Honington mother launches Soul Purpose jewellery business
Where some see crisis, a mother-of-two saw an opportunity to start her own jewellery business.
Suzanne Pattinson, 35, who lives in Honington , launched Soul Purpose to sell her creations online after losing work as a freelance PR consultant in the spring.
“I felt like it was expected that the work would come to an end (when the virus hit),” said Mrs Pattinson, who’s husband is in the RAF.
“I felt down but then thought this was an opportunity, there was a door open. I decided to go for it the next day.”
Having started silversmithing after having her two boys, aged three and two, she decided the pandemic created an unprecedented opportunity to step out.
“I always wanted to create something, but I was not sure what my media was. I wanted to create a physical product and I have always loved jewellery but did not know it would be my thing. I did a course in it last year, so I knew from there it was what I wanted to do.”
She is now creating and selling earrings, rings, necklaces, bangles, and bracelets, all made with ‘someone in mind’. Business has been picking up ever since May, when she had her first web order.
“Starting out felt a bit surreal,” she said. “Before, it had always been a hobby and I was not sure how it was going to work. But I started to believe when the website went live, and I felt quite differently about things.”
Some of the products now on sale were made during lockdown - and the initial success of the trade had to come without the usual outlets because of Government restrictions.
“It has been happening outside of the traditional means of marketing, which would be through Christmas and craft fayres and face-to-face networking,
“It has all been online through Instagram, and word of mouth. It has been going in the right direction.”
Lockdown has been a time when many creatives have taken a leap of faith after traditional employment finished.
Now Mrs Pattinson considers Soul Purpose to be her future, rather than a move back into public relations.
She said: “I have long-term goals. I want to get into teaching and have a goal of setting-up a craft barn where people can learn skills.”
“The reality is that pretty much everything is achievable if you have that courage to go and do it.
“Your biggest hurdle is yourself. You have to weigh up the risk factors and give it a go.”
Visit: soulpurposejewellery.com
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