Meet Innovative Woman Sally Short creator of Zymbol™ Jewelry Line.
1. How/why did you begin your business?
I ‘accidentally’ created Zymbol™ while doodling!!
One day I wrote down the phrase ‘LOVE IS ALL U NEED’ stacking each letter on top of the next, and then added a peace sign to complete the design. I loved the way it turned out so I decided to send the design off to be cast as a ‘Love and Peace’ pendant.
But something happened when I received the pendant; my kids randomly saw it sitting sideways and noticed a ‘K’ popping out.
Since there is no ‘K’ in the phrase LOVE IS ALL U NEED, it motivated my family and I to see what other letters we could find and we ended up uncovering EVERY LETTER of the ALPHABET and EVERY NUMBER, hidden in plain sight!
We decided to create a line of interactive jewelry around the design. Our packaging allows people to wear their daily inspirations as the TRACE out NAMES, DATES, PHRASES, GOALS and INTENTIONS.
2. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Our biggest challenge has been obtaining wholesale accounts given the extensive story behind our product. In a retail setting, Zymbol is just another piece of jewelry until you hear how it was created and what it represents.
We decided to shift our focus away from wholesale and focus on increasing online sales. In sticking with the theory of ‘you must give to receive’, we developed a program where we gift an acrylic pendant to a child in the hospital for every Zymbol sold. Going into the hospitals and watching the children TRACE out messages like ‘never give up’ and ‘you’re a warrior’ is truly life altering. Our Children’s Hospital gifting program resulted in a four-minute news segment on FOX 7 just months after launching it. This coverage ended up catching the attention of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga and NFL Quarterback Vince Young. Both Vince and Melissa partnered with our company shortly thereafter.
3. How do you define SUCCESS?
Waking up every day with a smile.
Enjoying the process of building our business by living in the present rather than being focused on some day in the future when company finally ‘makes it’.
Working with my Family
Impacting people’s lives in a positive way
4. If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business,
what would that be?
It’s going to take longer and cost more than you think.
5. What makes you an innovative woman?
Our entire company is based on a random doodle. What makes us different is that we actually did something with it! People constantly tell me about a past idea they had for a product or service that never went anywhere. No action = no results. I feel any woman who acts on that idea is innovative. We’re introducing the market to a new concept which takes grit and persistence. Luckily, I’ve developed a business that allows me to work with my husband and kids every day. I handle the stress better when surrounded by the ones I love.
For more information about Dane and Zymbol™ visit www.ZYMBOL.net.