Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Naz Aksu, CEO of 25karats, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

25karats is one of the leading online jewelry companies that specialize in wedding jewelry, including wedding rings, anniversary rings, and engagement rings. Yes… you really can buy anything online these days! In fact, a lot of people love shopping for rings online because it takes away the pressure that comes from salespeople who work for commission. You can focus on finding the ring you want at the price you want.

We love serving our customers during one of their happiest life milestones when they tie the knot. Our goal is to provide each happy couple with the best quality jewelry with the friendliest customer service.

We're in the heart of New York City, so we have access to the best team of passionate jewelers, craftspeople, and eCommerce experts who work to provide our customers with the best possible jewelry at the lowest possible cost – all with a mind on sustainable, eco-friendly products.

We offer more than 1,500 unique wedding band designs, but one thing we've learned is that more and more couples want to customize their rings. When you factor in all the different choices and customizations you can make, we actually offer over 5,000 styles for our clients!

Tell us about yourself

My background is in Economics and Marketing, and my husband's background is in Computer Science. After working for one of the top diamond jewelry manufacturers in the US, my husband and I decided to combine our skills and co-found 25karats.com. It's been the ride of a lifetime to see what started as just the two of us in 2008 grow to a full-fledged nationwide company with a strong team of jewelry experts, customer journey managers, production team, and digital marketers. Receiving positive feedback from our happy customers is my number one motivation each day. When couples choose us for their wedding and the rest of their lives, it truly is a great honor.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Seeing my team do what they love to do with passion and excitement. I believe that the best companies thrive thanks to their dedicated, self-motivated, and open-minded employees. My goal is to provide my team with the best work environment and inspire each individual to give their best performance and shine. Happy employees mean happy customers, happy customers mean successful business!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

When you own a business, you think of your business 24/7. You sleep, work out, eat, and do everything with your business in your mind. So you always have to make sure that your product and service are top-notch.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Starting a business requires courage, purpose, passion, and discipline. Andrew Weinreich's quote inspired me to do what I do today "Entrepreneurs are not the ones with the best ideas. They're just the ones willing to jump off a cliff without the answers."

  1. Be brave. Don't wait for too long to take the first step. All marathons start with the first step.
  2. Build your network. Have a mentor or join a networking group of business owners to share and discuss ideas and challenges.
  3. Find a hobby. Create a space for yourself to recharge your mind to improve the quality of your work.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.25karats.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/25karats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/25karats/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/25karats

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.