We had the good fortune of connecting with Marsha Weaver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marsha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been a creator for as long as I can remember – I’ve been baking since I was 10 and was always involved in art classes or clubs. I also worked at a local invitation/party favor shop in middle school. The best part of that job was using ribbons to assemble the personalized favors for events such as weddings and bar mitzvahs. I fondly remember the owner of that shop and still think about her to this day. I really looked up to her since she was one of the first female business owners I ever met and knew personally. Fast forward a few years; I went to college, studied engineering, and began my career, which led me to product development as project manager in the packaging and beauty industry. Over the last ten years, this role, as well as my current role as a supply chain director for a beauty company in South Florida, have taught me so much about how to successfully develop a project and run a business. However, the birth of my son in the spring of 2020 is what encouraged me to pull the trigger and start my own business. He shifted my entire perspective on life. I wanted to be there for every significant moment as he grew up, and I knew that growing a business would allow me to do that. Three years later, I decided on a product – custom, personalized keychains and accessories. Having a child gave me the urge to put his name on everything, and I have so much fun creating and crafting for events, such as birthdays and baby showers. I wanted to offer a practical product that everyone could appreciate and something that made the perfect gift for kids, grandparents, teachers, coworkers…everyone!

To be honest, I started my business because I love giving gifts, especially ones that I’ve made myself. There’s something special about giving someone a personal, handmade gift, and the look on their face when they open it, that moment when they smile as they first see it, has always made the hard work worth it for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My professional career today is definitely not what I expected when it began over 17 years ago. I was bright-eyed and enthusiastic; right out of university, with an engineering degree and figured I’d work in manufacturing with a focus on process improvement. This is what I studied, so I only assumed that is what I’d do. However, over the years, I fell into roles in areas of supply chain such as planning, forecasting and inventory management, all in the beauty and packaging industries. Another unexpected turn took me into project management leading new product development initiatives and I never looked back. For over 8 years I managed projects which took a concept from a piece of paper to a finished product sitting on the shelf. I learned about costs, sourcing, packaging, marketing and everything in between related to the development of a new product. Finally, I was moved into a leadership role within the supply chain field and have been on that journey for almost 3 years and still going! I have loved and loathed (at times) all the roles I’ve had over the years. They were challenging, but rewarding because I was always learning something new. I had some amazing mentors and managers along the way that kept me going and kept me positive even when the times were hard. I worked for both large, corporate and small, home-grown companies and learned from both in many ways.

The combination of my passion for creating beautiful personalized gifts and years of business experience, in particular product development and supply chain, have given me so much knowledge that starting my own business was my next step in life. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit within me and this is the year I decided it was time to take that leap of faith. While this next journey of growing Keyrings and Things still has a very long road ahead and is in the very early stages, I know it is where I belong and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve only been in south Florida for 7 years, but in that time I’ve discovered some great spots. The beach is at the top of the list. The beaches in Jupiter are absolutely beautiful and you can bring your dog to run around. It’s really an experience I’ve never seen before being from New Jersey.   Fort Lauderdale also has some gorgeous beaches and is super convenient to restaurants and bars right along the water on A1A.  A hidden gem I’ve discovered is this little French restaurant in Boca Raton called LuBlu Bakery & Cafe. The food is absolutely amazing every time I go. I always recommend getting a croissant. My 3 year old loves them so they must be good!  Finally, I’d definitely recommend downtown Delray Beach. There are many little neighborhoods with hole in the wall restaurants, as well as the main strip along Atlantic Ave that has so many bars and restaurants. 

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am incredibly fortunate to have a husband who wholeheartedly supports me on my journey to start my own business. From the very beginning when I was just talking about the idea (many years ago), he has been my biggest cheerleader, believing in me and my dreams. His unwavering support has given me the confidence I needed to take the leap and embark on this entrepreneurial journey.

Building a business from scratch is no easy feat, and there have been numerous challenges and obstacles along the way (and this is only the beginning). He has always my pillar of strength, offering reassurance when doubt creeps in and reminding me of my capabilities and potential. He never lets me forget that I can do anything because that is who I am. I make things happen when I put my mind to it.

Website: www.keyringsandthings.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopkeyringsandthings

Other: email me at: shopkeyringsandthings@gmail.com

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