Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Harold Van Beek, owner of Jewelry by Harold, located in North Liberty, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Jewelry by Harold is an old-world jewelry store originating from The Netherlands. Since 2011, This has been my third store in North Liberty after immigrating from the Netherlands. We design in-house and do everything in our state-of-the-art workshop.
Tell us about yourself
In 1974, at the age of 12, I started to work in the jewelry industry. First, I apprenticed with a clockmaker to learn the mechanics of old clocks and restore them. After high school, I went to learn about jewelry at the polytechnic college in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands, an ancient town known for its silverware. After graduation in 1983, I worked as an intern for a 3rd generation store in Schiedam; In 1984, at the age of 21, I opened my first store in Rotterdam. I opened my second store in 1992 in Mijdrecht, the Netherlands. I moved to the USA in 2005 to continue my career in jewelry. After being an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa in 2010, I opened his store in North Liberty, IA, in 2011.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting from scratch in 2011 and building our store to a staple in North Liberty, we were able to start our own jewelry school in 2020 in our expanded jewelry store. Teaching and seeing people who never did anything technical create their own jewelry is something I truly enjoy. It motivates them and me. As a member of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, an international institute that protects the skills of the goldsmiths for the ages, so our skills won't get lost, I just like to pass my skills on to the next generation.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In my case, the immigration situation is quite a challenging one, but the persistence of our family makes us look at the positives and the chances rather than the threats and objections life throws at us. There is so much to be thankful for that that ways so much more in the balance of good and bad. We can't thank our friends and clientele enough for what they mean for us and how they lift us up.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay your original self. Do not copy anyone and believe in yourself. There are so many people out there who will appreciate you.
- Focus on what you are good at and what you can influence. If you can't influence something, don't worry about it. It will eventually fade out.
- Be kind and hire people who are kind. You can't train kindness, but you can train people skills.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Sometimes people ask me, "Why Iowa?". In my case, my mom started a correspondence with people in Iowa City at the end of WWII. My siblings and I were named after people in Iowa City. The year we turned 17, my parents sent us to the USA to meet with our friends (we call US family) to learn to speak the language better and learn the culture of Iowa. We assisted them on the farm, and it taught us valuable lessons. Therefore, it was a warm homecoming when we moved to Iowa in 2006.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.jewelrybyharold.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JewelrybyHarold
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewelrybyharold/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haroldvanbeek/
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.
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