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Name: Vera Schlanger
Business: myBeltBuckle, handmade belt buckles and other accessories
Industry: Clothing & Accessories
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Reason for starting: I loved working as a climatologist and scientific translator for many years, but when my first child was born everything had to be rethought out. I wanted to stay at home my daughter and so was looking for a way to work part time from home. At first it started as a hobby; I began making handmade belt buckles for my friends and family, but soon it developed into a small and thriving business, first in Hungary then internationally.
Because I’m a meteorologist by training and have always loved science, especially mathematics, I create many science inspired accessories. Quadratic Equation is one of the most basic and well-known math equations, so I choose this for some of my belt buckles. It is a great and affordable geeky present to any math or science lover.
Related: Read about another accessories designer here.
How do you define success? I feel blessed to be able to work at home, surrounded by my three children. Meanwhile I can make more money than I did as a scientist. And, I truly enjoy what I do. This is success.
Biggest Success: It would be great to share part of my work load in order to have more spare time with my children, and even some free time for myself. Doing what I do know, but being better organized would be the biggest success in my case.
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What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? As my children are still small, my biggest challenge is to find the perfect balance between taking care of them and the amount of time I spend on working. I’m still not very sure how to address it. Concerning my work, the top challenge was to find the best materials to work with. It was crucial, because I’m a real perfectionist and suffered from working with bad quality, rusting, tarnishing materials.
It took me a long time to find the best suppliers, but by now all my jewelry bases except my belt buckles are made of high quality and hypoallergenic surgical stainless steel, designed by me, and prepared exclusively for me. Also my belt buckle bases are prepared for me in Hungary. The resin I use is the third one I work with, it is a real quality jewelry grade one.
Who is your most important role model? I value many online sellers, I could not pick one.
[box_light]Website www.mybeltbuckle.etsy.com[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange