Meet Gina Scriven Of Glass By Gina

My guest today is Gina Scriven. Her business ‘Glass By Gina’, sells some really cool glass art – Gina is an excellent Stained Glass Artist – You have to see her art work. Read and be Inspired by her business success story !!!!

Tell us a bit about your business – what you do, when you started and how you got the idea ?

I am a glass artist, I work with cold glass, using techniques of stain glass, mosaic, fused, casting and etching.

I have been working with glass for about 12 years, have turned the hobby into a business after giving up my zoo keeping career to have children. Working with glass is my other passion after animals and my children.

What challenges have you faced on your road to success ?

My two biggest challenges have been getting exposure with limited funds, as well as the time to do everything in a business, as well as making all the ideas I have that I would love to produce.

How do you promote your business ?

So far, has been word of mouth for people to do private home exhibitions, as well as a couple of galleries displaying my pieces. I am working on a portfolio, and brochure so I can speak to interior/exterior designers and events planners. I am looking at advertising in two Perth children’s newspapers about the babies and children’s feet imprinted in glass.

Am I right in assuming that all the pieces are hand made – From the time you get an order how long does it take to complete an order (an average order) – Is it quite time consuming ?

Yes all my pieces are handmade, with many of them created from ideas in my head, or requests from clients. The time can vary largely due to how complicated the design is. Here are some average time spans for the various techniques.

• Stain glass – too variable due to number of pieces to cut and solder together.
• Mosaic – too variable due to the size of piece as well as the number of pieces to cut
• Fused – a flat piece 1 1/2 days – a shaped piece 2 1/2 days
• casting – between 5 and 8 days
• etching – 1/2 to a full day on a simple design

What is the best advice you have ever received about running a business?

Not to understate my work with price of pieces.

How many hours do you work each day ?

Varies due to demand, as well as juggling a baby and young child. Will generally do between 3 and 8 hours, and what ever it takes to meet deadlines.

Finally, your five keys to success?

Commitment and honesty, belief, determination, continually improving skills, listener, passionate

Sites Of Interest

http://www.glassbygina.com.au




This interview was published on 5th November 2009

Visit Gina’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the handmade products business click Handmade Products