Name of your website?Simply Charmin
Your name?
Michele Van Dyke Hayden
Your Location (city, etc)
Toddville, Maryland Marylands Lower Eastern Shore
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Simply Charmin, based in Toddville, Maryland (located on Marylands Eastern Shore) offers one of a kind hand painted oyster shell jewelry ! Look far and wide ...you will only find this one of a kind handpainted jewelry here!
All items start as raw baby oyster shells ( from the Chesapeake Bay ). Each shell under goes a vigorous 12 step process to sanitize, strengthen and prepare the shell for paint. Once the shell is prepared, the artistic process begins. Once the artisitic process begins, the sky is the limit!
What inspired you to launch your own website?
My father, step mother and husband! All of them urged me to do this. My husband pushed me when I thought about not following through and all of them offered words of encouragement when I thought my product was unfit to sell. They saw something in me and as a team pryed it out of me! Now I thank them everyday!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
May 2008- Simply Charmin went live
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I wracked my brain for weeks trying to "name" my charm jewelry and one night, my husband and I were on on way home and I blurted out it's "Simply Charmin"- I liked the name because its simple and the jewelry is charmin - punn intended :)
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
I have searched the web - and I have found NO ONE that offers a product like this. My jewelry is handpainted on very tiny oyster shells. I have seen many handpainted pieces of jewelry- but mine are unique in that nature forms my canvas- making each piece different.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My eventual goal is to have a retailer in each state carrying my jewelry.I want to run out of the 1.5 million shells that I have on hand!
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I have to say that in the beginning this was much more of a hobby than a money maker.Since the launch of my website, things are looking up...WAY UP! The response has been wonderful! It makes you feel really good when someone from the other side of the country calls to thank you for creating the perfect graduation gift!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would have a bigger workshop- but other than that, I dont thinkI would change a whole lot. I love every aspect of my business. The creative end is where I get to be my self and put brush to canvas and let my imagination run wild. The person to person part allows me to enjoy working with others, and offers great opprotunities to meet new people and learn new things.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
ABSOLUTLEY! I have shells running out of my ears. Painting is something I love to do- the more orders I have the more I get to paint!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
I was very careful in planning , so I havent had to many unexpected costs- a few added expenses in supplies and shipping due to fuel costs, other than that, I am actually under budget! The only headaches have come from the paint! LOL! I have to say the whole process has gone A LOT smoother than I thought it would!
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me was recognizing that my work is art- that others value it and are willing to purchase it. I had a problem second guessing myself in the begining- my husband and my father & step mother did a lot of coaching to get me to recognize that I do have a quality product that people want!
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I blog a lot. I also have a few newspaper websites that I use. Everyday I try to take the time to exchange links with atleast 1 site. I also send postcards and email business owners my company info. All work well for me- but the weblinks work the best!
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It can be very time consuming! It has been a real taking quality pictures of my product. Because my items are so tiny, and are coated with an industrial grade top coat,it can be VERY difficult to get a good picture. Out of 50, I may have 1 turn out right...and sometimes zero out of 50 turn out right.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
6 weeks today1 I will run it forever as far as I am concerned!I believe in keeping it personal and being hands on. I may have help in other areas that are equally important, but i will always handle the sales, production and website - its my baby, I dont think I could ever let those aspects go!
Who is your greatest support and inspiration?
My greatest inspiration is my father. He and my step mother have ALWAYS supported me in everything! From Beauty Pagents to this, they have always been a believer in me! My support is my husband, Jimmy and our 4 boys- and of course my father & Step Mother! My husband ties up a lot of loose ends when I am bust working- or when I am at a show- his wallet also took alot of hits when I was just starting out! I actually started my business before went online. Going online was the best thing for my business.
What is your website address?
Simply Charmin
