Meet the Maker – Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique

Chloe Tate

This week in our ongoing Meet the Maker series, we’re excited to introduce you to Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

Meet Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.
Meet Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

LBC: When did you start your business and what inspired you to take the leap as an entrepreneur? 
Rebecca: I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember.  While at my first full time job I was sewing totes on the side and selling them to co-workers and friends.  I opened a “brick & mortar” jewellery and accessories shop when I was 24.  After a couple of years doing that I decided to get into the food industry and bought a café and then a restaurant.  I had a catastrophic flood at my café that left me without a business, and at the time, I was seven months pregnant.  After my second daughter was born I was getting the entrepreneurial “itch” again but wanted to do something from home.  I decided to return to my first love, jewelery.  I discovered Etsy and very quickly opened Della Bella Boutique.  It has been a perfect match!

 

LBC: How would you describe what you create?
Rebecca: I create affordable, vintage inspired costume jewellery.  My jewellery is a blend of vintage and modern style.  I try to incorporate vintage, or antique jewels with new hardware, for a fresh, modern design.  My focus is mainly on jewellery for special occasions and weddings.  I love vintage inspired theme weddings and have had many customers buying pieces for that type of event.

 

Sparkling accessories from Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.
Sparkling accessories from Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

LBC: Where can we find your products?
Rebecca: You can find my products exclusively at Della Bella Boutique on Etsy.

 

LBC: What inspires you? 
Rebecca: I draw much of my inspiration from old, classic movies and Hollywood starlets.  I love the elegance of the 30s, 40s and 50s. The Art Deco period produced an incredible amount of fabulous costume jewellery and I often find myself drawn to pieces from that era.  For colour combinations, I like to wander on Pinterest to see what’s trending and new.  Lately I’ve also been taking much inspiration from thrift and antique stores.  I love to peruse and window shop … and purchase, of course!

 

Pretty pink baubles hand crafted by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.
Pretty pink baubles hand crafted by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

LBC: Tell us about a few of the best business decisions you’ve made.
Rebecca: The absolute best business decision that I have made is to take my shop online.  It has given me the freedom to be at home with my two toddlers while still having an outlet for creativity.  I am an eternal entrepreneur and selling online allowed me to keep that spirit.  Secondly, deciding to use Etsy as a selling platform has been fantastic.  The community there is very helpful and supportive of artisans and entrepreneurs.

 

LBC: What’s been one of the biggest obstacles you’ve encountered during your journey as a maker and how have you managed to conquer or mitigate it?
Rebecca: A big obstacle for me has been time.  Because I have two small children at home my time to create is very limited and often squeezed in during naptime.  I decided about 4 months ago that I needed more time to focus on my business so I enrolled my girls in nursery school for 3 mornings a week.  It was a great decision.  They absolutely love getting to play with other kids and I appreciate the quiet time!

 

What gorgeous jewelry! Visit Della Bella Boutique on Etsy to see Rebecca's entire collection.
What gorgeous jewelry! Visit Della Bella Boutique on Etsy to see Rebecca’s entire collection.

 

LBC: Suppose we had a time machine. If we blasted ourselves forward a few years, where would we see your company?
Rebecca: I hope in a couple of years to have Della Bella Boutique at a point where I’m able to contribute substantially to our household income.  I’m actually hoping to be at that point by the end of this year.  I would also like to incorporate more of my hand sewn accessories.  I hope one day to have my daughters participating in my business as well.

 

LBC: Please share one of your favorite resources: a book, a website, an app, a gadget, an event… anything that’s helped save time, money or sanity!
Rebecca: My go-to resource right now is the Etsy Forums.  The community there is full of first hand knowledge on the ins and outs of online selling and marketing.  I had, and still have much to learn about e-commerce and the Etsy Forums have been a fantastic starting point.  I also find a lot of helpful references on Pinterest for  blogs about small business and online marketing techniques.

 

Handcrafted pieces by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.
Handcrafted pieces by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

LBC: Tell us about a pearl of wisdom someone has shared with you. Who said it and how did it help propel you forward?
Rebecca: One of the common things I’ve heard about small business is that “you’ll only get out as much as you put in.”  This has spurred me to create and list as many items as possible, market to the best of my abilities and learn something new everyday.  I have found that it is definitely true, the harder I work, the more successful I have become.

 

LBC: Are you a night owl or early bird?
Rebecca: I am definitely an early bird.  I will wake up (naturally) at 5AM and work on my shop while the rest of my family is asleep.  I almost exclusively create in the mornings and am happiest if in bed by 9PM.

 

Gorgeous earrings by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.
Gorgeous earrings by Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique.

 

LBC: What is your guilty pleasure?
Rebecca: My guilty pleasure is collecting Bakelite bangles.  Bakelite is an early form of plastic that was used for everything from jewellery to light switches.  Bangles made from Bakelite make a distinctive “clunk” when worn together and have become highly collectable.  I can’t get enough of them!

 

LBC: Do you have a favorite quote?
Rebecca: “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together!”  Elizabeth Taylor.  This “tongue – in – cheek” quote always gets me focused when I’m feeling overwhelmed or frazzled.  Although, I doubt she meant coffee, which is always my drink of choice!

 

Connect with Rebecca + Della Bella Boutique all around the web:

Company Website
Pinterest

 

Thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your beautiful jewelry with us. Wishing you continued success!

 

Want to see your brand featured in our continuing “Meet the Maker Monday” series? Drop us a line: hello@luckybreakconsulting.com. Please use “MEET THE MAKER” as the subject line and be certain to include your web address. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

About the Author

Chloe Tate

Once described as “relentlessly cheerful,” Chloe is a lover of all things colorful and practically every fruit known to man. She lives in Atlanta and divides her time between supporting Lucky Break clients, keeping shop at a local artisan market, and event planning for business conferences. She’s also working on the launch of her skincare line while finishing her degree in Organizational & Leadership Studies. True story: Chloe shares 50% of Lela’s DNA and is poised to inherit her obscenely large shoe collection.

2 responses on “Meet the Maker – Rebecca of Della Bella Boutique

  1. Laura

    I have purchased several items, to date, from Della Bella Boutique, and I would highly recommend this online shop!! Rebecca’s jewellery is beautiful, my orders are processed quickly, and it is always such a pleasure communicating with her. Continued luck, Rebecca, you deserve it!

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