Jewelry Maker Corissa Colamartini Creates 'Wearable Oddities'

The entrepreneurial spirit runs in Corissa Colamartini’s blood, so creating her first company — an online jewelry store called TheTamerlane — seemed only natural. The talented maker even says that she feels happier in life now that she's running her own biz.

We chatted to Corissa about finding time to relax when she has a busy schedule and learning to price her designs. Plus, read on to find out the one question she has for all of *you.*

Name: Corissa Colamartini

Business: TheTamerlane

Started: 2008

How did you decide to start your awesome business?

I began by making jewelry for myself. People would ask me where I got my items from, and they would compliment them. It clicked pretty quickly that I should try selling my pieces!

I first opened my Etsy shop just over eight years ago. It was a great place for me to get my start, as it was pretty easy to set up and not very expensive. Suddenly, I could reach a large amount of people who appreciate handmade goods. 

Do you remember your first customer?

My first customer was probably my mom! I don’t recall who my first non-family buyer was, but I do remember how exciting it was. It was such a thrill that someone out there would purchase something I made. It made me really happy to realize that creating and selling jewelry could be something I was good at, because I really love doing it. 

When was the exact moment you thought your business was going to work?

I thought I might be onto something when I realized I was making a decent number of sales and I needed to dedicate more of my time to filling orders.

What has been the biggest surprise so far after starting your own business?

How fulfilling it is. My parents are entrepreneurs as well, so I feel like it’s in my blood. Being my own boss is incredibly rewarding!

What is your most effective means of getting new customers?

For me, I think it's having a unique style. My pieces really stand out from the rest. 

I think being different and not conforming to the "norm" is also really important. The kind of people who like my products are very similar to me. I make items I would want to wear and that I can't find elsewhere, so I guess that’s how many of my customers feel.

When it comes to promoting my shop, I’m actually not that great at social media. It's definitely something I need to work on. Word of mouth has been a really powerful tool for me, too!

How do you price your products?

Pricing can be tricky! I price my items according to the wage I want to make an hour. I figure out how long a piece takes to make and then I set the fee. I think it’s important not to underprice myself.

However, as much as I value my time and put a lot of effort and love into my jewelry, I also want to keep it affordable. It’s a delicate balance.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I wake up and make tea, feed and walk my two pups, then I jump into my emails. Once all that’s done, I get started on making the pieces that have sold before packaging them and sending them off. 

If I have extra time, I love to play around with ideas and make new designs. My pieces come from random thoughts that pop up in my head, followed by many sketches and renditions until the final result is realized. I also love to cook, so a typical evening would involve me making dinner as well.

How do you juggle other responsibilities and interests outside of your business?

I definitely make time for socializing, taking my pups out for strolls in the neighborhood and things like that. I just make it a priority for myself to have time off. That way I can be very focused and productive when I’m making. I always find myself working a little too much! 

It’s easy to just keep going because I’m doing something I love. I’m very grateful to my pups for forcing me to take time away from my computer and workbench every day to go outside!

If you could go back in time to when you were first starting your business, what would you do differently?

That’s a good question. I think I’ve learned so much, and all my experiences have been really valuable. It might sound a little pretentious to say I wouldn't change a thing, but I don't think I would!

I definitely feel happier since I started my business. I have the honor of doing what I love and the support of so many wonderful customers.

What would you like to learn today from a community of other small business owners and self-employed professionals?

I know I have tons to learn! 

As I mentioned earlier, I’d really love to find out how to be better at social media and promoting myself. I’d also like to discover more about how to sell at shows and markets, because I haven’t done that many. They seem like a great way to get some face time with customers. 

Does anyone here have tips for me?

Calling all you social butterflies out there!

Do *you* have tips for Corissa that she can use to expand her social media presence, or ideas for how she can branch out and start selling at local markets and fairs?

Share your tips and stories with us in the comments below! :-)