In this episode, Jennifer Pearson — ceramic designer and creator of the Halliesphere, a sustainable flower-arranging tool — shares the real journey behind bringing a completely new product to market. If you’re a product creator or e-commerce business owner, you’ll get so much from hearing how she took an idea from her dining table to partnering with the last remaining fine china manufacturer in the UK.

Jennifer talks about:

• Validating an idea through real customers — and what consistent demand at craft fairs taught her.
• Scaling a handmade product and navigating the challenges of finding the right manufacturer
• Sticking to your ethics and values when building a brand
• Pricing, positioning and protecting your idea, including how she approached trademarks and design rights.
• Marketing a product no one knew they needed yet
• Using Etsy effectively

Jennifer’s honesty about the ups and downs of product creation makes this a relatable listen — especially if you're building something original and wondering how to get it out into the world.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Halliesphere Website: https://www.halliesphere.com/

Halliesphere Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Halliesphere/

Halliesphere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halliesphere

Jennifer Pearson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-susan-3848802ba/

Halliesphere Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Halliesphere

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Vicki Weinberg: 00:00:32

Welcome to the bring your product idea to life podcast. This is the podcast for you if you're getting started selling products or if you'd like to create your own product to sell.

I'm Vicki Weinberg, a product creation coach and Amazon expert. Every week I share friendly practical advice as well as inspirational stories from small businesses. Let's get started.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:00:55

Hi.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:00:55

So today on the podcast I'm speaking to Jennifer Pearson, creator of the Halisphere. Jennifer is a flower lover and designer who's created sustainable way to arrange flowers based on a Victorian idea.

So Jenny has the most interesting unique products. It's something that I've never seen before. It's basically, I think she calls it a mechanic for arranging flowers.

It's a really unique, original product and today she shares with us how she. Came up with the idea, how she.

Created the product and all that's come.

Since this is a really fascinating episode, you will hear how passionate Jennifer is about her product, about the ethics and the sustainability behind it.

And she has so much useful advice and wisdom to share with all of us on the product creation side and also around creativity and well being and using flowers to positively impact our health. And I just think this is such a lovely episode and I'm really excited to introduce you to Jennifer. So hi Jennifer, thank you so much for being here.

Yeah, I'm really excited to speak.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:01:59

Thank you. It's so great to chat to you.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:02:01

Today for your business and what you sell.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:02:03

Sure. So yeah, my name's Jennifer and I'm a ceramics designer and I created my product really from like grassroots on my dining table.

So it's a true startup because I love flowers but I really struggle to arrange them especially using like traditional methods that aren't very eco friendly, like floral foam and things like that. So I created a product that would allow anyone, florists or home flower arrangers to create beautiful flower arrangements at home.

And it's called a Halisphere. So I'm holding on up to the camera if you are looking at the video and it's a ceramic disc that goes onto your fold for the YouTube.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:02:48

Channel for anyone who's listening but not watching. So, yeah, so it's a lovely ceramic disc and it's got holes of different sizes which I guess helps you to arrange your stalks.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:02:59

Yeah, that's right. So I created it so that it gives that really balanced arrangement.

So for me it's about achieving like a florist level arrangement at home and I absolutely love to have like physical products and that's Why I was really excited to come on to your podcast because I think, you know, the world of physical product is a strange beast. And it's something. Yeah, I really enjoy being a part of it. So I'm going to do a little arrangement just to show you.

So I've got a dahlia from my garden. Oh, she's so beautiful. So when I put it in the jug, obviously, it just kind of falls over and looks a bit sad.

So I'm going to pop the hollow sphere on top of the jug, put the stem through one of the holes, and it just creates. It's just a transformation for me. So I'm just going to have one in there because I just think that's so beautiful. But obviously you can fill it up.

It's got 17 holes. You can just fill it up and create an enormous arrangement if you want to.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:03:53

Just one flower. You honestly can see the difference because I love having flowers at home. Often I just, for the.

The nicest way I can say this, I plonk them in a vase and then I might fan them out a little bit and I might move them around, but actually, I don't know how to make them look nice. But just seeing that upright immediately looks so much more beautiful than when you put it on the form and it just sort of flopped to the side.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:04:17

Yeah. And people have, you know, over the years, the Victorians, the Edwardians, there's.

