Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewellery but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sasha Shkolnik, owner of Juvelisto Design, located in Richmond, BC, Canada.

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

I run a jewellery business where we design and create one-of-a-kind jewellery for customers who want to stand out and reflect their individuality through their wearable art. Clients come to us for ideas, inspiration, and skillful advice. They also come to us when they want to redesign/recycle their dated or unwanted jewellery, which is often inherited. We create new pieces from them that are suitable for their taste.

Our workbenches, where all the creation takes place, are located right in the shop so our visitors can observe the process of creating and can ask questions. In fact, we encourage our customers to participate in the process by providing their input throughout the creative process.

In addition to the custom work we do, we also showcase our signature collection of gold, silver, and bronze jewellery made in-house. We also represent over twenty local and international jewelry designers that work in a variety of styles, designs, and techniques.

Our passion for jewellery making led us to open the Juvelisto School of Metal Arts, where we can share our knowledge and experience with our students who want to try out and learn jewelry making. We run multiple weekend group classes, private workshops, and jewellery-making parties and rent out our beautiful, fully equipped studio to aspiring and professional gold and silversmiths.

Tell us about yourself

I began my artistic journey at the State Art School in Ukraine. Studying various art forms, including theatre prop design, oil painting, and ceramics, I eventually found myself creating jewellery out of clay and porcelain. During this time, my imagination brimmed with the possibilities of jewellery design, and a clear desire to seek further education in metal arts emerged.

Upon creating my new home in Canada, I recognized the opportunity to pursue my passion for creating jewellery. After obtaining my diploma in Jewellery Art and Design, I went on to hone my skills for nearly twenty years, working as a professional goldsmith for some of the most renowned jewellers in Vancouver, B.C.

As for what motivates me each day, it is the ability to create something that was never there before and finding the thrill in being able to share my vision through an object (a piece of jewellery) that can be experienced and enjoyed by others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is developing trust among my clients, and it’s that trust that brings them back over and over again. They trust my experience, skill, and eye for design to materialize their ideas into what will become precious heirlooms. The ability to create a great reputation where we receive referrals and recommendations from our valued customers is what any jewellery designer hopes for. And of course, being able to witness firsthand how our customers light upon their initial reaction to our work, where they say that the results far exceeded their expectations, that’s just the final embellishment, so to speak, on top of my biggest accomplishment.

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

The hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is trying to find a perfect balance between work and leisure and finding time for myself. To be able to wind down after a hard day of work and not constantly thinking about the business. And ideally, to avoid working on the weekends :)

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

  1. Don’t try to accomplish things right away; things take time to achieve.
  2. Find great people to work with.
  3. Don’t be afraid to dive into starting a business and embrace the challenge. Because the experiences you will discover on your journey and all the people you will meet will be the most amazing adventure.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://juvelisto.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Juvelisto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juvelisto/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juvelisto
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/juvelisto/

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.