Today’s start-up Q&A is from Szimonetta Zombori a carving artist and founder of Rosegold & Grey artisan gifting.
Tell us about how you got started with your business
After I graduated from high school I tried to find a creative way to express myself throughout my art. So for the last 7 years, I got experience with different materials like cheese, avocado, melon, broccoli and recently I quite enjoy carving soap as well.
Before starting my business I worked as a chef so I was still able to practice food carving!
I started to create bespoke gift boxes to give appropriate packaging for my carving to present to my customers.
It all began in my living room when I started to create gift boxes to present my art in a way that they all deserved. At the main time, I discovered something new how I can do more personalized gifts for my customers. Chocolate comes across. I started to create artisan, handmade chocolate bars.
I always have a passion for gift boxes and I just love to give a personal touch to each of them. I got more and more inquiries, so this is how my brand born.
Did you always want to start your own business?
I worked really hard from a really young age. I always have big dreams (now I call them plans) and I know what I have to do to achieve them. Sometimes that means I had to work in hotels or restaurants and do some job that I don’t really like, but in that situation, I didn’t have any other choice. I always wanted to be my own boss and do what I love to do. I love to see, read or hear successful stories from a businesswoman or girl boss. They give me the power to go on when I feel tired or I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Is it just you or do you employ others?
Most of the year I work alone but my husband is a really big help. I can ask for advice from him and he can help me with service, technique developments. I have really busy periods during the year, such as Halloween or Christmas. These times I have to hire people for a few days to help me out, but I can feel really soon I won’t be able to handle everything by myself so then I have to think about hiring people.
What has been the greatest challenge so far?
When the whole gifting business idea comes to my mind, maybe the biggest challenge was how I can make it visible. So I had to put together a webshop that I did before. I checked so many tutorials, and I read so many about the subject. But I put together everything that my business needed.
Marketing – tell us about a marketing tactic that works for your business?
I think more and more people become more active on social media. So I find it necessary to put our business on there. So I try to be really active mainly on Instagram, but I am really active on Facebook as well. I learned so many good things about Pinterest, so that’s will be one of my goals to develop and be active on there as well.
What are your main sales channels?
I can say it’s social media. So many people check my pictures and post them on there and after that, they will decide to purchase. I am still a newbie on advertising but I think Google ads will be another tool that I will use in the future to make more sales and help people to know more about my business.
What are your future plans or goals?
I am planning to open a chocolate and gift shop. I want to create a place where women in business can meet and have a perfect place with atmosphere, coffee, and chocolate . I also want to put more value into my gift boxes and give help to Girl/Lady Boss, female entrepreneurs to develop in their business.
Three things you have learned?
- I can count only on myself. I can’t assume that xxy will help me to do stuff, because so many times they will come up with excuses why they weren’t able to do something. In that case, you will stay there with no plans. So my first rule is: I can only count on myself.
- Do it today! There are so many things it has to be done. It can be overwhelming but if you make a to-do list and do some important and valuable things every day then you can keep growing. If you have a mindset when you say: Ohh I will do it tomorrow! So many times you won’t find time to do that thing the next day, and you will say again: I will do it tomorrow!… So I force myself to do things that I might not want to do but I know I have to do.
- Don’t wait for the right time because it will never come. You will find excuses every time why you don’t feel ready and enough good. You have to start to be better and better. I can remember for example the first time I had to stand up and hold workshops in front of people. I remember how terrified I was but after that how proud I was of myself to be able to that. So please, don’t wait for the right time just do it!
Your best piece of advice?
Find out what are you really good at and don’t be afraid to start working on your goals. It will be hard? Yes, it will be really hard, but I can say it will worth it.
You can visit Szimonetta’s shop here: Rosegold & Grey artisan gifting. And follow her on Instagram here.