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Success News
Storm & Sunrise
If you met Tossy Garrett on the street, you might be surprised to learn she’s a bold entrepreneur with a thriving jewelry business. Although she’s young and her demeanor is tranquil, a tour through her studio tells you she’s capable of steely resolve. Her work tables are covered with drill presses, sanding and polishing tools, boxes of burrs, faceted stones, carving wax, a jeweler’s pickle pot. Her work products are plentiful and packed with the appeal of creative design. When it comes to jewelry, Tossy Garrett means business. After earning her art degree in June, 2001, Garrett says she fell in love with Vermont while hiking The Long Trail. By August, she was living in Richmond and waiting tables at the Whip Bar & Grill in Stowe. In that same month, she resolutely launched her own business, "Storm and Sunrise," and began creating custom-designed, nature-inspired jewelry. Her specialty is wax-carved sculptural pieces that can be cast in any precious metal, such as sterling silver, 14K gold or platinum. Garrett's work includes rings, bracelets, pendants and ear rings with gemstone settings of virtually any size or shape. She's been in business five years, and she managed it all without borrowing a cent. During Garrett's first year of business, she worked full-time at the Whip. "At that time, I didn’t know anyone in Vermont so I just threw all my earnings into the business," Garrett explained. "I bought all my basic equipment with money earned from waitressing." She introduced her work at local farmers' markets and established a customer base by word-of-mouth. When people asked where they could see her jewelry outside the markets, Garrett created a website and watched her sales steadily climb. "The website seems to have given the business a degree of validity with people I meet at the farmers' markets and craft fairs," Garrett reflected. "Also, the website has extended my reach to people as far away as California and Idaho." As the business gathered momentum, Garrett’s work began to appear in local galleries including Frog Hollow (Manchester, Middlebury, Burlington), Gallery at the VAULT (Springfield) and the Artisan’s Gallery (Waitsfield). In its third year, 2003, Storm and Sunrise turned a corner and became completely self-sustaining. In that year, Garrett moved from Richmond to Montpelier and began attending the artists’ learning circles and business luncheons sponsored by the VT Women’s Business Center, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. "In terms of personal growth, the artists’ learning circles were great, and the business luncheons were invaluable," Garrett commented. "They helped me address technical things I had no clue about, like marketing." Also helpful was her choice of residence, which came with a one-room garage behind the house. Garrett and her fiancé converted the garage into an insulated, well-lit studio fully-equipped with all the tools of the trade. Although Garrett says she does not want the additional responsibilities of a storefront, she enjoys making a personal connection with her clients and welcomes studio appointments. Clearly, Garrett is doing all the right things, as reflected by a doubling in her gross sales over the past three years. Asked if she could offer advice to would-be business owners, Garrett replied, "Believe in yourself. I don't expect it to happen but if I could not float my rent this winter, I'd find a temporary job. Be willing to do whatever it takes to keep your vision going without letting your pride get in the way." To view the jewelry at Storm and Sunrise, visit stormandsunrise.com or call 802-229-4106 for an appointment. # # # | ||