Mom and daughter start business
by Eric A Thomas
One Jacksonville mother and daughter duo is taking a hobby of theirs and creating an online business. The best part is that you, the customer, will be the designer of the finished product.
Elisa Ferguson and her daughter, Arianna (7), enjoy taking charms and “jibbitz” (as they like to say) to add extra pizzazz to their Crocs — giving them personality. “For a while I was searching for a way that my daughter and I could spend more quality time together and be able to teach her responsibilities, too,” stated Ferguson.
As Ferguson gets older, she realizes that life is about doing what you love and being happy and she wants to help her daughter realize that. “I want my daughter to be the best she can be at whatever it is she loves,” she expressed.
With the target date of March 17, the Fergusons will launch their online store, Aricrocshop.com. The business is named after Arianna, using the “Ari” at the beginning. Not only will customers be able to shop there but they will also be posting on Instagram at “Ari’s Croc Shop,” where they will feature new items and available products, discount codes, free items, etc. One nice feature for Jacksonville residents will be the possibility of delivery to the customer’s door.
“When I customized my first pair of Crocs, my daughter helped me and we were just having fun,” remarked Ferguson. “Even though we were just playing around, we really enjoyed it. It was then I realized we had something.” She added that this was a great opportunity to teach her daughter about generational wealth and how to be your own boss. Teaching others along the way will be an added plus.
There will be color schemes, a wide variety of bangles and themes available from which the customer can choose. Customizing will be strictly up to the customer; however, they could make suggestions. A favorite sports team, a career field, or simply a name with a lot of pizzazz might be a look you choose — or you may just want the designers to freestyle when creating your Crocs. Ferguson will question you as to your likes, your favorite color(s), your style and your preferences. Each order will be customized unique and different and will take five days to complete until they are shipped out or delivered.
Ferguson started experimenting with DYI projects back in 2019. Although she started with interior furnishings items, this opened the door to being creative with her Crocs. “Working on these is really unique, different and fun,” Ferguson shared. “The best part has been experimenting with the various glues to find the most effective, plus testing different charms and rhinestones in order to perfect the finished product.” They have a wide variety of charms that can be used to decorate the Crocs or simply to wear with other charms. Some pendants will be customized with photographs, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Crocs can be purchased for customization through www.aricrocshop.com.
Crocs first appeared on the shoe scene in 2002 by their creators in Colorado. They are based on a foam shoe created in Canada. Crocs later acquired the Canadian business. The shoe was originally developed as a boating shoe and is now one of the top 10 non-athletic footwear brands in the world.
Ferguson and her daughter moved here from Chicago seven years ago. She works at the U.S. Post Office in Jacksonville, mostly at the counter, which gives her an opportunity to meet all kinds of people that can be a great source for ideas. Working there also provides the perfect opportunity for shipping the finished product in a secure and fast manner.
