of The Kut Factory in Snellville, GA and D.J.’s Barber Style Center in Gadsden, AL), I decided to give life to Miss Prissy’s Designs which I established August 2012, in Atlanta, GA.
The success of my business is deeply rooted in networking. It is not enough to showcase my designs on my website and social media. I enjoy meeting my customers, ascertaining their likes/dislikes, and most importantly, working with them to customize jewelry that represents who they are while incorporating my vision into the design. It is essential for me to constantly explore venues and locations to have pop-up shops or serve as a vendor. This often requires me to establish relationships with other business owners, many of which are long-lasting and lead to opportunities within their networks.
Through networking and establishing relationships, I have been fortunate to work with some excellent retailers, business owners, and event coordinators. Some of them include iWi Fresh Garden Day Spa, J. Crew, Fabrik, Kuumba coffee, Juneteenth in the Marietta Square, and Birmingham Art Crawl sorority events, scholarship galas, luncheons, festivals, and private showings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have used my obstacles as my stepping stones. Establishing a reputable name has always been at the forefront of launching my business, and it was not short of pitfalls. My primary difficulty was locating wholesale distributors. I circumvented this hurdle by educating myself about the industry, networking with other jewelry designers, and attending jewelry shows. Trying to determine my price point was also a challenge. My parents were instrumental in helping me understand that because I was providing a unique and quality product, my prices would need to reflect that to sustain the business. This proved to be an invaluable lesson. The technology side of the business was also a challenge for me. For example, establishing and managing my website was a significant point of contention. To mitigate the issue, I ultimately decided to hire a company so that I could focus on the creativity side of the business. An additional challenge presented itself in my efforts to maintain a full-time job and make my business thrive. I continue to push through because creating beautiful designs is something that I am genuinely passionate about and enjoy doing. The process is very relaxing. I can work a full day, come home, relax, and do what I love. How many people can say that they have an outlet that they enjoy? For this, I am truly blessed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work environment is critical to me. My creative space is a compilation of music, inspirational quotes, the sun beaming into the room, and perfect lighting. I have invested in quality tools, supplies, and materials to create my pieces. This is an ongoing process that never ceases. I started with beaded bracelets made of organic and semiprecious stones and various charms. I incorporated new techniques into my jewelry style a year or so later. Those techniques have led me to create bracelets, geometric-shaped earrings, necklaces, and rings using various metals such as stainless steel, sterling silver, 14 karat gold, and gold-filled to develop a variety of designs.
No one thing inspires me. Inspiration for me comes in so many different and unusual forms, but the key to it all comes from observance. I take great notice of people; what are they wearing, what colors do I see, what is the style of their outfit, and how can I make all of this come together in a design of a piece of jewelry that I could potentially create? The creativity then begins. I sketch my vision at the very moment that it comes to my mind. This leads me to bring my sketch to life utilizing the precious metals, stones, beads, and/or wires in my workspace. I take pride in creating unique one-of-a-kind pieces that cannot be found in your local mall or boutique. My clients and shoppers will never see hundreds of pieces available for purchase because my utmost focus is quality and not quantity. My goal is for each customer to have a unique quality product that will last for years. I genuinely take time, care, and pride in each piece that I handcraft while also providing excellent customer service to attend to their needs.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The jewelry industry is constantly changing and evolving as fashion and styles change. It is a very competitive market, and as a result, I must have a solid online presence to cater to consumers increasingly shopping online. This requires me to have a solid social media presence that is active and interactive.
My top priority has always been the satisfaction of my customers. I go above and beyond to make sure every customer feels like they are the only customer, and they are heard, and most importantly, they are satisfied with their handcrafted jewelry purchase. I create under the mantra: “Being Prissy is Not Common It’s Authentic”. Miss Prissy’s Designs embodies this. I am not common, nor are my designs.
Contact Info:
- Email: chaley@missprissys.com
- Website: www.missprissys.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missprissysdesigns/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/missprissysdesigns/
Image Credits:
Michelle Davina Photography
