Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Cross.
Tonya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My brand Accented Glory started from a need! When I started wearing my hair natural, I was unable to find natural hair friendly hair accessories. A friend suggested that I make my own, so I did.
I met other women that had the same need and they asked me to make designs for them too. Eventually, my hobby snowballed into a business. Over the years, I’ve expanded into creating jewelry and handbags.
In addition to fashion accessory designs, I also offer a variety of services. My services include small batch wholesale, adult craft kit, accessory making classes, and custom orders.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a solopreneur has not been a smooth road! One of my marketing strategies is social media, which is always changing. I regularly take online classes to stay up to date on social media marketing strategies.
Last year I pivoted and started to focus more on my services. My services supplemented the loss of income from low online sales. My services include small batch wholesale, accessory making classes, adult craft kits, and custom orders.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a fashion accessory designer whose specialty is handcrafted (by me) cowrie shell adorned designs. My pieces include hair accessories, jewelry, and handbags. I sell online via Amazon, Etsy, and my website. I also have two retail partners; Milton Rhodes Center of the Arts and Water Works Visual Arts Center gift shops.
I’m most proud of Accented Glory designs being featured on Refinery29 and Good Housekeeping as Etsy and Amazon finds! These are two of my features in major publications. Being selected for these features affirms that I do stand out from my competitors.
The services I provide also sets me apart from others. I create “small batch” wholesale fashion accessory designs. They are great for bridal parties, girl trips/retreats, swag bags, client gifts and subscription boxes.
I also enjoy sharing the art of accessory making with others through my group classes. We all need a creative outlet that enables us to experience the wonder of making something by hand. I also throw in some history about the materials used to create the piece. I provide all the materials you will need to create your accessory design. All you need to do is show up and have a great time!
If you prefer to create alone, I have an adult craft kit where you’ll create a beautiful African fabric rope necklace. You will also learned about Kente Cloth colors, symbols, and meanings. This kit comes with all the materials you’ll need to create the design. A link to a video tutorial is also included on the instruction sheet.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My favorite podcast is mine, Cowries On Deck! In this podcast, I share about the star of my brand…The Cowrie Shell. I also sprinkle in some history of the materials I use, symbolism of my designs, and my creative process as the visionary and accessory designer of Accented Glory.
My podcast can be viewed on my Accented Glory YouTube channel. It started as a mini-series of seven episodes. I plan to add episodes with LIVE interviews with business collabs and loyal costumers which I affectionately call Glories.
I also go LIVE weekly on YouTube with Tuesday Chat with Tonya. I share what has been going on behind the design during the week.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://accentedglory.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/accentedglory
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/accentedglory
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tonyacross
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@accentedglory
- Other: https://pinterest.com/accentedglory
