Today we’d like to introduce you to Ambrosia Slothower.
Hi Ambrosia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family in Gretna, Nebraska. I always wanted to grow up to become an artist as I was encouraged by my mother who enjoyed doing arts and crafts and my grandmother who spent most of my summers on her farm learning how to sew my homecoming dresses, paint, and do woodworking crafts.
I graduated at the top of my class with a Bachelor of Art in Industrial Design from the Art Institute of Colorado and won numerous design competitions. This design program taught us how to invent a new product or find innovative ways to make a product better for the consumer. We learned not only the design aspect but also how to manufacture and market our design concepts. It was a great opportunity to develop my design skills and to think outside the box.
My teachers inspired me to not be afraid to try new techniques and to always ask myself- how can I make this better?
While attending college, I met my husband, Dave, and after dating for a while, we went engagement ring shopping.
He was a smart man who knew that as a designer, I did not want the same ring that everyone else had. Jewelry store after jewelry store, each ring looked like a cookie cutter from the previous store. He had the idea of custom-designing our engagement rings. I completed a dozen different ring sketches and we visited a custom jewelry store. I knew nothing about jewelry, or if any of my ideas were possible. The salesman was beyond impressed and highly recommended that I go into jewelry design.
In my last year of college, I was given the opportunity to intern with a custom jewelry designer in Denver, Colorado. He had years of experience designing and handcrafting jewelry for numerous celebrities, several Super Bowl rings, and special memorabilia for the military. I was immediately hooked while learning how to cut gemstones, and hand-carve wax molds, and lastly finished my internship by designing, casting, and creating our own wedding rings.
Fast forward years later, I started the Ambrosia company in October 2011 in our apartment kitchen. I traveled throughout the Midwest attending art festivals with my collection of handmade jewelry. Soon I was specializing in custom fine jewelry, one-of-a-kind wedding rings, and really became known for my redesigning skills of old jewelry or family heirlooms. Throughout the years, I have won several design competitions, had my collection carried in several stores, clients in all 50 states and 6 countries, and have been voted the Best Jewelry Store in our Tri-state Area for the last 3 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I took the first step of leaving a comfortable job to start the Ambrosia company. I have skydived and starting a business was the same feeling when you close your eyes and fall forward out of the plane. You immediately have negative thoughts creep up inside your head of doubt, fear, and straight-out panic! On the second day of starting my business, I cried asking myself- if I can make it.
My first project as a CEO truly tested my strength and belief in myself. I rented a small, cold, dark space from a jeweler who let me use all of his equipment and tools in exchange for cleaning his house. I grabbed the unlabeled solution which protects your gemstones from heat when resizing a ring. To my dismay, it was the wrong solution. While adding heat to the ring, I hear a pop, and the gemstone fractured. I was in tears! I explained to my long-time clients and they were very understanding as I would replace their gemstone. I searched high and low to find an exact match for this rare gemstone. It cost me over $1,500 to replace their stone and I did the rest of the project at no cost to them. During my internship, I was told you can become a great jeweler by first breaking a stone or two.
It was my first month of business and I was already in the hole. I had many logical reasons why I should quit. I completed a new resume and was ready to go out and find another job. The next day, I had someone call asking to redesign her family heirlooms. I agreed to do one more project and then I will find a job. The next week, I received a referral to redesign a grandma’s diamond ring. “Ok, one more project, and then I will find a job.” For the next 3 years, I carried my resume in my car to remind me of the fear of going back to a job.
After I graduated college, I had a dream job of custom designing for a large jewelry chain. Though over the years, I felt like I was on a retractable leash. They gave me enough freedom to think that I was doing a decent job, but they pulled me back as soon as I wanted to spread my wings as a designer. Working at a comfortable job, I would only become a good designer and never reach my potential of a memorable, life-changing designer.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ambrosia is a design studio located in South Sioux City, Nebraska which works with clients all across the United States. We specialize in fine jewelry, custom wedding rings, and unique fashion jewelry, and specialize in redesigning old jewelry or family heirlooms. Ambrosia expanded her business with her designer leather handbags handcrafted with multiple pockets with a purpose. They are known for never duplicating their custom design, so their clients know they have a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. You can shop online or in-store as everything is personally designed by Ambrosia and our gift items are handmade by small business owners located throughout the Midwest.
From the beginning, Ambrosia built her business on the foundation of “Impress Beyond Expectations” through unique design, excellent craftsmanship, and personal service. Today, Ambrosia continues her achievements by winning new design awards, highlighting them in publications, and has been featured in several fashion shows. Although the Ambrosia company has grown drastically in just a short amount of time, they maintain their focus on giving each one of their clients a memorable experience.
“The moment others can feel your passion through your work, then you have become a true artist.”
– Ambrosia
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is not how many people I know, but how many people know me. I grew up as an introvert, but I had to learn how to get out of my shy bubble to meet other people.
To expand my business, I needed to share with as many people as possible about my work, our services, and my story of how I got started. The more I shared, the more others would share with their friends and family. I believe this is why we receive a constant wave of referrals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ambrosia-jewelry.com
- Instagram: @ambrosiajewelry
- Facebook: @ambrosiajewelry
- Youtube: @ambrosiajewelry
