How did BeadZbyRoZ get in the Sunday edition of the Wall Street Journal?  

Isn’t this something every small business dreams about- publicity, free press?  It came about because I am focused, tenacious, spend time reading  others Facebook posts, have fans who have connected with me & I joined groups on Facebook. That’s right.

Social Media works.

I have been studying, learning & applying lots of wisdom from many professionals about how to build my Facebook fan page, engage with my fans & grow my  handmade beaded on-line jewelry business. I saw a post through a group I belong to, that a reporter was looking for people who became entrepreneurs after age 65. That was me!!! I asked the fan for details & started my correspondence with the reporter. Several emails later  I had my phone interview.

The Phone Interview

Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous. After all, it was just a conversation between two people.  The reporter & I hit it off & as I answered her questions about my business, why I started it, how it was doing, I realized she was trying to determine if I met a particular criteria, without exactly telling me the criteria. Ultimately I was so comfortable with her, I shared a lot about my background, my own work experience before retirement as a career counselor for the NYS Dept. of Labor & why I was persistent in my efforts despite being in the red. I was perfect.

Why?

I always loved the world of work & this reporter was featuring Sr. citizens who chose to become entrepreneurs late in life for some financial reason,  “But Ms.Evans, who launched the full-time venture six years ago, isn’t your average tech-savy entrepreneur. She’s a 73-year-old  retiree, looking to supplement her pension so she can help her family overcome recent financial hurdles.”

I was also perfect because all my work life I knew I made a difference for others as a counselor to the unemployed  & here in retirement I was still doing it.  I was doing it by sharing about myself through my blog , on my Facebook page & by my daughter & I creating jewelry that has a woman feel  good about how to accessorize, own beautiful, unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry that artistically compliments her wardrobe & at affordable prices.

Hidden from View

Retirement works well for some people who enjoy the leisure time to do what they want when they want. That worked for me the first few years but my life changed after I took a class on how to bead & discovered a talent & a passion for combining tantalizing beads, stones & crystals. Having spent 30 years helping others to connect with their inner desires I found mine & it had been hidden from my view. I never thought of myself as artistic.  I was a ‘helper’.  Could I inspire others, not  necessarily to turn a hobby into a business, but to pursue a dream, to know that it is never too late to start again? It is why I started to  blog & share my own journey into beading, my own transformation.

Outcome

I was very excited when the article “Tackling a Business Later in Life” came out on April 7th 2013.  I heard from readers across the country & sold necklaces  to customers in Oregon, Knoxville,TN. & Washington State through our website earthandmoondesign.com. Even though BeadZbyRoZ had been in business for 6 years, I was in my first year focusing on my online sales.

Being In The News –BeadZbyRoZ was on the map!!! 

The original article at the Wall Street Journal can be found here:

“Tackling a Business Later in Life” by Sarah Needleman

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323611604578396381849436750.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Roslyn

I loved going to work each day for 30 years as a professional career counselor. When I retired, I explored my creativity and regard for crafts until I discovered beading. At age 68 I turned my new found passion- jewelry design, into a business. At age 72 I took on learning about social media marketing and developing my computer skills. I am sharing my journey from inception, to frustration, to elation -in the hope of inspiring others that 'it is not too late to start again'. Welcome to my re-invention!