Life can take interesting turns. And sometimes, we end up in a completely different place than we thought we would. Today's guest is a perfect example. Although he started out as a professional rabbi, he now is a full-time jewelry maker! And you're going to love hearing his journey because it is such a perfect case study on starting and growing a handmade product business! Doug creates his artwork to celebrate surprising transformations and to make upcycling irresistible. Through his small studio operation, Lost & Forged, he offers a wide range of original jewelry, accessories, Judaica items, and decor pieces, all made by hand from antique silverware and other reclaimed metal objects. He began his artistic work in 2015. Since then, Doug has shipped his pieces to buyers in dozens of countries overseas and all 50 US states. Doug lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with his two children. He was the full-time rabbi of a local synagogue for 11 years but shifted his main professional focus to his artwork in 2017. The Journey From Rabbi to Jewelry Maker In this episode, you'll hear a perfect case study of starting and growing a handmade business: Identifying the products you will sell Validating an audience for your products The importance of blogging for sales and search visibility How your blog and email list can work together Selling online and at shows A super clever way to get email list signups at shows Plus lots more! Tune in now to hear how to start and grow your unique handmade product business! Resources Mentioned Save 20% on one of Doug's spoon rings with code UNWRAPPED (expires July 31, 2022) See Doug's unique mobile craft booth for shows Gift Biz Unwrapped Topics Directory Gift Biz Unwrapped Merch Shop Doug's Contact Links Website | Facebook | Instagram Join Our FREE Gift Biz Breeze Facebook Community Become a Member of Gift Biz Breeze If you found value in this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you automatically get the next episode downloaded for your convenience. Click on your preferred platform below to get started. Also, if you'd like to do me a huge favor - please leave a review. It helps other creators like you find the show and build their businesses too. You can do so right here: Rate This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Thank you so much! Sue Know someone who needs to hear this episode? Click a button below to share it!