Biz Inspiration from Glistening Occasions

 

There are so many talented and creative women in business who are part of Life’s Little Celebrations! I’ll be regularly spotlighting on them in the blog so that you can be inspired in your own business or creative pursuits and also get to know the amazing businesses listed on the Directory pages.

Today I have a Q and A with the lovely Kyrie Shepphard as she shares about her business Glistening Occasions which creates beautiful cake toppers for birthdays, baby showers, christenings, weddings and any event big or small!

 

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1) Describe your business in 1-2 sentences:

Custom designed acrylic and timber cake toppers

2) When and how Glistening Occasions come about?:

Glistening Occasions really had such an organic start. I got married in August of 2011 and always being an arty person I decided I wanted to create my cake toppers, cake and knife servers, ring box, Lolly table signs, the list goes on but these were all encrusted in crystals. A couple of our wedding guests said they would like me to make some items for their special occasions so as soon as I got home from our honeymoon I created a Facebook page and Glistening Occasions was born!

 

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Cake topper by Glistening Occasions. Cake by Sweet Bakes

 

3) How has your business evolved over the years?:

Glistening Occasions has evolved in many ways over the past few years. The major ones I would say were:

-Removing the crystallised option from my range. The busier I started to get the less time I had as at this stage I was still working full time and I was spending hours sticking tiny crystals on each cake topper so by removing this option I then had to ability to take on more work.

– For years I was having to outsource my laser cutting until I decided to bite the bullet, cut out the middle man and purchase my own laser cutter. Whilst it was a huge investment and a scary step at the time it was the best decision ever made as I could then afford to show off what I can really do as before the outsourcing was costing a small fortune that I could only order toppers when I got the orders booked in rather than just have a play when an idea sprang to mind.

My business then started growing quicker than I could keep up, I was staying up all night then going to my full time job the next day. I decided to follow my heart and see where I could take Glistening Occasions so I quit my job to make the business my full time job. Here I was thinking I would now have more time on my hands and funnily enough I’m back to late nights to try and keep up with the demand.

4) What did you do before starting your business?

I worked full time as a Graphic Designer on the Gold Coast for an advertising company.

 

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Cake topper – Glistening Occasions

 

5) What is one of your business achievements you are most proud of?:

Whilst I have been absolutely blessed to have created cake toppers for some well known celebrities the fact that I am self made and have grown my business to the level it is at today is by far my proudest achievement.

6) What do you love about running your own business?

I love that even though I work many more hours now than I did when being employed by someone else I wake up each morning excited for the jobs ahead. It’s a wonderful feeling doing what you love daily.

I think it helps that every single order is different, it is never repetitive and I also love my work space. I have my own studio down the back of our block fitted out with baby pink, mint green and gold with too many cake stands with a cake topper on each and sometimes I sit back, look at the toppers on display and smile at the thought that I made that!

 

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Frozen cake topper – Glistening Occasions

 

7) What is one thing you would like to achieve in 2016 for your business?

If Glistening Occasions keeps growing like it is in 2016 I would really like to put someone on to ease the workload and have the ability to take on even more orders as I’m currently having to turn some urgent orders away due to being booked to capacity so it would be great to be able to take on every single order so no one has to miss out on adding that Glistening to their Occasions.

I would also love to invest in another laser cutter, a big bopper so that I can expand my range and capabilities even further!

8) What advice could you offer to other small business owners?:

I had someone tell me the other day that I’m so lucky to have gotten to where I am with my business but it has nothing to do with luck and all to do with hard work.

Find your spot in the market, be original and stick with it. Owning your own business is hard work but if you really love what you do then you will make it work even if it is just on a small scale because that joy you feel doing something you really love is worth it.

If there comes a day when cake toppers are no longer fashionable then I will certainly still be making them for my family and friends so that I can always feel that little bit of happiness each time I create something.

 

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Eiffel tower cake topper – Glistening Occasions

 

Thanks so much Kyrie for sharing your advice and experience with all of us today!

Be sure to have a browse of the Glistening Occasions website and facebook page  and instagram account when you next need toppers for a birthday party, christening, baby shower or other celebration!

 

tanya