

Few months ago, my good friend, Tracy forwarded me another online shopping website after the launch of my
shopping blog. Being an avid online shopper, I checked it out right away. Within a short time of browsing, I was impressed by the handmade stained glass jewlery by
LingGlass. I caught up with the artistic hands behind these lovely creations -
Chu Ling, and today, H.O.W. feature tells her story...
1. How did this home office begins?I used to run push carts in shopping malls, but after I got pregnant, it makes it hard for me to juggle between my daughter and the push cart. Just when I was looking for an alternative, one of my friends introduced me to Etsy's website. After weighing the differences between hiring someone to run my push cart and running my business myself from home, it seems like a viable choice to choose the latter.
2. What are the perks and challenges?
I feel that running a home business gives me more freedom to do things at my own pace and not worrying about
having to meet sales target to pay for the rental. Also, I feel that I'm less stressful about things and able to come up with different designs for my jewelries. Of course, the most important thing is that I'm able to look after my daughter at the same time and enjoy more family time. Challenges is always with my daughter around. When she's around, I need to pay more attention to her, thus taking time off from my "production". That would slow me down a little, but still, I've managed to juggle her and work after a period of time.
3. Describe your business.
Well, I'm a jewelry designer. I do stained glass pendants and any other kind of pendants that I could think of. I work mostly with stained glass and fused glass, but I try to do a little of other things too, like I have pendants made out of pressed
flowers, patterns papers and fabrics. I sell most of my stuffs on www.lingglass.etsy.com, but I do run a stall at MAAD (Market for Artists and Designers) at the Red Dot Musuem (Singapore) on the first weekend of the month.
4. What is your advice for anyone who likes to work from home.
I feel that self-discipline is very important when it comes to working from home. It's very easy to get distracted and not work and just waste the whole day away. I try to give myself a schedule and follow through in order for my business to grow. Be active in whatever line you are in, get to know the lastest likes and dislikes, see what other people are selling, what colors are in for what season etc. But of course that would depends on the trade too.
5. Any other things that you think can inspire other women.
Try to find joy in whatever you do, be it being a homemaker or a home office woman.
Related posts:
- another home office entrepreneur in the making
- i’m still searching…
- shopping cart software
- H.O.W. feature – mohop
- for those who are keen in an online store
Thanks for the interview. It was very inspiring. I am in a similar position looking for something I can market. Since I have two left thumbs, jewellery design probably won’t be it…
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 amExcellent interview, Its really a nice position, i learned something about jewellery designing job, thanks for sharing your experience.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:30 am