Jennifer Farrell reflects on the runaway success of her first business venture Storm in a Teacup jewellery, her love of Christmas and her big plans for 2011…
Have you enjoyed this festive season and the run up to Christmas?
The last two months leading up to it are by far the busiest I’ve had since starting Storm in a Teacup and I’ve just loved it! I launched a ‘Christmas’ shop on my jewellery website with cocktail glass charms, decorative bells for the Christmas tree and all sorts, I had craft events every weekend and my website was inundated with orders every single day.
2. What have been your bestselling pieces?
The “Pebble & Plume” necklace has been my bestseller from my Exclusive range for Culture Label (which is also my personal favourite), closely followed by my “Love Blooms in Paris” vintage charm bracelets that I sold through CultureLabel which have now all sold out!
3. What’s been your highlight of 2010?
One highlight has been my jewellery reaching further afield and building up an international customer base. While I was late to get on board with Twitter, in the last 2 months alone I gained 1000 followers which meant I was then fulfilling customer orders for Switzerland, Australia, Pakistan, Germany and making friends abroad in the process. Another high has been all the new people I’ve met; fellow designers sharing advice who in turn become friends, lovely customers giving invaluable feedback and enthusiastic people who offered me wonderful new opportunities.
4. Where will you spend Christmas and who with?
Christmas is normally in Ireland with all our relatives in the beautiful countryside, 22 of us crammed round 3 tables end-to-end in my Aunt’s kitchen, everyone pitching in and by 8pm descending into a huge, rowdy game of cards and plenty of bottles of gin. This year comparatively quiet and low-key one at my parents in Hertfordshire with my brother, my boyfriend, and their dog.
5. What do you most look forward to about Christmas?
I absolutely love Christmas and the simple but gorgeous pleasures of lying in front of my parents’ fire, pottering around the kitchen together, eating chocolate with breakfast, having an indulgent lie-in, and spending lazy time with my family. Plus it being perfectly acceptable to take two guilt-free days off work with no pressure to get tasks done and being forced to turn off my laptop without feeling guilty about it!
6. What are your ambitions for 2011?
After my clearance sale on my website, I’m looking forward to starting work sourcing new and interesting materials in order to create some exciting new designs. I’m planning on designing a collection of rings and more vintage pieces. On a wider scale, I hope to maintain my track record for really happy customers who are always thoughtful enough to contact me and tell me how happy they are with their purchases.
7. What are your plans for New Years and do you have any new year resolutions?
On a work level I’m going to resolve to schedule the hours in my days more so that I stick to daily plans each day for 6 days and take a full day off every week. And now the business is more established, i’d like to spend more quality time with my friends and boyfriend.
