Who are you and What do you do?
My name is Ashley Nevar and I am a designer and the owner of Ash from Nash. I am currently located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and my brand aims to help women realize their beauty and worth through inspiring jewelry design. I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where I lived most of my life, and moved to Tennessee after getting married. I have a background in marketing and sales and worked for companies such as Apartments.com and Comcast, but I have always been moved by fashion. So, upon my arrival in Tennessee, I began exploring my urge to create, and thus a new career was born.
How did you get the idea for your business?
I got my business idea by doing DIY projects that kept my mind busy. I have a creative mind and wanted to take it to the next level. Doing little projects helped me express my creativity and that turned into a brand and a flourishing business!
How did you make your first sale?
I made my first sale to a friend! They loved what I created and wanted to make a purchase! This gave me a lot of confidence in my jewelry knowing that people close to me liked what I created.
What is unique about owning and running a business in Murfreesboro?
Running a business in Murfreesboro is unique for many reasons but if I had to pick one it would be the strong connections the community has!
How do you advertise your business?
I advertise my business by word of mouth. I think this is a really effective way of getting any type of business across and it has worked for my business so far.
As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?
I would have to say the government and all the aspects that you have to do financially and legally to keep the business running on the right track!
What is one way you’ve had to pivot or change course to grow your business? What led to you making that decision?
I would have to say dealing with outside factors such as the major shutdown that the pandemic made us go through and getting through that.
If you could wave a magic wand and make one problem go away in your business, what would it be?
Covid-19 really affected my business so having to work through that was very tough. that is one thing that I wish I could make go away at the start of the pandemic. Not only was my business affected but there were many businesses around the world to also struggle with this.
If you could time travel back to the day you started your business, what advice would you give yourself?
I would say create from within. It is very important to have your own style in your own way of doing things. I would like to call it your signature. I would also say don’t be scared to think outside the box because you never know what you can create!
Where do you want to go with your business?
I would love to see my business be shown on runways or even have celebrities promote them! I love fashion and to see one of my pieces on a major Runway would be a dream for me and my business.
What’s the one thing you’re doing right now from a marketing perspective that’s getting you more customers? (We’re looking for ideas that other business owners could borrow)
I would say reaching out on social media and finding influencers to promote your business is the one thing I’m doing from a marketing perspective that has been getting me more customers!
What’s one business lesson you’ve learned that you’d be willing to share?
One business lesson that I have learned is to always ask questions. If you don’t know something there is a high chance that someone else around you does. use social media and the internet to your advantage and never be too scared to ask because it might just help you get to the next level!
What’s a podcast, book, or website you’d recommend that has inspired you to grow your business?
A book that I would recommend that inspired me to grow my business is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.
What do you use for your daily to-do list?
I like to use a calendar on my phone to keep track of my daily to-do list.
What social media tools do you use that other business owners could use? (For posting, for graphics, phone apps, etc.)
Canva and Flodesk are some of the social media tools that I would recommend other business owners to use!
Learn more about Ash from Nash by visiting their website!
