Hi Katrien, it's great that you want to share your story! Tell us a little more about yourself.
I'm Katrien, a creative jack-of-all-trades. I'm the mother of Fien and Marie, which is how I got the name Mafille. Ma(rie), Fi(en), and a mistranslation of my girls, "Mes filles."
In my daily life, I handle the administrative and logistical side of things at a secondary school. I'm a kindergarten teacher by training, so I wanted to take on a creative challenge to compensate for the administrative work.
That's all so wonderful! What do you do, and how did you get started?
I started making jewelry in 2019 while I was home from breast cancer treatment. It was a reason to finally make my dreams come true. Initially, I made cord jewelry, but the demand for matching, more delicate earrings grew, and I started experimenting with clay. After that, only the earrings remained. I also made home accessories, but the range grew too large, so I no longer offer them. I did, however, recently start a small clothing collection, as people were always "in love" with my combinations with the jewelry, so I can now offer a complete look for anyone who wants it.
That's a moving experience, Katrien, what a wonderful achievement you've made. Respect! Did you encounter any obstacles along the way to this success?
Entrepreneurship is certainly not easy. Especially not when combined with a full-time job, but I love it so much that I'm happy to accept the busyness. Sometimes I lack inspiration, but then everything suddenly comes back into gear and runs smoothly. I'm always curious how people manage 80 orders a month. In my opinion, it's not easy. Some people find my jewelry too expensive, but I prefer to make it a bit more exclusive than mass-produced to achieve higher sales. People love to come back to me for a personalized piece of jewelry (e.g., for their wedding). That means a lot to me. My strength also lies in creating jewelry to fit specific clothing. People often bring in their clothes to have the right color jewelry made for them.
How much do you sell approximately per month?
My business varies a lot. Sometimes I barely have any orders, while other months (like Christmas or spring) sell really well. I try not to focus too hard on it to keep enjoying it. I'd hate to have enough of it one day.
Exactly! Is your webshop your main or secondary job?
The webshop is currently a second job. Unfortunately, I can't make a living from it yet. Although I would really like to.
Can you describe your 'customer'?
My clients are women from all over the country, aged between 20 and 50. Although I also try very hard to cater to teenagers. My daughters, aged 12 and 14, regularly wear Mafille jewelry, and their friends sometimes order a set from me too.
Thank you Katrien, do you have any tips for other enterprising women who would like to sell polymer clay jewelry?
Make your jewelry exclusive and, above all, do what you love! Craftsmanship is an art in itself, and people who want to buy will definitely find you.
And then of course one more question: What do you think of Sieradenstraatje? :)
Great shapes and a great selection! Especially for the starting entrepreneur.
Want to admire Mafille or are you interested in her products? Then visit her Instagram page or her webshop !