Brand Series - Ivy & Gold
Ivy & Gold are a beautiful business based in Northern Ireland. Founded by Erinn and named after her daughter Ivy, she makes personalised bracelets (as well as lots of other pieces) that are so special. Featuring a loved ones name - in her words they help you stay connected to what's important, every day. They are lovingly handmade and you absolutely get a feel for the ethos of this brand by their website and socials. Have a read to learn more about who’s behind this fantastic brand and what has led to their growth.
1. Tell us all about the reason behind your business?
I started making the bracelets to help me cope with the stress of my daughter’s Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis. It was a huge shock to me as a new mum and the lockdown which followed left me, like so many others, totally isolated as we were shielding to protect Ivy.
Because I was on maternity leave and my husband was busy working from home, I had a lot of time on my hands and not much to keep my mind off the doom and gloom, so I threw myself into the business, starting to take it more seriously and starting to build the community that is now Ivy & Gold.
2. What did you do before this?
I was a senior journalist at the BBC and spent my days creating digital video content for the news website.
3. How do you juggle being a Mum with your business?
My business actually exists to allow me to be more present for my daughter. It has allowed me the flexibility to be with her much more than if I had returned to work and also to be able to work around her medical needs. I work three days a week in the office and do bits and pieces from home on the other days. But I try to create space for me to just be a mum and make sure Ivy always knows she is my number one priority.
4. Your business is still relatively new but you have a sizeable following on Instagram - can you attribute one thing to this growth?
Probably consistency - the instagram page will be 3 years old in February and I’ve posted and shared/engaged really consistently for that time.
5. What are the plans for Ivy and Gold's future?
There are no huge plans for the future because the business has grown and changed so much over the past few years without much of a plan and that has worked quite well for us. This year (2022) my goal was to move into the events space and we’ve succeeded in booking out the entire summer for hen dos. We also held our first public event - a phone charm workshop this summer.
6. Tell us about the customer stories you share and why they're so special?
The stories blog was something I launched on Ivy & Gold’s first birthday and I was so excited to get back to interviewing people and sharing their stories because that was something I really missed about journalism. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to so many of our customers (on and off the blog) about why their bracelet is special to them and it honestly keeps me going. The bracelets all have a special significance to me and I try to create pieces that can help people to feel more connected to what is important to them.
7. What one piece of advice would you give another small business owner who's earlier on in their business journey than you?
Have faith in yourself. Your business can’t grow unless you take chances, reinvest in your business and have the confidence to take big steps like hiring people to help you, moving to premises or buying more stock than you ever have before. Of course I’m not saying those are things everyone should be aiming for or doing before they are ready, but you will get to a stage where it is clear what you need to do and at that time it’s so important that you get out of your own way and believe in yourself.
To follow Ivy & Gold over on Instagram or to learn more click here.