There's mechanics out there, but they tend to be sharp and pokey, and they're like pin frogs or chicken wire or the floral foam, which. A petrochemical. It's so bad for the environment. So what I saw was missing for me as a.

As a. I grow things in my garden and love to bring flowers into the house was something that was like this. They call it a mechanic, the florists call it a mechanic, but that's also a homeware. And I just couldn't find that crossover.

Like, I don't want chicken wire in my. In my jugs at home. I don't want to use floral foam.

And it kind of, over the years, has become something more because now florists are using it in their arrangements instead of floral foam, and instead of traditional kind of sharp, pokey, difficult, clean mechanics. So that's really exciting.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:05:10

So you explain to where the idea came from. How did you go from knowing you wanted to create a mechanic for flower arranging to actually having a finished product? Where did the idea come from?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:05:22

Yeah, I mean, it's. Is such a huge thing, and I think everybody or Everyone whose product base goes on their own journeys with it, right?

Because we all need to either make it ourselves or partner with manufacturers. And for me, it was a bit of both. So I actually made this product, my Hallow spheres myself, on my dining table for about three years.

And I was selling them at craft market. So completely made by me by hand. I mean, they took weeks and weeks to make. We see. I made them out of air dry clay, so that's a porous material.

They were around water. I was fastidious. I would, I would sit there all night, like putting yacht varnish on my creations so that they would be waterproof.

And I sold so many at craft markets, I thought, this is mad. Like, I'm selling out. People love the concept. They also love the transformation.

And it gets people excited about, oh my goodness, I can make my flowers look like that at home. So I doubled my prices because I thought, this is mad. And I was still selling out. So it was that kind of step by step.

And I thought, okay, this is a great idea. It's making a big impact for people. I need to scale. I can't make it myself anymore.

And I think what really led me to that decision was if I was to get a wholesale order for a couple of thousand, which in some circles is quite a small number, I would just have to say no. And I'm not prepared to say no to this product. This needs to be out in the world.

So I took a leap of faith and I went to a trade show and I went to the source area of the trade show and I thought, great, I'll be able to find a manufacturer there. So there's a whole hole just for source. Brilliant. I went there and every single person there that made ceramics was from China.

And I thought, oh my goodness, like, can I not get this? Can I not scale in the uk? Like, what's going on?

And yeah, it took a long time, I was really thinking about it, but then I thought, wow, I can't find anyone in the uk, I've got to go out to China. And it was a real, like galling moment because I really didn't want to do that. I wanted it to be a British made product.

So after working with Chinese companies for a few months and getting quotes and everything, I just took a last ditch attempt. I thought, let's just see, can I get this made in the UK before I go out to China and have it scaled there?

And I sent an email to a fine china manufacturer, the last remaining in the uk.

So the reason I couldn't find anyone is because they unfortunately have all closed, apart from one sent an email and said, this is my design, this is my product, here's my trademark and my limited company number. Would you like to partner with me?

ing director of Duchess China: 1888

So how I brought my product to market was. Yeah, reaching out to people that felt aligned with my ethics and my values and how I wanted my product to look.

And they said, yes, that's an amazing story.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:08:29

Well done for being so tender. I know from when we spoke previously you were really keen for, like, for it to be made in the UK and to be a British products, so.

But it is really hard because not everything is made here. So it's amazing you were able to find the one place that could help you because that is like the needle and haystack, isn't it? It's. It's so hard.

And even if there are amazing manufacturers, it's that one thing is exist and then the other thing is finding them and finding, you know, being able to speak to them. And so well done on managing to do that because I think that, I imagine that wasn't easy.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:09:03

No, it wasn't.

And it was a real kind of heartstrings moment because I know I knew I wanted to get my product out there and I thought, I'm willing for it not to be British made so that I can bring the product out, because that's not. I didn't want that to block me from launching this product.

But at the same time, just for me, the right thing was to get it made in the UK, if possible. So, yeah, really, people call it like a Z Force moment. When you're like on one timeline and then something happens, you just jump a timeline.

But it does prove that people are out there and we are doing incredible things in British manufacturing. The other potential that would like stop people is price point as well.

