Meet our member: Eliza from Eliza Bautista Jewellery
One of our most recent jewellery brands to join us is Eliza Bautista Jewellery - creating unique and handcrafted fine jewellery. After her time working as a Occupational Therapist her belief in the therapeutic powers of creativity invigorated her passion for crafts, leading her to set up her own studio and found Eliza Bautista Jewellery.
1. Introduce your brand in 3 words
Affordable luxury jewellery.
2. How long have you been in business for?
I have been designing and making jewellery for over 10 years. My retail business for 1 year.
3. What does the name of your brand mean / stand for ?
It’s an eponymous brand name, so this stands for me as a designer, my ethos and my creative vision. What that means is my customers know that I have a passion for jewellery, that each piece is designed from my creative perspective and it will always be made because I love it, wear it and want to share it. I want my jewellery loving community to be inspired by and cherish what they own.
4. Favourite down time activity?
Watching true crime programmes, playing with my dog and tending to my houseplants and vegetable garden.
5. What’s the best part of running your own business and your biggest achievement so far?
The best part is knowing that I have complete creative control over what I do. Finding inspiration, at the kitchen table or in the studio, then seeing that come to fruition across the whole creative process to manufacture. Then after I’ve told everyone how much I love my new creation seeing it worn and cherished by a customer on their own Instagram.
We’re a very young brand and so setting up the business after years of thinking about it was the single biggest achievement so far.
6. If you could go back five years and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?
Be confident, don’t waste time and start the business earlier.
7. Where would you like your brand to be in 5 years time?
As a recognised and trusted brand, a go-to for luxury and style at a price that is not out of reach for most people, with a range of reputable stockists such as high street department stores and fashionable independent boutiques. But overall creating a community of jewellery lovers who are inspired by my brand and offer their inspiration back.
8. One thing you couldn’t live without
My family.
9. Your guilty pleasure food?
Home made American style fluffy pancakes (with lots of butter and maple syrup).
10. Best piece of advice you’d give someone wanting to start their own brand.
Focus on what you love to do and want to share and have a clear idea of who you are, what you offer and who your ideal customers are. Find every way you can to talk to them, through your products, website, service, images and social media. Speak up about your brand and use PR to help you achieve that all important brand awareness.
Showing my designs in the best way possible is key, so getting media assets right was essential. So another piece of advice would be to have a professional photo shoot if you can. Seeing my pieces worn by beautiful models, styled and photographed professionally was a real ‘wow’ moment.
Contacts, community, advice & support. You can find out more about our memberships and join our members who are already pitching their products to press here.