Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenine Zimmers, owner of Mind Your Biz Jewelry, located in Chula Vista, CA, USA.

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

My business is selling handmade jewelry — I’ve always been a bit jewelry-obsessed. I especially love pieces from the 1920s, which is when costume jewelry became popular. Women were gaining independence, and jewelry became more about self-expression and less about status and wealth. In that spirit, my handmade jewelry is customizable and affordable. I encourage my customers to reach out to me with their design ideas, and I love working with them to create unique pieces. Many of the items in my shop were inspired by these collaborations. I adore my customers – connecting with people from all over the country has been the best part of having an online small business.

Tell us about yourself

My shop started as a hobby. I had been working full-time as a graphic designer for a struggling company. Layoffs were frequent, and the only motivation in my day job was fear of losing it. I was miserable. My jewelry shop allowed me to put my creative efforts into something I could feel good about. My business grew faster than I was ready for during the first year, and I found I was struggling to manage the orders in a part-time capacity. But after years of working in an unhappy environment, my confidence in myself was shot — I was terrified to give up my steady income and go for it full-time, especially in the uncertain world of COVID-19.

Divine intervention happened: it was finally my turn to get kicked to the curb at the day job. Instead of looking for new employment, I gave myself a few months to focus on my jewelry shop only. And it kept growing. A few months later, one style of ring that I sell – a fidget ring – became a viral trend. I went from getting about 20 sales a day to making 300 sales in a few hours. I had to close the shop and work around the clock for four days to custom-make all the rings I had sold. Ever since I’ve just been trying to keep up with demand — a great problem to have.

I wish I could say my shop’s success was due to a perfectly executed business plan. But the truth is, it’s been more like a log flume ride -- traveling at a fast speed on a bumpy track, hanging on for dear life, getting pelted in the face with water. OK, the water may be an exaggeration. But it has been surprising, intense, and wildly fun. And I don’t regret getting on the ride.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am not a financially driven person. I’m content watching a hockey game on TV or reading a good book at the beach. That said, I made my highest salary in my 20-plus-year career last year, and I’m really proud I was able to give it to myself. While I don’t typically measure success by earnings, I think it was important for me to prove to myself that I could reach a certain level. It helped restore my confidence in my skills.

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

It’s hard to stop working. I wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas and feel frustrated I have to waste time sleeping! Working for myself is so motivating and rewarding that it can be difficult to recognize when I’m burning out. One of my goals for this year is to strike a better work-life balance and spend more time laughing with my husband.

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

  1. Do your research. When I started my shop, I had limited time. I researched what made an online shop successful and determined search-engine optimization and customer service to be the most important areas for me. I put most of my energy into those because I knew I couldn’t do everything. It’s been frustrating to let go of other things – sometimes, I just want to spend a few hours designing a fun piece of art for an Instagram post. But staying focused on the top priorities was a major factor in my shop’s quick growth.
  2. Show your customers love! People who support small and local businesses are the absolute best – I add a lot of personal touches and small gifts to my packages to make sure they feel the appreciation they deserve.
  3. Celebrate your milestones, no matter how small they seem.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I wish I would have been brave enough to quit my job and start a small business years ago. If you’re thinking about it, start today. You don’t have to start big or have a perfect plan. Just start!

I’d also like to thank my husband for inspiring me and, more importantly, putting up with me.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mindyourbiz/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyourbiz_jewelry/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenine-zimmers-17562729/

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.