Because, you know, everyone thinks, oh, you can get that made so much cheaper in China, but actually when you actually look at imports and storage and tariffs and the cost, like, it's not actually that much cheaper I found for my product. But yeah, it's. I think as a product designer and business owner, we just have to go with our own, what fits best for us and our product.

And yeah, I absolutely Managed to strike gold with Duchess China. They make for Fortnum and Mason. They make for Highgrove. They did all the King's coronation mugs. So all the God Save the King mugs. They make those.

They are just absolutely incredible. So when they said yes to me, it really did feel like a timeline.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:10:24

Jump as well of shipping products across the world. And I know that sustainability is really important to you, so I guess there was that to consider as well.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:10:33

Yeah, absolutely. It was a really horrible moment when I realized I might not be able to get it made in the uk. It was almost like, well, shall I just.

I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and making in small batches then. Because I really wanted sustainability and, like, the ethics of how it started to be golden thread throughout the business.

So when you think you might not be able to do that, it's really difficult decision. And I think the fact that I kind of, I don't know, I just showed this crazy willingness to get it made.

And maybe that's why Duchess were like, okay, we're gonna give this a go. We're gonna go and talk to this girl. Yeah. So for me, sustainability is really important.

And when I went up to the factory and met the incredible people that make, like, hand make the pieces there, all the clay comes from Cornwall. So it's genuinely a British made product because we don't ship anything in to make it. And that really excites me. So the clay comes from Cornwall.

You go to the Open Minds and I took my children last summer and I could say, like, this is where the clay comes from for Mummy's work.

And that was really amazing because again, like, how many times can you actually see the raw materials and know where they come from, know the provenance and they. Duchess China also have their own print work, so you can see there's a pattern on here.

So all of the printing for any of our decals and our patterns are all done in Stoke on Trent as well. So we're not buying anything in from overseas. That's very exciting for me. Yeah, I think so.

And people say, are you worried that your idea will get stolen? And I'm like, well, I think the concept might be copied, but Duchess China are the last remaining UK manufacturer that can make this.

So when people talk about usp, it's like, yeah, this is it. And, you know, I also feel the responsibility of that as almost like a custodian.

These incredible ceramics factories that have one by one closed down. And Duchess China's still here.

And I think we need to champion that and talk about it and get people through the doors and get people excited about what we're doing in the uk but also in the ceramics world.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:12:52

Because it is there mentioned that you said that people often ask about your idea being copied. Is that something that's concerned? I mean, I guess, as you said, somebody wouldn't be able to do it in ceramics.

They'd have to use a different material. But is that something that's concerned you?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:13:07

Yeah, it definitely has.

And I think there was a point about two years ago where I almost didn't continue because I thought, well, it's just going to get copied and they'll probably do it better than me and it'll be cheaper and it'll be this and that. You know, we all have these thoughts sometimes, and I'm so glad I didn't listen to.

Because if we let that stop us launching our great idea, or even if it's a reimagination of something that's already out there, like, we never do anything. And I think, yeah, that has bothered me. But I did what I could. I applied for a trademark, and I've got a design patent on the design itself.

And what I've done is I've created a really sustainable product that if it is made in China and shipped in and sold for a couple of pounds, it won't be Halisphere. So I want Halisphere to be like the Ferrari of this. This world. Like, positioning yourself in the market is really important.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:14:03

The product. Exactly. Even if they try and make a cheap plastic version, let's say they. They can't completely.

They can't completely copy what you've done, because as you said, there's so much more to the brand than the product. It's everything that makes it up.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:14:18

Yeah, I hope so.

And I think definitely, kind of as an industry and as a collective, people are asking more about the provenance of where their things are coming from and if they see something at a higher price point.

I think you do think, okay, well, I know that that's going to be ethically made, or I can see where it's come from, and I think people are looking for that more and more. So, yeah, I hope that that really resonates.

And, you know, my job as a founder is to tell the story, which is why I love podcasts and I love meeting people because the story is such a huge part of the ownership. But equally, and I think also it gives you this incredible flower arrangement.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:14:59

You should only need to ever buy One of these once and it will last you forever. And I do think there's more of a lean towards that now as well.

Like, I know when I shop myself, I would much rather spend more money on something that's going to last me years than buy something knowing that it's going to wear out in whether it's months or years or whatever, and I'm going to have to replace it.

