Meet Sharmequa Franklin | Creator of Razzle Dazzle and HR Firefighter

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

Hi Sharmequa, what do you attribute your success to?
The thought process behind The Artsy Girl™ started when I moved to Georgia. I lived in the Baltimore, Maryland, area for over a decade, where fashion and accessories were a part of the culture and vibe. When I moved to Statesboro, Georgia, I desired that same type of flair. I visited several locally owned boutiques, and on many occasions, I was either not greeted when I walked in or I could not find that ”sparkle” or “spark” I needed in accessories. When the pandemic sent everyone home to hide out from COVID-19, the stress of my job pushed me to need an outlet. I have always been an artist. As a hobby, I paint and draw, but because of my love for fashion and accessories, I started making myself the earrings I wanted but couldn’t find in boutiques or online. Later in 2020, I started making earrings for my friends and family, and after several requests, my husband said, “You should turn this into a business.” In June 2020, I began my She Shed project in my backyard so I would have a place to work on my products, and in March 2021, I officially launched The Artsy Girl. In my mind, my business was marrying my love for fashion, my childhood passion as an artist, and my need to be creative outside of my day job.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I take pride in my art/products being “one of a kind”. The items I make can rarely be duplicated. I think through every glitter mix, color recipe, and mixture of designs from beginning to end, and they are all truly unique. I enjoy throwing on my favorite song in my She Shed and creating something different each time.

Starting a business is hard. And it is even harder when you make handmade products that other artisans are making. Lots of people make jewelry, so I challenge myself to make my products different. As a small business startup, you are tasked with creating ideas and then making, packaging, and marketing the products. And as a full-time HR Leader, wife, and mom of a 9-year-old little boy, it can be challenging to balance it all. But I am passionate about The Artsy Girl™. I want my customers to feel like they are just as important to me as everything else I have going on, so I put my heart and soul into each handmade piece. They are all packaged with love and that flair I like so much. My goal is to make each person wearing something from The Artsy Girl feel amazing and like they are sprinkling a little sparkle and razzle dazzle into their life and the lives of those around them.

The lessons I’ve learned are simple:

1. Be your own cheerleader
2. Believe in yourself and your brand
3. Surround yourself with positive people
4. Never stop learning
5. Give back and pay it forward to other small business like you

I want the world to know that anything is possible if you set goals and believe in yourself. Find something you love to do then find a way to work it into your life. If this little girl who grew up in Early Branch, South Carolina drawing Charlie Brown with her granddad can start a business from nothing and find her work on the shelves of retail boutiques in a matter of two years, others can do it, too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the Statesboro area, I would get the day started by taking them to Cool Beanz downtown, which is conveniently located across the street from my day job, then walk around the downtown area to see the history the Boro has to offer. Me being an artist, it would not be a complete visit if I didn’t take them to create at Board & Brush or Southern Pottery. And while we were downtown, we would have to go see a show at the Averitt Center for the Arts. We would then eat lunch at Tandoor & Tap, an awesome Indian restaurant, before heading over to tour the beautiful campus of Georgia Southern University (GSU). And depending on the time of the year, we’d also make time to see a GSU football or Tormenta soccer game – both are a must. Go Eagles! Knowing my best friend, after that, she would need to get her brows and hair done at Brow Baby Salon & Brow Bar with my favorite hair stylist Dominique Mays. And of course, we must make a stop at Cheeky Bliss for some retail therapy and new bling to wear for dinner and drinks at Sugar Magnolia Bistro & Bar — she’ll soon see why it’s my happy place.

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?

When I think about the success of The Artsy Girl™, the first thing that comes to mind is my family, friends, and a few local Georgia businesses. My family and friends have poured their time and resources into The Artsy Girl. They have supported me by attending artisan markets with me, placing earrings on cards, and giving me a pep talk when I wanted to quit. I’m especially thankful for my husband, Pride, and my 9 year old son, William, who help me at every stage of the process. They are my biggest cheerleaders.

I visit a locally owned restaurant here, Sugar Magnolia Bistro & Bar. The vibe of the Bistro gives me a sense of peace that I honestly never knew could exist in a restaurant. The owner and the staff quickly became like a family to me when I moved to the area. When I need inspiration or a quiet place during my lunch hour or after leaving the office, I take my sketch pad and my iPad to Sugar Magnolia, sit at the bar, and the ideas for earrings and hair accessories begin to flow naturally.

Cheeky Bliss in the Statesboro Mall is another business I’d like to give a shoutout. The owner, Tiffany Deal, allowed me the opportunity to showcase my products in her store. The exposure from Cheeky has allowed me to grow my social media following from nothing. She and the staff in the store keep me young and allow me the opportunity to express myself through my art.

The exposure and support from businesses like Lowcountry Made in Bluffton, South Carolina, and Locally Made Savannah have also helped to increase social media followers and to provide a marketplace for customers to more easily find The Artsy Girl. Both of these places are locally owned and work hard to support other local and small businesses, which is so admirable to me.

Website: www.theartsygirlshop.com

Instagram: @theartsygirl76

Facebook: @theartsygirl76

Image Credits
Maria Guerrero