Stacey Holder taught herself how to make earrings out of polymer clay during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 and enjoyed it so much she decided to turn it into a small business.

‘Beaux Dangles’ offers colourful and unique pieces for “bold, edgy, fashion forward” clients, and Stacey is aiming to turn the brand into a household name.

Yello asked Stacey to share her business start-up journey. She told us about her creative childhood, where she gets inspiration from for her designs, and she also gave us some insight into her other business venture ‘Simple Decadence Designs’.

Describe yourself in one sentence. 

I’m a determined, natural creative who likes pretty things and has a dark sense of humour.

Please tell us a bit about your background.

I had an awesome childhood. Some of my fondest memories include making dolls out of wool with Veg (my mother), playing jacks and hopscotch with my friends. During summer vacations I would also make kites and rollers with my cousins.

It was always my dream to go to Queen’s College and the teachers that I had there made me feel like I could do anything, especially my art teacher, Mrs. Whittle. She had a major influence on me and helped me to believe that I can do what I do now.

Were you always a creative person? 

Yes, I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t doodling, or making something. I also love to sing, and I’ve tried my hand at poetry and writing a book, but I’m so much better at what I actually do!

What were your initial career plans?

I had none. I had no clue what I wanted to do. But when I left Queen’s College I went into banking and was in that field for 18 years.

Why / when did you start making jewellery? 

I started making jewellery in 2020 when we were on lockdown because of the pandemic.

There wasn’t anything going on, so I began sorting through my extensive earring collection and realised that I didn’t have certain colours. I searched the internet for pretty earrings in the colours I was missing, and then it dawned on me that I could make my own.

I researched it and saw so many brilliant makers using clay, so I decided I wanted to try that.

What was the first piece you made? 

The first piece I made was black arches and chains (see image above). That was the first style that I designed, and I wanted to see if it would look as good as it did in my head.

When did you start your business Beaux Dangles? 

Beaux Dangles started when I realised that I thoroughly enjoyed making the earrings and that I was good at it. Lockdowns put a huge strain on the event industry, and it seemed like a good way to make extra income.

What is the biggest challenge you faced starting the business? How did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge is that most of the raw materials cannot be found in Barbados. Also, as this was during the height of the pandemic, clay was, and still is, in short supply worldwide. I’ve had to do a lot of shopping around, including importing from Singapore.

Where do you get inspiration from? 

I’m inspired by lots of things, sometimes I’ll see a pattern while driving and a design will pop into my head. Or I’ll see someone wearing an outfit and think “you know what would look good with that” and there’s another design!

What materials do you enjoy working with?

Most of my earrings are made of polymer clay but I’ve recently started playing around with resin. I have to say that I love working with clay though, it feels more like playing than working.

Who are your customers? How do they find you? 

My customers are bold, edgy, fashion forward and unapologetically unique women. They find me on Instagram and by word of mouth.

Please tell us about your other business ‘Simple Decadence Designs’.

If Beaux Dangles is my body, then Simple Decadence is my soul.

Simple Decadence is handmade wedding and event stationery. I love paper, the smell, touch and look of it and that’s the essence of Simple Decadence. I love making beautiful things out of paper and I love, love! So, taking a bride’s dream, and making it tangible, is exciting and fulfilling for me.

What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?

The same thing I also dislike the most which is the fact that I have total autonomy. It all begins and ends with me. Sometimes that can be ridiculously scary and stressful but most of the time it’s rewarding.

What are your professional plans over the next 12-18 months? 

To build Beaux Dangles into a household name. I want people to look at a pair of earrings and go, “oh my gosh, you’re wearing Beaux Dangles.”

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? 

Plan, plan and plan some more. Then go do it.

Sometimes we get so bogged down in the planning, having contingencies in place, worrying about it being the right time, and so many other little things; we forget that this is also supposed to be something we enjoy doing.

Name three things you love the most about Barbados. 

1. I love our colloquialisms, for example we can’t just say “outside is wet”, we say “outside is wet, wet, wet”.
2. The smell. This might seem strange but every time I travel, everywhere smells weird. But from the time I step out onto the stairs of that plane, I know I’m home.
3. Barbados also has the best fruit. From mangoes to guavas to Bajan cherry. Right now, I can’t think of a local fruit I don’t like.

What do you do, or where do you go, to relax and unwind?

I am a voracious reader, so I get lost in my novels. I watch football especially English Premier League (glory, glory Man United!). I also watch tons of police procedural and crime dramas.

When all else fails, a long drive in the country does wonders.

What is your philosophy/motto in life? 

I am enough! All that I want to be, and need to be, is already in me.

If you could go back 10 years and give yourself one piece of advice, what would you say? 

Do not be afraid.

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See the full Beaux Dangles catalogue and find out more about Simple Decadence Designs on Instagram.