I think a lot of people now are getting much more considered about how we spend our money, and I would rather spend a bit more on quality, because otherwise it's a bit of a false economy, isn't it?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:15:30

Yeah, it's such a good point. And I think that's what is it really, like, strikes a chord with me, is that these are heirloom pieces, you know, they'll be passed down the family.

So it's fine. It's fine china. It doesn't chip. It's not like a stoneware or a really cheap ceramic that just will break.

So, yeah, I think that they're just incredible because they do have that longevity. And it's like this creamy Cornish clay. And also you can put them in the dishwasher so it's like you can use them for modern living.

That was the whole point. I wanted something that you could bash around and crash around with. And, you know, people say. Sometimes they say, oh, like, that's too precious.

I couldn't use it. So I really try and show people in when I'm talking about it. Like, they're so robust, they're there to be used. They are super precious.

But it's like you're saying, you invest in a piece that you'd want to use all the time. And, yeah, it's really exciting to think that they will be passed down through the generations.

And I want people to think, oh, yeah, I remember using this with my grandma. I'm going to pass it down. So, yeah, that's definitely part of my ethos and it's kind of how to tell that story.

When you go to Duchess China, they've got the most incredible, like, fine china teapots. They're just crashing around back and around because they are that strong.

So, yeah, you've reminded me that I definitely need to do some storytelling about that, because we see fine china and sometimes we think it's breakable. It's not always the case. Wedding present.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:17:02

And it is that thing of, oh, you're a bit scared to use it because you don't want to drip a cup or you don't want to Drop something. But you're right, you have to use things, things and enjoy them.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:17:11

Yeah, I'm going to think about how to tell that message and tell that story because one of the things Duchess China say is, you know, actually as you said at the beginning of this topic, like people buy a tea set from them and then they don't come back because it lasts a generation, if not more.

So when they're making things, they're saying like, we know that when this goes out to that customer, they'll shop with us again, but not for that and.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:17:36

Last forever joy like flowers and flower arranging can bring and we'll definitely move on.

I definitely want to ask you a bit more about that in a moment if that's okay, because I think that'll be lovely to talk a little bit about the sort of, the well being element.

Yeah, well, because your product is obviously it is a product, but I do think there's a lovely sort of well being aspect to connecting with nature and flowers and flower arranging and I think that's lovely. What I'd like to ask a little bit first, if that's okay, is about Etsy because I know you currently sell on Etsy.

Is that the only place you're selling at the moment?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:18:10

So I'm selling on Etsy and like in person events and I'm my products on the Duchess China website as a collection. So that's where people can get them at the moment.

And also I'm working really hard on my wholesale offer because I do want to have the two streams, so Etsy and the Duchess China website and wholesale as well. But yeah, yeah, Etsy, Etsy has. I've just kind of just started and I had a little flurry at the beginning and now it's, it's actually quite steady.

I'm like shocked.

I actually had an order for two just before the podcast, so must have been putting the Etsy out there, which is, it's always amazing and really, really exciting when you see an Etsy sale come through. I found it really easy to get started on and I think as we all know, because you can't avoid it now it's like SEO, SEO, SEO everyone else.

And I think once I was like, okay, well let's just get the SEO right then. And I think people are finding me, which is really cool. Like I'm getting orders from all over the country and some international orders as well.

And I think that does mean that putting those hours into SEO works. I'd love Etsy to do more and I think That I can do more with it.

At the moment it's quite ad hoc and what I see is I'll do an in person event, I'll hand out cards and then I have a flurry on my Etsy shop, which is wonderful because that means people are remembering me. Like think of all the steps they have to go through to remember me, find my card, look on my Etsy, decide to buy, check it out.

I mean that's, that's a huge process that someone's gone through because they see me in person. But yeah, I'd love it to do more. Like I'm only getting, I'm getting a couple of.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:19:53

That's amazing. Those, considering you've just started making that hourly would be great events as well.

And it's amazing that people are finding you there and then going to shop from you. I imagine part of that is because possibly it's a more considered purchase because I've definitely done that myself.

You know, you see something at a market or a pop up and you really like it, but you go, oh, can I, should I? And then you walk away and go, I definitely should have.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:20:19

Yeah, I think there is definitely an element of that.

