Small Business Saturday Giveaway: Sloan + Themis

Every now and again I am reached out to by a small business outside of our area. Claire Bruce found me through a Google search of Southern bloggers and asked if I might write about her store and jewelry: Sloan + Themis.

Now when a brand I am not familiar with reaches out to me I then do my research to make sure this is something I can promote and stand behind as quality for you- my readers. After reading over Sloan + Themis website I can tell you without a doubt this is a really cool jewelry line- and I hope someone here in Macon picks up this line.

Claire has some really pretty things- but what really stood out to me is that she will take items like old dog tags and turn them in to these beautiful pieces. It’s a really cool way to preserve personal family histories.  And of course, being a History/Poli Sci major in school, I gravitate towards this.

So I thought it would also be best to interview Claire to give y’all some more insight about her product- oh and yes, the giveaway will be showcased afterwards 😉

Claire: In 2012, I founded the Sloan + Themis atelier and boutique along the banks of the Mississippi River of downtown Cape Girardeau, MO. The shop is tiny only 6’x34′ — the space was originally the breeze-way for the building. Inside it house a full retail boutique and my workshop. The boutique sells vintage and handcrafted jewelry (both ready to wear and custom).  We like to say about our products, “if it ain’t vintage, we made it”. Most of our handcrafted items incorporate a vintage element. This could be a clasp, chain, brooch, bead, charm, etc.  I also select high quality gemstones and pearls so your each piece can be passed down for generations.

It is really important to my customers that a piece last a long time. My ideal customers tends to be a woman who experiments with what she wears. She is excited to know that vintage items can be made modern by pairing with other pieces and that we can update current pieces she has. My customers are also very active in their communities, careers, and a range of hobbies. So they have a need to look fashionable and for jewelry that is comfortable to wear and durable. We even guarantee the workmanship for each of our handcrafted items.

Claire: I always enjoyed designing something new. I graduated with an engineering degree, but worked mainly in marketing. In my chosen career as a consumer researcher and statistician, my opportunities were limited to be involved with creating projects. I knew that if I wanted to be on the design side, I would need to start my own company.  As a lean start-up enthusiast, I started Sloan+Themis first online. Many of my local customers kept asking when I was starting my own store. So I started to develop a business plan for the store and in April of 2012 I found a tiny vacant store front in downtown Cape Girardeau, MO and opened later that month.

Claire: When I look at the growth of Sloan + Themis, I see it in three area 1) focusing on finding new ways to use beautiful materials like freshwater pearls, vintage glass stones, and sterling silver,  2)offering local services nationwide like our converting keepsakes into necklaces, 3)expanding into new markets throughout the Southeast. Recently we had two products featured on Bourbon & Boots: http://www.bourbonandboots.com/store/products/girasol-pearl-bracelet-with-vintage-glass-charm/ and http://www.bourbonandboots.com/store/products/cyndi-turquoise-bracelet/. It has been a great relationship.