Lately, I've been learning more about marketing and how I can take things to the next level using social media. I recently posted a Tik Tok video here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRTkQ25W/ I'd like to incorporate something into my business that I haven't considered. I'm an immigrant from Jamaica. I've been living in the U.S. for 16 years. I get the opportunity to travel quite often, and I know what it is like to survive in an 'impoverished' environment. In Jamacia the artisan community is HUGE. You run into SOOO many talented individuals that often never get the opportunity to share their art on a large platform. I create art using crushed semi-precious stones. In my designs I'll start using locally sourced gemstones from distressed communities around the world. My main focus will be in countries such as Jamaica, Costa Rica and Mexico. My goal is to work with contacts in these countries and purchasing from the 'little man' and by doing that, you financially support these communities and provide another source of income for them. In the jewelry industry, it is easy to buy nicer, polished gemstones from main stream retailers for higher prices. Most of the time, these gemstones are lab grown in order to make them 'affordable' enough to market.
Now, this will be no easy feat - I have to first create connections in these countries for genuine gemstones. Not all my designs will have stones sourced from a distressed community, but whenever possible, I pledge to purchase from a seller in those communities who would greatly appreciate the business. Its looking into places that normally get ignored, and just like finding a gem, you see what you can find.
I create work using mainly raw gemstones, and by doing this, I get a chance to be more original with my designs, support underserved communities around the world, and be able to tell their stories. I'm just the artist, telling these stories.
