Influential Woman · ArtsCrafts
Althea Campbell
Artist and designer/owner at Gladys Fantasy Gems Etsy store, Freelance
Chicago, IL
Her Story
About Althea
Althea Campbell is an artist and the designer and owner of Gladys Fantasy Gems, an Etsy store at gladysfantasygygems.etsy.com. She has been creating art since grade school and began selling her work in the early 2000s after being inspired in college at Columbia College Chicago, where she took a jewelry-making class that led her to focus on jewelry and painting. Althea attended Farragut Career Academy for high school and considers herself self-taught through experience and adventure. She maintains high standards in her work, focusing on detail, quality materials, and impeccable customer service, which has earned her five-star reviews over 11 years on Etsy. In addition to her art, Althea regularly supports philanthropic efforts by sending jewelry in bulk to abused women, children in shelters, and displaced families to boost their confidence. She values staying humane, treating people with respect, and doing the right thing, and she advises aspiring artists to believe in themselves, listen to their intuition, and stay the course despite discouragement. Althea also enjoys travel, yoga, Pilates, meditation, and healthy living to maintain her creative flow.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Althea
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having very high standards, being very picky, detail-oriented, and focused. This comes through in my work, customer service, and presentation. I provide impeccable customer service and stay in contact with customers throughout the process. I never put out inferior work or experience.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do something that you would do for free. Something that really fulfills you to the point where you would do it if you got paid or not. That way you'll stick with it when you have the lows and the highs because you enjoy it and it fulfills you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't listen to bad advice. Give yourself a chance, try it out. Learn through trial and error. Listen to your intuition. Believe in yourself when nobody does. Stay the course even when people discourage you. Be strong enough to not let people bring you down. Take criticism but don't let others sway your decisions. Be the captain of your ship.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge has been marketing and spreading the word. Focusing on marketing because it's very important. Planning to do art fairs next summer in addition to being online. Keeping the name out there without being redundant, educating people about gemstones and their healing properties, giving more depth and information so customers understand they're buying a part of you including the image, uplifting, education, inspiration and trust.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
It's very important to stay humane, treat people with respect, manage yourself, and do the right thing even when nobody's watching. Don't be underhanded or hurt anyone to get what you want. Fulfill yourself without losing your humanity. Being able to sleep at night is very important.
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