Conversations with Autumn Willow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Willow.

Hi Autumn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve had a lot of different jobs in my life and a lot of cruel bosses. My business was born out of a desire to be free from jobs where I was underpaid and overworked, and I wanted to create something I was proud of. I first moved to Arizona to go to Arizona State University, where I decided to major in psychology. I used to work nights at this gift shop in Scottsdale, and it was always so quiet in the last hour before we closed. I have always loved crystals since I was a little girl, and I remember sitting by the register looking at some of the handmade jewelry we sold. It was hushed one day, and I ordered some jewelry-making supplies. I brought them into work my next shift and would wrap crystal necklaces between customers.

A few weeks later, I was called into the manager’s office when I came in for work. I thought I was getting a promotion, as I always showed up early and went above and beyond in my work ethic. However, to my dismay, the owners fired me after accusing me of stealing merchandise from the store. Of course, I hadn’t stolen anything, but I had to collect my things and leave with no way to prove my innocence. I might never know why they fired me, but it might be due to my purple hair and tattoos. The owners were old-fashioned, and I don’t fit their stereotypical view of an ideal employee. With less than $200 in my bank account and as a college student living miles away from any family, I had yet to learn what to do. It was sink or swim, and there was no way I would let myself sink. In the back of my mind, I had an idea. I took my $200 and bought a used tent, a business license and business insurance, some jewelry displays from Goodwill, and collected all the crystal necklaces I had wrapped. I set up a booth at the Downtown Mesa Farmer’s Market the following Saturday. I could feel my heart pounding as customers started to trickle through the market. What if no one wanted to buy my necklaces? What would I do then? By the end of the market, I had made about $150, which was saying something because I was only selling my handmade necklaces, which were much cheaper than they should have been. I remember crying on the drive home, realizing that I had created something people wanted and that all the hard work I had put in wasn’t for nothing. Since then, my product line and my passion for business have grown tremendously. I even added a second major in business entrepreneurship at ASU.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I speak for every small business owner when I say we face insurmountable struggles. One of the most difficult is selling my products at local farmer’s markets. I run my business entirely by myself; everything I sell is handmade by me and only me. When I sell at a market, there’s no one to help me set up my tent, carry the heavily weighted sandbags, give me a break if I need to use the bathroom or call out to me if I’m sick. I’ve worked markets with a 103 fever, in the pouring rain, in the cold. If foot traffic is busy, it’s expected that I would have to miss the opportunity to use the bathroom for hours at a time.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in staying busy and always working towards success and improving myself. I am a small business owner, but I am also a junior at Arizona State University. I’m double majoring in psychology and business entrepreneurship. I’m taking 22 credits this semester and have a 3.9 GPA. I help run a women’s workout club on campus. I work part-time as a salesman in the male-dominated home security industry. What sets me apart from everyone else is my determination. If I put my mind to something, I cannot accomplish anything. If I balance this as a college student, who’s to say what I will achieve after graduation?

So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
The best way to collaborate with me is to interact with me! Since I make all my jewelry myself, I often custom-make items on the spot at markets. Some of my best-selling products have come from ideas given to me by customers at markets. I frequently make custom rings on the spot if someone wants a specific size, and I’ll never forget this little girl who wanted a ring, but her fingers were tiny. She couldn’t have been over 6 years old, and I made her a dainty rose quartz ring at her mom’s request. It was smaller than a penny, but the look of pure joy on her face to be able to find a ring (in her favorite color) that fit her was the cutest thing. I now often make custom-sized rings for cute kids with tiny little fingers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://autumnwillowjewelry.etsy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/willowjewelry_/