Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alexis Taub, founder of Alexis Jae, located in Beacon, NY, USA.

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

When fine jewelry is made, it typically goes from a manufacturer (me) to a store. By skipping the middleman (or mediators, we should say), we're helping you get the jewelry you want at a price that's hard to find. Through Alexis Jae, you can save around 50% off traditional retail prices. And you can feel good while doing it because all of our gems are ethically sourced, all our gold is recycled, and a portion of our profits go towards breast cancer research. And the best part is, you can make it exactly how you want it.

Tell us about yourself

I'm Alexis Jae, but most people call me Lexi. My family's been manufacturing fine jewelry for generations. One of my favorite things to do with friends is to design their own jewelry with me and help them get it for around 50% less than it would be if they bought it from a store. And I realized: I can do this for everyone.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is the impact we've made on breast cancer. Not only financially through our donations but also our products' impact. 100% of our pink string bracelet profits go towards breast cancer research. We've had so many customers tell us they've scoured the internet to find something to give a loved one that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Many customers have told us our pink string bracelet was the only thing they could find that felt like a nice and meaningful gift to show support to their loved ones.

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

The hardest thing about being a business owner is managing everything that's going on but also the most rewarding. We are constantly trying new efforts to scale our business. All of them take time to learn and constant monitoring/tweaking. I love learning new ways to reach our target customers. Still, I've definitely had to learn time management to be able to balance it all.

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

A couple of quotes/song lyrics have resonated with me, and they all revolve around just getting started. The one that got me to quit my job in finance and start Alexis Jae is one Sarah Blakely posted on her Instagram, "Day One or One Day. You Decide." The other one is "If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back" in Cody Johnson's song 'Til You Can't. It is easy to push off starting but start there's no reason not to start a business on the side if you want to.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://alexisjae.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexisjaejewelry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexis.jae.jewelry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexisJaeFine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alexis-jae/

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.