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Deidra is a wife, mother of 2, Registered Nurse, former librarian, and owner/creator of D’s Delights. She started D’s Delights last summer as a way to deal with the stress of living and working through the pandemic. Deidra wanted to do something that allowed her to express her creativity, manage her stress, and bring joy to her life and the lives of others.
D’s Delights is all about handmade jewelry - bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and anklets. She does not believe in people having one set of style at all times so she strives to create a variety of pieces. While beaded bracelets are the most popular, Deidra looks forward to exploring different techniques and bringing the final product to her customers.
Q. How has it been working in the pandemic as a registered nurse?
Working during the pandemic was very stressful and it took a major toll- physically and mentally. Every day when I went out to work I could feel it in the air that things weren't right. There was so much unknown. You would expect that as healthcare professionals we were well protected but that was far from the truth.
Q. As a stress reliever during the pandemic, you started making handmade jewelry. What made you decide to turn it into a business?
You know, it's funny, the idea popped in my head and I just ran with it. I wanted to do something that relieved my stress/anxiety and I wanted to be able to provide people with something that brought them joy.
Q. Tell us about D's Delights. What kind of jewelry do you make and who's it for?
The idea behind D's Delights is to have jewelry that speaks to people with a variety of "tastes." I would love for anyone who looks at my offerings to see something that appeals to them and their style. I don't necessarily fit into one box when it comes to my style and I don't want to create based on only one style. My pieces center mainly around beads. I create bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets using semi-precious gemstones, recycled African glass, wood, bone, and seed beads. I paint and stain laser cut wood to make earrings. I also use resin to make unique earrings and pendants. I typically don't make more than 5 of any design because I want my customers to know and feel their piece is special.
Q. What type of marketing strategies do you use to get the word out?
In the beginning, I mainly marketed to my fellow healthcare professionals. They were the only people I regularly engaged with, besides my immediate family. Now, I post photos of my work and upcoming Pop Up Shops on Instagram and Facebook. I'm a bit of an introvert and I'm not that comfortable putting myself out there so this is definitely an area that has been hard for me but I am steadily working on it.
Q. How has your entrepreneurial journey been so far?
There are good days and bad days but every day is a learning experience. It feels amazing when I make a sale but when I hit a slow patch I start to doubt myself and question "what am I doing?" During those times I have to remind myself of the people who have complimented my work, the people who have made purchases from me, and that I was brave enough to start this journey so I am going to be brave enough to continue it and see where it takes me. It's only been about a year and a half since I've started so I know there's more to learn and experience.
Q. What does success mean to you?
Success to me means being happy with and finding comfort in my work and bringing a smile to my customers' face. Obviously, I would also love to expand and reach more people. It makes me so happy when I see people wearing my work. It makes all of the struggle worth it.
Q. Do you have anything in store for D's Delights for the upcoming year?
Until now, I've just kind of gone with the flow and created jewelry each day without a well-defined plan. I'm currently working on creating a more defined schedule, planning to create specific lines/collections that will be released at specific times throughout the year. I want to provide my customers/supporters with consistency on my part. I also want to expand my reach, which means I need to drive more business to my website.
I'm in the process of testing out different styles, design techniques, and materials so that I can offer pieces that are more creative and elevated. I'm excited to bring something different that my customers might not be used to but could fall in love with.
Stay connected with Deidra:
IG: @dsdelightsbklyn
Photos by: Chante Ramsey, www.vysynphotos.com