Tell us a little bit about yourself and your brand.
Elise Marie Designs is a Southern Maine based company that inspires with uniquely hand-crafted designs and a marketplace of local goods. We strive to empower customers to look and feel their best while also supporting female-owned small businesses. Designs we create in studio are crystal and gemstone jewelry and hand dyed loungewear.
What inspired you to start your brand or craft?
I have always been creative and had a great support system always cheering me on. I knew I wanted to be my own boss and really just decided post college to give it a go and start my business while working multiple other odd jobs to keep my bills afloat!
How did you come up with the name of your company?
Elise Marie DeSigns is my name and brand. My last name is DeSalvo so I capitalized the S in DeSigns for a play on that!
What does an average day look like?
Well I have a toddler so first off we wake up way too early (5:30ish) and we hang for a couple hours. I get him ready for daycare as I juggled both full time momming and my business for over a year and it was impossible to be a function human. After I drop him off, I hop into my studio which is at the end of my driveway. I check out my order board, prioritize what to make based on shipping dates ect! I usually bounce around a bit from making to shipping to taking pics to social media management all day. I usually wrap up around 3 in the studio so I can have some more hang time with my son and will pop back in at night if anything is pressing to work on!
What’s your favorite part of the job?
The flexibility and amazing customers who light me up!
When you’re creating do you have a person in mind?
I design for fashion conscious buyers who want to support real brands, small batch and be able to do so at affordable prices. I create for the buyer who wants to feel good and add a bit of color and shine to their wardrobe and accessories collection.
When was your business founded and how has it evolved over time?
2012 and it went from a small side business to a full time income for me! It started as just handmade jewelry but over the past 2 years I have added Crystal home decor items and a tie dye clothing line that is a huge part of my business now!
Are there any challenges that you’ve had to overcome?
Like all small businesses, Covid really did some damage. BUT for what it’s worth I went from having a brick and mortar to closing that and building my dream studio on our property in Maine so I really think it’s all about pivoting and facing challenges head on!
What is one piece of advice you have for a female entrepreneur just starting out?
I would say dream big and really follow your gut and authentic self and you can’t go wrong!
Let us know where we can follow you. Feel free to share any news on upcoming projects.
Instagram: @elisemariedesigns
Tiktok: @elisemariedesigns