Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at Tiny Oak Jewelry these days! I’m taking a course called “Laying the Foundation” from Flourish and Thrive Academy, a company built by jewelry designer Tracy Matthews. The course starts by taking you deep into the “why” of your business, taking inspiration from the work of Simon Sinek. It’s got me thinking a lot about what I’m doing and, well, why.

One of my main motivations in getting into business for myself is creating the opportunity to give back. Tiny Oak has donated to local youth programs and to Ukraine relief efforts, and this year we’re looking to up our giving game. I’ve personally joined a local women’s giving collective via Grapevine, and this spring, Tiny Oak will be launching an exciting new program that will plant a tree for every purchase. Look for the announcement on April 22, Earth Day 2023, for which the theme happens to be “Invest in Our Planet.”

As part of this new initiative, we will be phasing out our existing packaging in favor of something much more eco-friendly: 100% recycled, curbside recyclable and naturally biodegradable padded mailers. We’ll still ship in our old mailers until they run out—it doesn’t make sense to toss them—but we’re excited about adopting this new option, which is so much more in line with our core values.

In the interest of better customer service, in the next several days we’ll be migrating to a new, faster web host. Look for vastly improved page load times and an overall smoother experience.

I’m also working to improve my photography skills, and create more beautiful and detailed images for you to browse. Tradition says jewelry must be displayed on a pure white background, but where’s the fun in that? I’ll be testing various layouts and backdrops and lighting. You can follow my journey and share your thoughts on Facebook and Instagram.

I’m thrilled to be creating a brand that focuses more on the “why” than on the “what” or the “how.” I hope you will come on this journey with me and share in all the exciting changes I have in store. I value your input, and I want to hear from you!

Cover photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash