Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Connie Hung, Founder of Costanté, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

Costanté is a startup fine jewelry brand based in Los Angeles, California. We design contemporary fine jewelry inspired by the grandeur of traditional romance and offer custom jewelry services. With love + intention as our guiding principle, Costanté focuses on high-quality material input, resonating design, and responsible production. Most recently, we have released our debut Bridal Collection – to celebrate the beauty of romance for moments before + beyond.

Our customers are conscious consumers who want to buy higher quality jewelry goods at a reasonable price. With our focus on Custom Jewelry, our customers return time and time again because of our personalized service and transparent production process.

Tell us about yourself

Costanté started over a few texts and a desire for change. Before then, I was in the world of Finance, 25 years old, trying to figure out what to do with my life. I didn’t hate being in corporate; I really liked the structure and stability it provided me, actually. But I knew I wanted the work I did to allow me to give back to the community I serve. My (now) husband texted me and asked me if I wanted to create a women’s jewelry line. Growing up in a business family, then going to business school, and then working in banking – I never considered myself a creative, let alone a jewelry designer. At the time, my mom had gotten me a pair of earrings. They are the original inspiration for our Opal Drip Earrings. My husband and I designed the piece via text while I was at work, and a month later, he brought them home to show me our first creation. I was shocked; it was actually beautiful.

Later that fall of 2018, I volunteered for a non-profit that hosted creative fundraisers for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. As the store manager, I had the opportunity to debut Costanté at our bi-annual gala at Marciano Art Foundation. We sold over 80% of our inventory that day and donated all the proceeds to Planned Parenthood LA – this was the moment that motivated me to commit to Costanté full-time. I had always thought I needed to be a part of something bigger than myself to give back to the community. But that evening, and everyone who has supported us so far, showed us that each of us has the power to create our own lanes. The constant love we see – from customers saving up to purchase something for their loved ones to treating themselves because we all deserve to – motivates me every day to continue to work hard, to learn, and to pour all my love + intention into Costanté.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being able to hire my brother, Kevin, and our friend, Sima. There is no Costanté today without them. They run our manufacturing and quality controls our pieces. As a small business handling high-value goods - it’s imperative that we have a team we can 100% trust and rely on. They’ve given us the space to grow as a brand, given me the space to create our Bridal Collection – our biggest collection and investment to date. I’m incredibly grateful for them.

As a business owner, I pride myself on the people we consciously decide to partner with. We’ve had all-women production teams for several shoots. I had my good (and incredibly talented) friend, Zoe, as the Art Director for our Bridal Collection. We work with other fellow AAPI creatives to hone in on the elements of our heritage. I believe the love fostered in these relationships bleeds through and really shows in our work. I hope everyone else can feel it too.

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

I think the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is knowing every day you don’t work is a day you don’t generate any income. This was a tough realization coming from the corporate world, where there are days you can go in and just kind of… chill. As a business owner, there are no paid vacation days and no sick days. There are no set hours, just work or don’t make money.

This has taught me discipline but also taught me to give myself compassion. I’ve learned I can’t be working all the time, I thought I wanted to be the 6 AM hustler, working 12+ hours every day, but I’m just not that person. I realized I need moments for family, for friends, and for me. So now, my phone is on DND every Sunday, and vacation days are mandatory. This time allows me to recharge and zoom out so I can operate as my best self for Costanté. Running a business is a marathon, and we’re here for the long run.

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

  1. Move with an open mind – learn as much as you can about your industry and absorb the information with an open mind. Learn from others in the industry and other brands you admire. What do they do that you like? How did they do it? This allows you to see what’s beyond your scope of comfort. It can be scary, but have fun with it. Congratulate yourself for the small wins: registering your LLC, creating a newsletter, and your first sale (no matter how big or small). Enjoy each step forward with a beginner’s mind.
  2. Be patient. My dad told me everyone’s success comes at a different pace. In an age of overnight successes plastered all over the Internet, it’s tough not to compare. But know that there are several entrepreneurs that have laid the foundation for years to bring their success to light. It’s not supposed to be easy, and it’s not going to always be fun. But be patient, work hard and work smart. What you envision may not come to you on your timeline – it may be even bigger and even better than you planned.
  3. Make a business plan. Whether it’s a one-year plan or a five-year plan – a business plan will be your roadmap to achieve the goals you set for yourself. It’s a physical manifestation!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://costante.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/costante___/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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