And you know, because it is a considered purchase and it might be something that I have like families come and say, siblings want a club together and get one for mum. So she'll say I need to ask my brother about this and then she'll come back and the brother's like, yeah, let's get it for Mum.

So sometimes it's because it's a joint present and sometimes it's because people want to measure their vessels, which is quite fun. So all the measurements are on Etsy. People go home and think, oh, it will fit on that vase, I'm gonna get one.

So yeah, it's really, it's really lovely to see that kind of process. Yeah, it really is. I think as we know as physical product owners, it's. There's nothing quite like. Yeah, just having that connection with the product.

And as you say, this is to put flowers in that just brings that nature in.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:21:08

No would exist as well. So I guess with somewhere like Etsy, they might not be searching for it because they may never have.

Because until we were introduced I'd never heard of your products. I'd never heard of anything similar.

I, if I was going to arrange flowers, the only thing I can think of is when I was a kid and I don't know where I remember this from is that that dark green foam and I, I don't know how I would have come across that but I, I have a real memory of the phone now but I think now if I was arranging flowers I would just put them in a vase and. Well, I wouldn't now because I know about your products but you know what I mean.

Before that I would have just put them in a vase and hope for the best. And I think there'll be lots of people.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:21:45

Yeah.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:21:46

Displays. But they don't know how. But they don't know this. Yeah. Exists. So I guess that's a bit of a challenge too.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:21:52

Exactly. Oh my gosh. It's such a challenge as a new business, honestly. Because yeah, people, that's why in person is so important.

And I'm traveling, I think I've been traveling pretty much every weekend the whole summer going to horticultural shows and events and trade shows and just talking about it as much as I can because as you say, it's not a thing yet. And I want Halysphere to be like, like Tesco or like Tupperware. We all know what that is. But it's not, it's not a thing. It's a made up word.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:22:27

Right.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:22:28

So I want people in two years time to say, oh mum, pass me the Halisphere. It's just a thing.

It's just people know what it is and I think my job is like I'm working really hard to make that happen because it's a new product but this product is so incredible. It really deserves to, to have that. I'm just going to tip it so you can see it's so simple.

But I said people at market say, you know, it's often their simplest ideas that are the most effective.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:22:54

Great you on the Duchess China website as well because I wasn't aware of that.

And I think that's also amazing that they, they're sort of backing you in that way and they want to, you know, it feels like a real partnership, which is really nice.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:23:07

Yeah, I agree. I think that's really incredible.

I remember sitting in the boardroom when I first met them and I taken, I've got a strategic coach and he's, he's great and he's been in the business a long, long time and we're sat in boardroom and he said to the managing director, would you put Jennifer's products on your website? And the MD said I don't see why not, you know, when you're in these situations. And I was like, I think I'd stopped breathing at that point.

And they did, you know, and sometimes things can happen and it, and then it doesn't follow through. But they did and they put, put me on their website.

So I think that just as you say, that shows to me as well a commitment to, to this product and to this relationship. I've just put another flower in there and I just, I cannot. This, it's.

I know it's my product, but I get excited every time I put a few flowers in because that's not how they look. Before I made Palace, I know you've.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:24:01

Talked before about how spending time in nature and working with flowers is good for your well being. Do you think that steepens the connection for you? So working with flowers and creating the product.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:24:12

Yeah, definitely. And when I first started making got me out in the garden or out for a walk every day.

So what I would do is I, obviously I wouldn't fill a whole one up every day because then I'd have like seven flower arrangements by the end of the week. But I'd pick one flower either from the garden or from the hedgerows or buy one bloom from the flourish.

You know, we know we'd go to a flourish and you see one bloom and you think, I've got to have that one. And then you think, oh, but I'm not going to buy it because I don't know what to do with it or just it won't look right in a vase.

So over the week I'll fill up one vase and fill each hole every day.

And I just found that connection really astounding because it was like, wow, I'm really noticing what's growing, what was actually blooming last week that now isn't this week. And it kind of built a picture of the year for me. And it's really incredible what you can notice. And it takes no time at all.

It's like while the kettle's boiling, I'll just pop out. These dahlia are from my garden.

