

Fingerprints are unique from person to person. Deb Nester of Prairie Creations has jewelry-fied the fingerprints, and pet prints, of many loved ones into a charm. The kit, which costs $49.95, includes everything you’ll need to make a silver fingerprint. She carries instructions on her website to help her customers get the best print possible.

The final product leaves everyone with a unique print that they can carry with them on a necklace or bracelet for a long time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a loved pet, friend or family member that you’d like to keep near your heart.

Through an interview, she was kind enough to share her story and tell us what got her started as well as where she’d like to see her business go.

How did you come up with fingerprint pendants? What inspired the first pendant you made?

A similar product was offered to me and my sisters at the time of our Mother’s passing. It was sterling silver, expensive and a reproduction of her fingerprint. It was a cookie cutter type thing, perfect oval…one looked like the next and so, on. I couldn’t afford it at the time, but loved the idea. Since having made jewelry for 20 years, I had all the materials possible to try my own version. I wanted my son’s fingerprint to wear and keep next to my heart everyday and I didn’t want to wait for a tragedy to get it.

What inspired you to turn it into your business, Prairie Creations?

I knew that every Mother would love to have something like this as a keepsake of their children. Even those that call their pets their children!

When someone purchases one of your kits, how does it work? How much does it cost?

The kits come complete with instructions, a piece of practice clay and everything needed to make 1 fine silver fingerprint.

Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

I see it continuing to grow and catch on. People will continue to have children and they will continue to loose their loved ones. I believe this to be timeless.

What kind of investment did it take to get up and running? Did you have any previous knowledge you were able to bring into your business?

Having already everything needed for the process, I needed a package, a website and a few extra materials for the package. I just started researching on the web. I designed my first package myself and was measuring my own clay and packaging it myself for my kit. It worked but didn’t offer the customer a very long window in which they needed to get the fingerprint done before the clay would dry out, it dries very quickly. It’s been 4 years since and I’ve had my package re-designed by a great graphics design gal and now good friend and the clay is now packaged for my kit by the company in Japan that makes the clay. Being self taught, I had some previous experience in the trade of making jewelry, but none in running my own business!

If you could go back in time, would you change anything?

Not a thing! It’s been a great ride and a wonderful learning experience and it’s moving along at a pace that I feel I’m in control of right now and I like it that way!

What kind of lessons have you learned working for yourself?

That I LOVE doing what I do. It’s very rewarding to know that my product touches people in such a good way and that a person can’t “do it all” all by themselves. You need people to help at times. I have 3 wonderful sisters that help me when I need it! Where would we be without family!

Was there any advice that anyone shared with you that you have found to be especially beneficial?

My ex-husband told me to just “take it as it comes and let it grow slowly” and it’ll be easier to manage and to always keep control of it!

What advice would you give someone if they asked you about starting their own business?