On September 10, 2025, Marketing Management class members from Alma High School visited a local business, The Potter’s Gems, in downtown Van Buren. Mrs. Ginny Elliott, the owner, spoke about how she started her business and what inspired her to open a small business.
While the students were there, they were able to create their own custom beaded bracelets. From training to promotion, to creating products to sell, to being part of the local community — local business owners truly do it all.
Here are the students’ reflections after returning from the experience:
Kenzie Ciampoli – Visiting The Potter’s Gems was truly a wonderful experience. I enjoy hearing firsthand stories from business owners and their experiences in entrepreneurship. My favorite part of this field experience was seeing all of the ways jewelry gets made, as well as the variety of materials used. I learned that there are challenges in business ownership that aren’t often discussed, and that something as simple as the layout of the room can affect a store’s success.
Brayden Peppas – During this field experience at The Potter’s Gems, I learned how long the business has been open and how the owner, Ginny Elliott, runs it. I learned that they have been open for one year, and that she started making bracelets 25 years ago. The coolest thing to me was how she learned to be a silversmith with the Navajo Tribes in New Mexico. I highly recommend this business to anyone looking for jewelry.
Jay Patel – The Potter’s Gems was one of my favorite experiences. I had a great time learning about how a business is started. My favorite part was making bracelets and learning about permanent jewelry. I also learned how a sole proprietorship is run and managed in a small town, as well as how to promote a business using social media and relationships with friends and family.
Lukas Todd – Going to The Potter’s Gems was a really fun and memorable experience. I enjoyed hearing about Ginny Elliott’s story and how she started her journey in high school, making bracelets to sell for extra money. My favorite part was hearing how the jewelry is made and even getting to make bracelets ourselves. I also learned about the challenges of running a small business, how social media and community support help with promotion, and how the layout of a store can make a difference in its foot traffic.
Angel Martin – Visiting The Potter’s Gems was a wonderful experience. I learned that the hardest thing about having your own business, for the owner Ginny Elliott, is taxes and making sure all the information is correct. I also learned what her schedule looks like throughout the day. When her store is busy, she is usually running the cash register or welding permanent bracelets. When her store is slow, she is creating jewelry. I also learned the importance of keeping customers happy. Overall, The Potter’s Gems is a wonderful business, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in jewelry.
Virginia Skaggs – Visiting The Potter’s Gems was an incredible and valuable field experience that gave me a better understanding of what it takes to own and manage a small business. I was interested in how she makes her business stand out from others; while many people sell similar products online or at local markets, she runs an actual storefront, which allows her to build stronger relationships with her customers and create a more personal shopping experience. Overall, the visit was both educational and inspiring, and it gave me a new appreciation for small business owners and the creative work they do.
J.C. Butler – The Potter’s Gems was a fun and engaging experience. While there, I learned how important it is to have a good aesthetic for a business because that will help attract customers if they like the style of the shop. I also learned about permanent jewelry and different types of jewelry in general. My favorite part was hearing about how the owner, Ginny Elliott, learned to make jewelry and how she started The Potter's Gems. I can confidently say that The Potter’s Gem is a strong business and recommend it to anyone interested in jewelry.
Greyson Martin – I enjoyed visiting The Potter’s Gems — it was a very fun and interactive experience. This gave me a better understanding of what to know about a small business and things to watch out for. I liked how she made the very small space look big and full with all of her products on the wall. Ginny Elliott told us about how she started her business and where she goes for training. She started as a kindergarten teacher and then became a small business owner after retiring. She enjoys taking lessons from Native Americans from time to time.
Jackson Ball – I found The Potter’s Gems field experience to be an interesting and fun trip. This trip allowed me to learn many things about small sole proprietorships such as The Potter’s Gems. I learned just how much work and dedication are needed to run even a small shop like this one. Ginny Elliott, the owner and founder of The Potter’s Gem, explained the difficulties of running a small business alone. Just a few hardships she mentioned include paying taxes, managing the register, helping customers, and cleaning. She has obviously put in many hours and lots of effort into The Potter's Gem, considering the many types of jewelry she has learned to make — like permanent and regular bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and more. Anyone who wants beautiful jewelry for less than the big-name stores should check out The Potter’s Gem.