Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Rischar
Hi Haley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was first introduced to jewelry making while attending college at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. There was a local bead/jewelry-making shop called Beads & Things where you could purchase beads from around the world and create your own jewelry, often learning directly from the shop owners. I would go there to destress from finals, extracurriculars, etc.
A few years postgraduation, a friend and I started crafting together for fun. We’d go to craft stores and wonder until we found something that sparked our imagination. She also attended OU and frequented Beads & Things. One day we stumbled upon the jewelry-making aisle and revisited our lost love. Soon after, the idea for RELIK was born, and the business quickly snowballed.
My goal was to create one-of-a-kind pieces using preowned vintage and natural materials. Having a background in the waste and environmental services sectors, sustainability is important to me, which is why I aim to produce as little waste as possible through my operations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
So far, there haven’t been too many roadblocks. My goal was to keep things small and simple at first, as I still work full-time as a journalist. Doing bimonthly drops and keeping my stock at maintainable levels has allowed me to work on things during my free time and not overwhelm me.
The largest challenge I’ve faced is navigating the social media and e-commerce landscape, as algorithms and means of promoting yourself have changed quite a bit. However, it’s also given me a chance to be creative in a different way, and learning how to create compelling content and short videos has been a lot of fun. I’m lucky to have a great support system that has helped me every step along the way, from creating my logo to teaching me SEO.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in making handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry that incorporates high-quality natural stones and preowned vintage charms, chains, pins and other items. While my business is still quite new, I like to think I’m known for bringing new life to once-forgotten items.
Growing up, I loved sifting through my mother and grandmother’s jewelry boxes, and garage sales were always a new adventure to find the best trinkets. If you couldn’t tell, Ariel was my favorite princess growing up.
As I started a career covering the environmental services industry, my love for vintage and secondhand items grew even more but for a different reason. Sustainability is at the core of what I want RELIK to represent. In addition to using natural and preowned items, our one-of-a-kind model means no extra product is left behind, and what isn’t sold is saved for future craft markets… or my personal collection. Additionally, our packaging is 100 percent recyclable or reusable.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
So far, a majority of my networking was done through Instagram! Before my launch, I made connections and took notes from other creators who inspired me. There’s a plethora of information online, from how-to Instagram reels to craft show/flea market Facebook groups.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.relikjewelryco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relikjewelry.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relikjewelryco/
