Channeling Stress into a Creative Career

We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business of the Day.

Small Business of the Day: Villain Accessories Jewelry

Who: Brandi Collins, 36, @villain_accents

What: Handmade metal jewelry

When: 2004

How: Collins is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, who says her high-stress career pushed her to find a creative outlet for the end of the day. She started to make jewelry, then learned to work with metals, and began selling her jewelry in 2004.

"Embalming is exceptionally stressful—you have one chance to make it perfect," Collins said. "Jewelry was the first thing I tried when it came time to zone out."

Where: San Francisco

Biggest lesson learned from a customer: "Confirm, confirm, confirm—specifically with special orders," Collins said. "When you sign a contract, you need to make sure they understand that changes will cost money. Also you need to make sure the neediness of the customer is something you are able to give them at the time."

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