My husband grows them, so hopefully he won't mind that I'm not really allowed to go out into the garden with scissors because they're his precious flowers. But I thought we were worth it today. I mean, look at them.

Yeah, so it definitely, it definitely helped me through like lockdown and having a five year old at home who's neurodivergent and a brand new baby. It's like when, when could you find a second for yourself? And it was literally going into the garden, picking one stem, even a piece of lovely grass.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:25:48

Don't think of themselves as creative, do you think you can still arrange flowers and have the benefits of the well being benefits and express your creativity. Even if you think, I'm not a garden person, I'm not a green fingered person.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:26:01

Yeah, definitely.

And actually that's funny because this morning I had a testimonial come through and someone had written that they came to one of my workshops and they said they couldn't believe how they could make the most incredible flower arrangement with no skill.

And they said they thought that with Hallow Sphere they'd need a demo and it would all have to be laid out and they'd have to learn a process to do it.

And she said, I can't believe that you just literally pop it on your vase and plonk the flowers in that you don't need a demo or a tutorial or anything to be creative with it. So yeah, it's, it just lends itself to, you're the artist even if you don't think of yourself as creative. And I think a lot of us struggle with.

I'm not going to buy those special flowers from the florist because I can't arrange them and I won't do them justice. I think that's what I hear a lot. So Holly sphere is there to just give you and the flowers a little bit of support.

So they look like this in a vase which they're just standing up and looking like, hello, we're here. So yeah, no, you don't need creativity at all. And actually it just, it's quite a mindful activity.

My kids love filling one up because, yeah, it's just anything where you're creating something from nothing, you know, as long.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:27:19

As it looks beautiful to you.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:27:21

No, I'll show you. I've got one on a teapot here. So this is my Gladstone blue teapot and I've got a matching hollow sphere which we made at the pottery.

There we go, I'm gonna move that. I love this teapot. I do use it for tea, but also.

So it's got a hollow sphere on top with the blue pattern and I've just picked a bit of sage from the garden, move out of shop. And a few of these, which I don't know what they're called because I'm not a florist, I'm a ceramics designer.

And this just from the garden, I think that just makes me so happy. So I also love putting herbs in because it just has the most incredible smell.

So you've got like a natural air freshener and I'll just pop that downstairs. Or even in the bathroom. It smells amazing. So, yeah, that's where the zero skill or creativity comes in.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:28:11

Gather it looks really effective. That looks really nice. So tell me about your workshops. I was not.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:28:20

Oh, yeah. So I've just started working with a local hotel, Cal Cot and Spa. And they're incredible.

They've actually just won an award for sustainability, like top eco hotel in Britain. And they invited me to come and start doing workshops with them, which was really an incredible opportunity for me as a new business.

So I go in and people can. They have lunch in the beautiful brasserie and they get to take in the gorgeous hotel.

And then they have two hours with me and I'll do storytelling and demos and arrange while people have a nice cup of tea. And then they get to pick all their own flowers from a huge selection that I bring and create their own arrangements to take home.

And that's been just such a wonderful way to connect with people. And yeah, it's been really popular.

I've got one in November and hopefully gonna have one in January because a few people have said, can you do one in January? So I can buy a ticket as a Christmas present and then they can go in January. Yeah.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:29:21

And so do people get to take one home at the end?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:29:24

Yeah, that's right. That's right. So people. Yeah, they do. So they. They get a vase and a high sphere and all the flower.

Flowers to take home as well, so they can just use it again. It's been really popular, so lovely as.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:29:37

Well, because it's another way to. For people to learn about your products and how to use it and obviously sell your products. That's. I think that's really, really good.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:29:45

Thank you. I think there's something for all of us about, like, there's something about connecting with the founder and you.

You just get like the behind the scenes. And we all love a behind the scenes. And I do, I tell like, really personal stories and like take people on a journey as well.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:30:01

And in a really fun way. Like. Yeah, that's really stuck with me. I think that's such a good idea for people to spend an afternoon doing something lovely using the product.

And I think it also probably makes it more likely that once they've taken it home, they'll use it again. So have that confidence in. In what they're doing.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:30:17

Yeah, definitely. It's so lovely because. And people coming together, like, people don't know each other.

