Meet Britney Jones | Artist

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

Hi Britney, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had been a collector and maker of oddities, taxidermy, and bizarre trinkets since I was a young girl. My husband Neil was a funeral director for over four years, leaving the industry before we met. Fast forward to 2015, I found out I was pregnant with our eldest son. We sat down and weighted the pros and cons of keeping the back-office banking job I had and decided it was not going to be feasible with a baby. One morning I was cleaning my oddities collection and wanted to add something new to it. After searching online for hours, I came up empty. No one was making or selling oddities both online and in stores local to us, and that was when it hit me. I knew that I needed to be that person who could help people find these bizarre trinkets and oddities that I always searched for. As soon as Neil came home that night, I ran the idea past him. He was so enthusiastic and eager to try this crazy idea I had. We grabbed a few frozen mice that next week and, in my second trimester he was teaching me how to embalm at our dining room table.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This is always the hardest part of interviews for me.

We think there are numerous amazing taxidermists and oddities makers out there. One thing that sets us apart from them is my imagination. When I am working on a Die-O-Rama, I will spend time with the animal letting their position and facial expressions tell the story. I will add tiny details that are hidden in plain sight, that only myself and the person who buys the piece know about. Almost all of the animals we have ever worked on have a name and a story. The other thing that sets up apart from them is Neil’s training. As a former funeral director, he knows certain tips, tricks, and chemicals that others may not have knowledge or access to.

One of the biggest challenges in this industry is sourcing. We work with a variety of professionals both locally and across the country to get our animal specimens. We have butchers who bring us their bones and skulls a few times a month. We have reptile breeders, pet stores, and animal rescues who save their freezers of deceased animals for us. We have local hunters and foragers who will leave bags of bones for us on our doorstep. We make sure we know the current laws and regulations for both our commonwealth and at the federal level.

We have worked exceptionally hard to get to where we are in our industry. We never gave up, despite wanting to many times. With hard work and determination, we were able to complete two of our 10-year goals, in 7 years. We opened our first brick and mortar, and we have started to offer our products to other small businesses via the wholesale website Faire. If it’s something you want, don’t give up.

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?
Our stops may be a little different than others. We would start by taking them to our favorite local cemeteries. I would also try to pop in to visit some of my favorite funeral directors. We would head over to the Green Beacon Gallery for a visit with Phil. As far as food goes, El Diablo is a must stop. Same with The Headkeeper and Oliver’s Pourhouse. We would probably head into Pittsburgh for a day. A visit to St. Anthony in Troy Hill is a must as it’s one of our favorite places. It’s beautiful and is home to the largest relics collection outside the Vatican. We would also have to visit the Zoo or Phipp’s Conservatory since we have to keep the kids happy too. Dinner in the city would 100% be Church Brew Works. Outside of what we do though, we are boring people and would more than likely grab some beer from Pittsburgh Street Beverage and sit around a fire to catch up.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I can only speak for myself. My shoutouts go to my husband for diving headfirst into this crazy idea with me and always being there to push me when I am ready to give up. My parents for all the love and support and babysitting. My kids for adapting to this weird life we’ve created, and for keeping me going. My friends Brian and Todd for being the best GBFs a girl could ask for. My friends running their own businesses: Phil at Green Beacon, Carrie at R I Pieces, Paul at PSquare Scents, Megan at Rock Bottom, and the folks at Vanko CBD. We all bounce ideas, suggestions, and advice off of each other. I am honored to be a part of this great community of small business owners. My biggest shout out is for every single one of our fans. Whether you have been a customer since the beginning, you share our page, or you just stop by to chat, Neil and I are so appreciative of your love. We couldn’t have made it this far without you guys.

Website: Mzjonescurio.com

Instagram: @mzjonescurio

Facebook: facebook.com/mzjonescurio

Other: For wholesale: Mzjonescurio.Faire.com