Meet Ashley And Justin Jones | Business Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley And Justin Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley And Justin, how does your business help the community?
We all have the ability to do something that is helping our community or even the world. We didn’t start this with the thought of impacting our community or anything. It just kind of happened that way.

When Justin and I started making Disney inspired accessories, it was honestly something that just brought us happiness. Disney has a way of reminding all of us that we are kids at heart and no matter where we are in life there is something comforting about just that little spark of magic. We realized that we can provide a little bit of that happiness in a way that was affordable to everyone and in doing so we also started recycling material to help reduce the footprint left on the environment.

We take toys that were meant for kids and turn them into keychains, and we make ears and bags from recycled material. We try to focus our ears on fabrics that can be worn anywhere with everyday outfits. We have even started repurposing hats from thrift stores so that everyone can be part of the club.

For us, this was a way for us to spread some of that magic to people especially in a time that has felt so grim in the past couple of years. As humans, we tend to find comfort in happy places. Sometimes that is something as gentle as a quick memory of a moment that has passed that is triggered by the glance of a keychain.

What should our readers know about your business?
There are so many small businesses out there that make Disney inspired merchandise, but where we stand out is that we strive to be able to spread our love for Disney to others in a way that can make a presence in everyday life not just when you are at the parks and that is affordable. We also work hard to ensure that we are reducing our carbon footprint.

The first sale that we ever made just brought warmth and fire to our hearts. We looked at each other and were like “Wow! I think we can really do this. We can bring some happiness to people in such a small way.” It started by word of mouth and then we moved online. It was probably the most exciting part, but the more we are growing the more we find new things to be excited about.

Starting a business is never easy. It takes a lot of risk, but there is so much reward. We have full time day jobs and spend our evenings making new merchandise for online or markets that are upcoming. The biggest challenge that we have faced is learning to balance everything. We want to dedicate all of our time to our business, but then we remember, “Okay. We need to take a step back for a minute and make time for ourselves and our families.” We try now to make sure that we take one or two days a week to just do things we enjoy with each other to help keep us grounded and centered. This has really helped us to stay inspired too and not get stagnant on our ideas.

I think it is important to know that we started this because we were just so inspired by each other as a couple. We took something that we love that was just for us and decided to share it with others. My love for Disney and Justin’s love for me helped us turn something that we enjoy so much into a business that is helping us thrive.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh wow! Yuma is a small town in the middle of the desert in AZ, but there are so many exciting things to see and do. The Yuma Territorial Prison would have to be one of the first things on the list. It is one of the most haunted places in the world and has such a rich history. You can even go stand in the solitary cell in the dark with the bats. Lute’s Casino is a must-dine when in Yuma. It has been around for over a century and is still visited by tourists and locals alike. Yuma Bagel Co. has some of the best breakfast and cold brew coffee around so that is a must do.

If they are visiting in the summer, then it is a necessary adventure to go on a float down the Colorado River. Relaxing and splashing while having fun for a few hours enjoying what nature has given us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think there are always people and things in our life that inspire us. We have had people in our lives that have shown us what hard work really is and that has driven us to chase our dreams.

Our parents will always be the foundation upon which we are built. They have shown us love and dedication. They are always our support system.

Our kids keep us grounded and remind us that it’s okay to have fun and be silly sometimes.

Libraries and books have taken us on a million adventures without ever having to leave our front porches. Author Jenny Lawson, reminded us that life is hard, and it’s okay to not have everything figured out.

Small businesses around Yuma, AZ have opened their arms to us and shared and supported our business. Yuma Bagel Co, Dark Moon Macrame, The Honeypot, Chloe’s Cute Creations

Website: www.Etsy.com/shop/desertprincessohana

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