How I Pivoted After The Pandemic & Kept Building Towards My Vision
This is a follow up story for claire jordan designs. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published over 4 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
Hi! I'm Claire Jordan and I own a greeting card, print, and children's apparel business. I sell my products in children's boutiques, pharmacies, seaside shops, gift shops, airports, and online. I started Claire Jordan Designs at the beginning of 2017 and have enjoyed watching my business flourish over the last five years. My main product is greeting cards. I sell around 6,000 cards a month. I call it my bread and butter. With that being said, a lot has happened since my original article IE a global pandemic.
My article was posted six days after the shutdowns began. Since then I was able to find a niche with children's face masks. I had an influx of these sales, especially in June and July of 2020, and keeping with my spirit of giving was able to donate masks to some families and nonprofit organizations near and dear to my heart. I felt it especially important to maintain the Claire Jordan Designs mission statement of paying it forward to help lighten up those going through difficult times!
Tell us about what you’ve been up to. Has the business been growing?
I will say that my business has taken some hits due to some of my boutiques closing because of the COVID shutdowns but thankfully kept its footing with the need for and growth of children's masks. It made me very happy to see the continued joy brought to people through my images. The market did eventually become saturated with masks but I still enjoy how my product stands out from the rest because of my one-of-a-kind art.
I've been keeping up with social media and as things have started to return to normal increasing my sales representatives in various regions. Utilizing marketplaces such as Faire, Tundra, Abound, Trada, and Bulletin. These have allowed me to enjoy working with new customers all over the world. Next month I'll be going live with Match Square which is a platform where pharmacies go to buy gifts and novelties wholesale.
In addition to adding children's masks to my product roster, I've added baprons (bib and apron in one) and 3D artwork. I've started a collaboration with Sunsola Flowers based out of Honeybrook, Pennsylvania with the 3D artwork that I'm very excited about! In October 2021 I was on the cover of and featured in Vestavia Hills Magazine with a 10-page article. That was an incredible honor and special to me. I believe they perfectly captured the message and essence that is Claire Jordan Designs. I couldn't be more pleased.
What have been your biggest challenges in the last year?
I've learned some big lessons in the last couple of years. A global pandemic will certainly flip your world and business upside down. In these uncertain times, I've learned how to adapt and keep moving forward and have been presented ample opportunities for personal and business growth which I'm immensely grateful for.
I'm staying focused on moving forward into the new normal, remaining adaptable, and open-minded with boutiques that carry my work. I'm honored to have my product in any storefront. I've also opened up to working with other creatives and divorced from the idea of needing to do it all by myself. Working with others and keeping that open mind has been fun and fulling for me and my business.
During all of this, I was homeless for a period going from hotels and Airbnbs in Tennessee, and Mississippi, and eventually landed in Birmingham, Alabama. I eventually found a little studio apartment I could afford there but before that, I was carrying around a print press in my car to keep my business going. I fulfilled every single order, on time despite all of these hardships while continuing to donate products even overseas to a family of a special needs boy I ADORE in Africa.
No matter what happens my advice to anyone would be to remain humble and keep in the spirit of giving back. That's what has kept Claire Jordan Designs going over all of these years and in the face of adversity. My ability to stay adaptable, resilient, positive, and faith-based is what's gotten me through, without a doubt.
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
I'm excited to keep moving forward and focusing on what works for Claire Jordan Designs. Over all this time, many changes not only personally but geographically, I'm still the same girl with the same mission: to bring light and love through my art. That will never change.
I would like to continue expanding my baby clothing line and t-shirts for children internationally via marketplaces like Faire and Etsy. I've always been interested in fashion design so this is a great way to help scratch that proverbial itch I've always needed to scratch. Continually using this God-given gift to bring beauty into the world is my main goal.
If you're struggling to grow your business my best advice would be to continue moving forward even when you feel like nothing is happening. Stay innovative and up to date with what's trending a popular. Research your marker. See what there is a need for a focus on finding your niche in that area. Remain open-minded to letting your product be in different stores even if you think they might be a good fit. You need exposure! You never know who is going to come across your product and where.
In conclusion, I can't stress enough to keep an open mind and be kind, always. I know I've mentioned it several times throughout this article but it's truly that important. That's what's kept me afloat and going through this crazy but beautiful past five years. Stay true to yourself, work hard, stay humble, love always, and everything else tends to fall into place!
Where can we go to learn more?
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
