Who am I.....?
Dawn's Designs is owned and operated by Dawn Ferguson.
I was born, raised and reside in Southern Indiana and am proud to call it home.
I am a mother of twin boys, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend to an amazing group of girls, an organizer, a detail- oriented individual, and a designer/artisan. In fact, I bet in many ways, I am just like you! I wash dishes, do laundry, drive to and from pre-school, unloaded the dreaded dishwasher, and argue with my husband!
I am so blessed to be a part-time stay-at-home Mom and a part-time designer. My business is based on creating personalized gift items for special occasions, and I am touched that customers think of me for these events. God created each of us as individuals - unique in our own way. That is what you will find in my products - a unique style that was made for you and designed with your help. The result is a one-of-a-kind piece that is like no other!
I am a graduate of Indiana State University, with a bachelor of science in Business Management. This education has given me the insight to start and then run my own business. I have grown up behind the scenes, first-hand. My parents have owned a successful restaurant business for over 40 years. Since I was 13 years old, I have known what a checkbook was, a budget and a cash register!
I have worked in the professional career world in many avenues such as banking and finance, real estate, insurance, teaching business classes, and more. Upon the birth of my premature twins in 2001, I decided to take time off to raise them. Eventually, I decided to work part-time from home.
I have always had the desire to own my own business and have learned first-hand the challenges of that from my parents (they have owned Butchie's Western Saloon & Family Restaurant for 43 years now). In a small business, I do get to be the CEO of my own company, but I am also the person behind the computer, the e-mails, the phone calls and even the trash can! I process all my own orders, pay all my own bills, order all my own inventory, accept all my own packages and sketch out all my own designs. Yes, being the CEO has its perks, but I am also the sales rep, the advertising and marketing rep, the receptionist, all the way down to the janitor!
Rest assured that every e-mail will be answered, and every phone call will be returned. You will always work directly with me, not my assistant or my helper. The satisfaction of my customers is very important to me. My integrity is put into each piece I design. I was raised to conduct business the respectful way, and my customers are very important to me.
I consider my customers to be my inspiration and my friends. Many of my general public orders have turned into repeat customers whom I talk with, e-mail , chat with on Facebook, and even go to lunch with. Your business is very important to me but earning your respect is my utmost concern. I welcome any suggestions you might have!
I have always had a passion for jewelry. I was an independent distributor for a large jewelry company for five years. I held jewelry shows in homes and had a great time doing that. However, there were certain pieces I wished I could change and I longed for higher-quality sterling silver pieces. I wanted the ability to design my own products, choose my own supplies and know exactly what each piece was made of and where it was made. If a piece turned up broken, I would know exactly why and would then know exactly how to repair it, and eventually make it even better. With that said, my company was born in 2006. All of my products are designed and hand-crafted out of my home studio in Indiana.
I have worked my various hobbies since high school. For many years I participated in area craft shows, and have scrapbooked and rubber-stamped for over 10 years. All my works started as hobbies until I found people wanting to buy my creations. Now I love to create and design not only for myself, but for you!
My experiences as a Mom, a worker, and now an entrepreneur have been some of the most challenging and rewarding of my life. As I embark on a new phase in my life (my twins starting full day kindergarten), I have to go back and allow myself to be all the different things I was before I become a Mom......a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a business woman, a silly girl who likes to make jokes and have fun, etc. This new phase in my life will hopefully bring exciting new ideas to my business and I hope to watch it flourish!
SPECIAL NOTE:
You will not see an online shopping cart on my website for a variety of reasons. My business is based on the service to my customer and the personalization of my products. I am not in this business to sell mass quantities of a product online and simply make a sale and move on. I am in this business to earn the respect of customers who eventually become friends. I base my business on quality pieces that I hope you will consider heirlooms, and treasure for years to come and pass down from generation to generation. With that being said, I demand that your products never be rushed......you deserve a great product and I promise to give you just that. But, with that said, it takes time. My regular order schedule is 3 weeks. Once you have decided on a product you like, simply e-mail me at dawnsdesignsforyou@yahoo.com with your order specifics. We will remain in touch from that point to work together to design your custom piece. Who knows, we may remain in touch long after your order too!
Thank you for visiting my site. If you have any comments or questions, please click on the "Frequently asked questions" link at the top of my page, or e-mail me directly at dawnsdesignsforyou@yahoo.com.
The image on this page is courtesy of Misty Neukam Photography
