Ruby&Lo

I, Hannah Micic, feel quite nervous and under pressure in writing this essay as it is currently the 30^th of December 2011 here in Australia, and this giveaway has been open for almost a month and closes so soon. I feel so honoured and blessed to have even stumbled upon this marvellous giveaway, and just in the nick of time! Everything truly does happen for a reason.

I have been sewing and crafting for years, but in February this year I took the plunge and started my label, ruby&lo. I graduated from high school in 2010 with no clue what I wanted to do with my life. I had enrolled to start my degree in nursing, but the night before my course was due to begin I withdrew, and decided to give this business a go.

Under the label ruby&lo, I create affordable jewellery, pencil cases, pouches, coin purses and accessories, which are all handmade in my sewing nook, which is located in a corner of my bedroom. I don’t have the opportunity to dedicate a room to sewing, or the financial ability to buy large studio to spread myself out in, but my sewing nook allows my creative energy to flourish, and with the inspirational things around me, I am able to create in a positive environment, where I feel my products can be brought to life in a unique way.

The name ruby&lo sits very close to my heart. In 2010, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which decreases my chances of having children dramatically. I always have this at the back of my mind, and when it came to picking a name for my business there was no exception. I have always wanted to name my first daughter Ruby Louise, and it was with this powerful yet elegant name that I found the inspiration for my now-named business, ruby&lo.

Ruby, meaning red, and Louise, meaning fame and war, are now the fundamental aspects of how I run my business. The colour red is associated with strength, energy, power, determination, passion, desire and love. I strive to inspire each of these traits within myself, my products and how I interact with each and every one of my customers. Above my sewing desk, I have a small mural I created with those words circling one of my business cards. This keeps me inspired and reminds me of what I’m creating and who I’m creating for.  By keeping a positive and passionate energy within myself, I am able to grow my business, love my products, and please my customers.

When I first began ruby&lo, there were times where I never thought I’d make a sale in my online store. But when I did, it was one of the most satisfying moments of my business life thus far. Overcoming the market scene was another large hurdle I have faced, but again I have overcome this, and attended over fifteen successful markets this year alone.

This year I have been blessed to meet many other very talented and crafty women through social media and market scenes, who I had looked up to with wide eyes, amazed by their talent and inspired by their success. They would tell me about markets and stockists and wholesale orders, and I didn’t think I could ever achieve something as big, but they gave me the motivation and inspiration to try to achieve just that. Soon enough, I was being contacted by wholesalers, and I can proudly say I now have 5 stockists under my belt. My most recent wholesaler asked me the week before Christmas for 40 pencil cases to be made and delivered to her store before Christmas Day. I was shocked and stressed, but I set my goal high and worked myself to the limit to get there, and I did, with two days to spare!  It was incredibly satisfying to walk into the post office to send my products to the wholesaler, knowing that both parties were satisfied, the products were made with love, and that I had overcome another hurdle and achieved another goal.

Markets and business courses have turned me down because I am so young, but I believe that my age helps, not hinders, my passion and determination to continue running my business and creating things that I love.  By starting my career early, I have my whole life ahead of me, hurdle after hurdle, to accomplish my dreams and make 2012 – and many years after that – shine.

As my chances of having children are slim, my business really has become my baby. With the right amount of love and dedication, nurturing and attention, my business has grown, and continues to grow each and every day. Each sale on Etsy or Madeit, every ‘like’ on Facebook and every new follower on Twitter grows my business and inspires me to put more hard work and passion into my business.

I graduated from high school in 2010 with no clue what I wanted to do with my life.  I started 2011 off with no inkling of a business in any way, shape or form. 2011 helped to show me what it is I want to do for the rest of my life – stay crafty, sew, and run my own business – and I know that in 2012, with the benefit of this fantastic giveaway, I can do just that.

My workspace.

• Website – Ruby&Lo
• Store – Madeit
• Store – Etsy
• Twitter – Ruby&Lo
• Facebook – Ruby&Lo
• Contact – rubyandlo (at) gmail (dot) com