Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Barnett.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease and co-infections. I was able to go into remission after almost 2 years of treatment. Since being diagnosed with chronic illnesses, many of my hobbies were limited to being inside. I’ve always loved art. I decided I would experiment with Swarovski Crystals. It’s a soothing activity that occupies my brain and helps relieve anxiety. Plus, I love all things shiny and sparkly. I was working and attending college until I fell very ill again in 2014. I was diagnosed with Dysautonomia. Sadly, I had to leave school and quit my job. I went on Social Security Disability and I felt helpless. I spent the next 6 years taking care of my health. During this time, I was also rhinestoning here and there as a hobby.
At The end of 2020, I started to make significant progress with my health. I decided to go back to school to become a Pharmacy Technician. I received my license and certification. Unfortunately, it took the board of pharmacy 7 months to get me my license. About 2 months into that process, I decided I could no longer wait. In May 2021, I decided I would take my long-time passion and turn it into a business. I knew nothing about business. It was an impulse decision that I made when I was up at 3 am.
I started with my name. The deciding factor for that was if the Instagram username had not been taken. I wanted to do “bling by Becca” but it was claimed by an inactive account. My husband said that “Bijou by Becca” would be a great alternative. I originally started selling on Etsy but I quickly realized that I wanted my own domain.
When I first opened my website, I got no sales. I was struggling to bring traffic to it. Then, I went viral on social media. Every business owner’s dream and nightmare. I woke up in the middle of the night with too many orders to count. I was so happy but nearly had a mental breakdown from the amount of work I was in for. I had to hire someone to help me with prep and packing orders.
I’m so blessed to be able to have steady business. Since the beginning, I was donating a portion of my proceeds to Lyme Disease research. Now, I have started a blog on my website where fellow fighters can share their story. For their bravery and time, I send them a Lyme Disease themed bling cup for awareness.
Currently, I’m still trying to find a balance between orders, customs, and social media. My primary focus right now is to connect with my audience and build a community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a business owner is not easy. There will always be people who don’t respect your business and the rules. I’ve had many people want refunds for a custom-made product. I’ve had people try to scam me. I had a person steal my pictures and try to pass them off as their own. In 2022, social media has become a way to market your business. Keeping up with social media and trying to constantly make content can be more exhausting the actual business itself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional rhinestoner. In the past 10 years, I’ve rhinestoned items such as shoes, cups, phone/laptop cases, purses, and pillboxes. I have embellished many items for weddings and special events. My longest project was 40 hours on a pair of bridal sneakers. My proudest moment as a business owner was having the opportunity to rhinestone a rainbow cup for Jojo Siwa.
Contact Info:
- Email: bijoubybecca@gmail.com
- Website: bijoubybecca.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bijoubybecca
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bijoubybecca
