Never underestimate the power of a conversation! The idea for business can truly be born anywhere, even on a massage table. Who knew! Ella has decided to invest her time during the pandemic wisely and start her own home decor business.
Hey Ella. Tell us about yourself!
Hi there, my name is Ella Sampson and I am a student journalist currently residing in Plymouth. I'm from West Sussex, not too far from the abstract city of Brighton but moved to Plymouth in 2019 to fulfil my dream of becoming a journalist.
Talk to us about your business...
So the first lockdown became really hard for me. I was separated from my parents, had just got into a new relationship and decided to move into my grandparents as I had to move out of halls. It was so hard being away from people that I loved. Come the end of the year, I was really down and needed something for me. I was told why don't I give resin a go so I did! I launched my small business called Ella Jade where I make and produce gorgeous resin coasters for home and decor. They are really beautiful and I love doing what I do. It's funny the first ever coaster I made came out all bendy, and we joke about it now! After lots of hard work, I perfected it and now they are stunning.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
So the idea came from a conversation I was having with a therapist whilst having a massage. I was talking about how down I was feeling at the time and needed a little hobby and distraction. She had started working with resin as a hobby and suggested I could do the same but sell and bring in some income for myself.
What have been your biggest learning experiences since becoming a business owner?
The biggest thing I have learnt is don't take everything to heart. Sometimes there are people who won't always be pleased with a product, and when it is handmade by you, it can really hurt. Just take the comment on and move on.
You get some people who just like to complain and find fault but I would say just take everything on the chin. If you know you have worked hard and put the effort in, then that is all that matters.
If you could give one bit of advice to someone thinking of starting their own business, what would it be?
Think it thoroughly through. Work out all the costs of the products etc and see if it will work in your favour. Will you bring in an income? Start small and dream big. It is all baby steps but with the right mindset, you will achieve brilliant things. Practice practice practice!
What has your biggest success/accomplishment/achievement been since starting your business?
My biggest achievement....well Paul Burrell has liked a few of my posts on instagram! Haha, no, but that did surprise me. I think hearing the lovely feedback about my products really makes my day, and when they return back to order more, that makes me so happy and I know I'm doing something right!
My black and gold coasters are my best sellers!
Who inspires you?
My mum. It would feel wrong naming a celebrity when I don't even know them! My mumhas worked so hard her whole life and had me at a very young age. She is doing a job she loves after recently qualifying as a gardener and I couldn't think of anything more important to me. She's not just a mum to me but my best friend.
What book/article/podcast really gave you that OMG moment?
I love my history books, and I was reading the White Queen series by Phillipa Gregory. I think it was the murder of the princes in the tower and everyone blamed King Richard III, then everything spiraled down for the king and the new King Henry VII ruled the land. That had the wow factor as there was so much tension!!
➡️ You can find Ella:
Emma Downey | Founder, Women Who Do
Emma can be found glued to her laptop/kindle or embarking on her next favourite hobby. Avid cake-eater, Disney-superfan and passionate about female empowerment, Emma founded WWD in 2017. She's currently travelling around Europe in her converted camper van and eating far too many croissants. You can contact Emma: emma@womenwd.co.uk
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