Tonya from Kotori Photo Jewelry came to me needing a custom website that would have a wholesale login area and a photo upload feature. We used Shoppe Pro for the website management/cart system and custom coded a nifty file upload feature. The file upload feature allows her wholesale clients to easily upload photos within the product ordering page. I really enjoyed working with Tonya and am very pleased with how her website turned out!
Project Details:
- Client provided logo
- Ecommerce website design powered by Shoppe Pro
- Matching self-hosted WordPress blog
- Custom wholesale form
- File upload modification
- Website maintained by client
Learn more about Tonya and Kotori Photo Jewelry — read her interview below!
Who is Kotori?
Kotori is a family run company that creates custom photo jewelry pieces for professional photographers.
What do you sell?
We take photographers’ images and set them in sterling silver. We then cover them with a clear, waterproof, UV-resistant coating. All of our jewelry is completely hand made and customized to client preference, from the chains to the hand stamped charms. Each piece is considered an heirloom, to be passed down to the next generation.
Why did you decide to start a business?
I’ve always loved creating things – even as a girl I was always making something. If you can name a craft or art, I’ve probably done it, from making stain glass to throwing pottery to, well, just about anything. The transition to actually selling my work came pretty naturally.
How did you get started?
When I started making jewelry I found that it was a way for me to do something outside of my normal mommying. I wanted a way to have images of my kids with me wherever I went. I didn’t like the idea of traditional lockets because then the image is hidden. I loved the challenge of figuring out exactly how to make the pieces work.
I started wearing my jewelry, and before I knew it other people were asking me to make them pieces. Suddenly the business began.
I started selling retail, but after being endorsed by a few photographers, the word quickly spread through their community about my pieces. I found that many professional photographers were searching for a unique add-on to offer their clients.
What would you have done differently in the beginning?
While I spent a lot of time researching and experimenting with the jewelry, I would have spent a little more time figuring out some of the other aspects of the business, like how to photograph your products or how to set up a dynamic Facebook page. Wow, there is so much on the fly research you end up doing AFTER you think you are ready to launch!
What advice would you offer to someone just getting started?
Marketing, marketing, marketing! I am lucky enough to be married to my husband, who owns his own marketing consulting company. His input has been invaluable! I think too many people think they can do their own advertising work but it’s not just how your ads look it’s also about hitting a certain demographic, understanding your competition and staying consistent with your brand message. A good marketing company helps guide you through all of that. It makes your business really look polished and professional.