And what surprised me is often someone will book a ticket to come by themselves. Like, people are quite happy to come to these things by themselves.

They know they're going to meet other like minded people and people are encouraging each other and looking at each other's arrangements saying, oh gosh, I love how you've done that. And it's, it's so lovely that this, this product, it just kind of brings people together.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:30:43

Can I ask you a few flower questions before we, before we glaze Jennifer? So obviously we're recording this in October and we're going into winter and when this episode goes out, it will actually be December.

So people can see there is a little bit of a lead time here. I mean, winter is tricky for, well, in my, for me, I find winter tricky for gardens and flowers. So let's say someone's listening to this in December.

What are some of your favorite flowers or stems or things that people can use now? They're listening to this episode now. They think, oh, I'd love to go out in the garden. Jennifer's inspired me.

What, what can they use at this time of year particularly?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:31:21

Yeah, so I am so excited about December and the festive period because we, we just, I feel like most of us are just called to bring something in during the festive period. Right. You've got people coming over. We're called to bring nature in and I'm really excited about that time of year.

And I will be using the most beautiful arrays of like hollies, variegated leaves and just berries, any kind of that lovely green foliage, ivy. Just be careful if you're picking ivy, wear gloves and wash your hands. But it's just there's so much that you can bring in.

And for me it's not, it's not flowers, it's foliage and it's all those beautiful stems and red berries and just creating that lovely greenery. And I actually love leaning into that. Like I'm not going to go out to be like, oh, well, there's no flowers in December.

No, but look at what there is. And you can often actually still find that kind of autumn leafy color at that time of year.

So I will be foraging and getting a few bits from the wholesaler and from my local florist because I think there's something really magical about that. So what I do is I'll get something like this teapot, fill it up with that greenery, holly berries, ivy, and then I'll put a candle in the middle.

So I just use a bit of blue tack and put a lovely tall taper candle in the middle and, and it looks beautiful. So yeah, go Out. You'd be surprised if you go out for a walk.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:32:55

Thank you for sharing.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:32:56

Actually, look and see what. What could I bring in?

Vicki Weinberg: 00:32:59

Listen and go, oh, I would love to do that. But it's. But it's December. Because you do have that. I mean, my garden is. It's okay. I've got a few things that are evergreens.

They're green all year round, but that, you know, like, that spring color is what's not there. And the autumn. I mean, it's autumn now. I love autumn. I think it might be my favorite. I love the. The golds and reds and yellow. It's just beautiful.

But, yeah, winter, I think, can be a tricky time.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:33:25

It can be. And I think that's why I love. Like, I love using taper candles. You know, you can get quite thin ones as well, like really tiny tape candles.

Imagine three of those coming out of the arrangement. Because I. Yeah, I just use one of the holes and put blue tack and put them in. And it's. Yeah, it's kind of bringing that color in elsewhere.

And, like, how can you balance your arrangement? And I'll still go to the local florist and get a few bits, but I am really looking forward to it.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:33:52

That's such a good idea.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:33:54

Arrangements of holly.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:33:57

Thank you. I'm going to make one. That sounds lovely. I think that sounds really beautiful.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:34:05

You could even do, like, bright pink candles or something. You could go really out there, like, just have fun with it.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:34:10

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:34:11

You could get, like, you know, you can get those candy cane candles that are, like, red and white. Oh, my. There's so much you could do with it. And it's really lovely, like, if you do have any little ones in your life as well.

Well, to do it with them, because I think there's something really special about children connecting with nature and. And making something that they can literally bring to the table and be proud of. And, like, I make that.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:34:34

And also I. I sometimes find they're more creative than us as well, because they haven't been conditioned to be.

To say that's a bad idea, or that looks bad, or you shouldn't put that with that, or those colors, you know, all those sort of things that you pick up over your life if you don't have. Which I think is. Is so lovely.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:34:50

Yeah, it's. It's really.

It's really beautiful, actually, just to watch them joyfully, like you say, without thinking, oh, but I'm doing it wrong, or this or that. And. Yeah. And also the winter arrangements, they Last so long. You know those green foliage, you just top it up with water and it will last and last.

So that's really lovely. Yeah, I'm excited this Christmas because I launched last September, so this is kind of my second Christmas.

