Founder@ Interview
Interview with Hayley Sturniolo
“Always be original, you will have great satisfaction from creating your own designs & not just copying what you think will make you money..” – Hayley Sturniolo
Today we feature Hayley:Sturniolo, the founder at Inscripture. We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.
Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
I am Hayley Sturniolo, founder at Inscripture. We are the UK’s leading Handwriting Jewellery specialists. We extract loved ones actual handwriting from treasured cards or even your little ones artwork and engrave it onto a range of jewellery & gifts.
A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?
I had been working in the banking industry for 9 years & always had an entrepreneurial streak but was too scared to risk my career on something that could fail. Whilst on maternity leave I took the opportunity to test the water & never looked back
Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?
Inscripture are the UK’s Leading Handwriting Specialists, and an Award-Winning family run business established in 2016 with a vision to create timeless, unique, sentimental and style savvy items to treasure. We are an independent online store with our Studio based in Essex. We have been in business for almost 4 years, we have grown from strength to strength starting from just myself at my dining room table & we now have an amazing team and a number of worldwide exclusive products under our belt
What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?
During my pregnancy, I found a love of creating personalised jewellery for mums & little ones, and when I took the decision to purchase an engraving machine to save my back (and the neighbours from the banging). With the excitement of the new machine, I began brainstorming what else I could engrave that also revolved around family. I taught myself how to use the machine to the designs I had in mind and that’s when I had the idea to engrave the writing of a lost loved one.
With a creative flair, an urge to be my own boss and to offer my family the flexibility of my time it was a no brainer that I had to do something I was passionate about.
I have constantly reinvested into the business, to perfect our craft, products & branding to bring my brand to what I envisioned
Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?
In business, no matter how nice & honest of a person YOU are, others will have the dog eat dog mentality and have no regard for your business, your products, your designs, or any aspect of your business; If they feel they can be at a financial gain from it.
I have never risen or shown any reaction to these instances as with business I will always remain professional. These things used to really upset me but now I use it to fuel my passion further and work harder for our next achievement. As Coco Chanel once said, “if you want to be original, be ready to be copied”.
I know that I needed to believe in myself more earlier on. Even now I suffer from imposter syndrome & struggle to truly sing the praises of the business.
If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Pursue something you are passionate about, running your own business is extremely hard work, there is no easy route and you have to learn every lesson along the way. There will be knock backs & hurdles but each of these will help you along the way, although it won’t feel like it at the time.
We’re nearly halfway through our interview so it’s a great time to ask how does your business run. What three tools make your business run better?
My Team.
When first in business I was so reluctant to take on staff as we had been copied and I felt anyone we took on would learn our business and then rip off my brand. Over time I learned, I could no longer do it by myself and am so thankful to now be surrounded by the most amazing team. Each member of the team is an absolute asset to the business and are the best tools I could have ever equipped myself with
What do you know now that you wished you had known before?
I know that I needed to believe in myself more, earlier on. Even now I suffer from imposter syndrome & struggle to truly sing the praises of the business. Had I of had the courage to start my own business sooner I can’t even begin to imagine where we would be now.
Thankfully I am surrounded by really supportive friends & family who are my biggest cheerleaders so they have always been really encouraging of my ideas & designs.
What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?
Although we are an Award-Winning business and the UK’s Leading Handwriting Specialists. There truly is nothing more rewarding than seeing your designs loved by so many people and seeing the joy & comfort such sentimental items can bring.
To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?
Always be original, you will have great satisfaction from creating your own designs & not just copying what you think will make you money.
“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and Inscripture”
To learn more about Inscripture Visit https://www.inscripture.com/
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