Custom Jewelry For Anniversaries
Missy Barndt from Daytona Beach, Florida.
What do you like most about where you live?
I love that in Florida, I can go from work to walking on the beach and back to work in minutes- all year long. One minute I’m hammering metal, the next I’m taking my rescue dog, Bailey, for a walk under the palm trees.
What’s your backstory?
In 2017, I was sitting on the floor in the corner of my bedroom, hammering metal between loads of laundry, just trying to pay for my daughter’s softball fees. No fancy studio—just a tiny patch of carpet, a few tools, and a lot of determination.
What started as a way to cover sports expenses, as my job in child welfare didn’t stretch that far, turned into creating rustic, personalized anniversary and birthday jewelry in sterling silver, brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum.
Each piece is made-to-order, often with mountain scenes, tally marks, or secret inscriptions tucked inside.
What are your income streams?
I sell exclusively online through Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and my own Shopify store.
How have you attracted new customers?
Two things:
• Focusing on personalized, meaningful gifts that customers can’t just grab off a store shelf.
• Using SEO and well-crafted product listings to make sure the right buyers find me.
The biggest impact came when I fully leaned into the anniversary niche—speaking directly to husbands and wives looking for something thoughtful and unique.
What is your favorite product?
My tally mark anniversary cuffs. They’re such a simple design, but every set of marks tells a story—years of love, hard work, and shared life.
I get messages from customers about how the gift made their spouse cry (in a good way), and that never gets old.
If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
I would have invested in better photography and learned SEO from experts instead of YouTube university much sooner, instead of trying to figure it all out the hard way.
What are your goals?
• Goal: $100,000+ annually within the next 3 years.
• Steps: Expand the anniversary niche into other gift categories, add more personalized designs, and keep improving SEO.
Keep the business small and personal, maintain flexibility to enjoy life, and have more time to work on creative projects (like adding T-shirts and other printed anniversary gifts).
What platforms do you use?
Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify, Canva for design work, and various SEO tools for keyword research.
Do you have a favorite motivational quote?
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
Bailey, my rescue dog from Nate’s Honor Rescue. She’s a sweetheart with some anxiety quirks, but she’s the best workshop companion.
Where can we find you online?
Website: www.gardensgatejewelry.com