I'm excited to see what my customers are making. I'm really hoping to get, get lots of pictures because I love it when people send me pictures and say, look what I made.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:35:26

That must be. Yeah, that must be wonderful. Just seeing what people are making and using.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:35:30

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the joy of Instagram. You can quite easily snap a picture and send it to the account and people do that quite often.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:35:39

See how they're being creative with it. That's so, so nice.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:35:43

Yeah, definitely. It's. It's quite funny. I, I sold quite a few last year for the like, people that love the Emma Bridge water mugs. I do too.

I've got a huge collection of Embridge Water, but sometimes the handles do break off or you kind of drop it and it gets chipped, but you don't want to throw it away. And these fit on Emma Bridgewater, so it's so fun.

I've actually had quite a few customer photos recently of their like Enbridge Water with the handle falling off. Full of flowers. I can really use them.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:36:10

I really like reusing other things to put. I think that's so nice. Like something that isn't necessarily like. I've got a mug that I often put flowers in because it's one made myself.

I did water in, I made a mug and I'm not quite confident about drinking out of it because I made it myself. I'm sure it's fine. But it looks really lovely with flowers in it because I think even if a little bit of water comes out, that's fine.

What you don't want is hot coffee just down your front. But I love using mugs and teapots and things flowers in. I think that looks nice and it's nice.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:36:43

Yeah, yeah, I do too. It's so good just to have something a bit different.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:36:48

Does it come in different sizes, sizes or is it one size?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:36:51

So these ceramic ones are one size because they're all made by hand in a mold, which is so exciting.

So yeah, these are all one size and really I made them that size because after four years of markets, that was always my best seller whenever I took this larger size. So that fits on like a two point jug. It will fit on just anything you've got in the cupboard, really. I knew from doing the markets I was like, wow.

Every time I took a few of those, they would sell out out instantly. So I knew that was the size to launch with. Yeah. So it's really exciting.

If you do look on my Etsy, I've also just launched a recycled range, a slightly lower price point, which are all made in England still and they are 100 recycled and 100 recyclable. So they are on my Etsy and they're. I do two sizes of those because that is a lot easier to create different sizes.

So, yeah, it's been really exciting to have the ceramics and add in a new product which is the exact same design in a recycled material, talking about.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:37:55

All the ways you could use it. So I thought I should actually. There will be someone listening, thinking, I wonder if that would fit my vase or teapot or whatever it is.

Oh, thank you. And that's great to know. There is a recyclable version as well.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:38:05

Yeah.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:38:07

For some reason would prefer to have that version then that's great as well. Maybe if they're looking for a smaller size. And we'll of course link to your website and everywhere.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:38:16

Yeah. Thank you.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:38:17

In the show notes for the episode.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:38:19

Yeah.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:38:19

And I've got one final question for you, if that's okay, Jennifer. So what would your number one piece of advice be for other product businesses?

Jennifer Pearson: 00:38:29

That is such a good question. I was thinking about this earlier and there's so much you can say.

I think my number one piece of advice, having done what I've done, is absolutely stick to your ethics. And, you know, there's nothing wrong with making stuff in China if that's your business model. That's absolutely not what I was saying.

I think it's more about there is a way and your ethics are your brand. The way that you want your company to be is such a part of you. So if you think it can be done, it can be done.

So keep going and reach out and ask for help.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:39:08

That's brilliant. Thank you so much from people that.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:39:10

Are a few steps ahead. Thank you. It's been so great to chat to you and to.

We've got Dahlia here today, but I can't wait to see what we create when we come into the December and through the festive season.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:39:24

Follow your Instagram, see what you're creating and get some ideas as well. That'd be really nice.

Jennifer Pearson: 00:39:28

Oh, thank you. Yeah, do follow along. I do lots of demos and I do lives and yeah, you can't stop me, really. I just.

If I'm playing with flowers then I I go live because it's always so much fun to share it with other thank you.

Vicki Weinberg: 00:39:47

Thank you so much for listening right to the end of this episode.

Do remember that you can get the full back catalogue and lots of free resources on my website, vickyweinberg.com Please do remember to rate and review this episode if you've enjoyed it, and also share it with a friend who you think might find it useful. Thank you again and see you next week.