Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with JB Jones, co-founder of NYC Jewelry Week, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

I am the Co-founder of NYC Jewelry Week, aka NYCJW. It is a cultural platform dedicated to the celebration of jewelry. We deliver jewelry culture directly to consumers through digital content, in-person events, initiatives that support the community, and an annual jewelry week that is open to the public and is centered around education and shopping! Our tagline is "jewelry for all," and for us, that means making jewelry and knowledge about jewelry accessible - whether that be its history, how jewelry is made, where the materials come from, or simply where to buy it. If it has to do with jewelry, anywhere in the world - not just in NYC - you can find it through us!

Tell us about yourself

My background is in fashion and street art. I've worked as a designer, a curator, an event producer, a salesperson, a marketing director - and all of those things prepared me for the work I do at NYC Jewelry Week. Aside from being a jewelry business, NYCJW is like any small business, me and my business partner, Bella Neyman, I wear all the hats, so each day is a new adventure. Bella was the one who first introduced me to jewelry - we partnered on an exhibition that featured street artists and jewelers in collaboration. I fell in love with jewelry through that experience and never looked back. The thing I love the most about what I do now is working with emerging talent. At the core of NYCJW is introducing the public to new designers, artists, and brands, and that offers us the opportunity to uplift new voices in the field. The relationships that I am afforded the opportunity to build with artists & designers because of that are what I value the most. It is rewarding for everyone involved when you can help someone grow their business or realize their dream - even in a small way. It makes all the not-so-fun parts of owning a small business worth it!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is being able to make a change. I have always wanted to work for myself, mainly because I want to live in a world I can believe in, I think we all do - and I strive for that from my little space in the jewelry industry. I want to see a world where things are just, fair and equitable, specifically in the world of jewelry - no small feat, to be sure, but we do what we can! One of our biggest missions at NYCJW is to make jewelry accessible, and that means making space for everyone on the industry side of things - making sure that the youth - of NYC specifically - see the opportunity for a career path, making sure that all races, genders, ages see space for them to find success, and making sure that financial status isn't a hindrance to entry into the field of jewelry. I don't know that I would say it's an accomplishment as much as it is an ongoing mission, but we have been able to open a lot of doors and create an amazing community in our first five years of business, and I'm really proud of that.

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

The constant hustle! I'm never not thinking about NYC Jewelry Week, which is exhilarating and welcome for many reasons, but it is also exhausting and often trying. The work really never ends because we are always trying to grow the business, always trying to make it better. That means new things come up all the time, new ideas we want to try - and those things always come with new challenges. And when you own a small business, those challenges are usually thrown on you alone. I honestly don't know how people run a business on their own; I am forever grateful to have a business partner! I give myself pep talks when I have to face things that I am not sure I can handle or things I know nothing about and have to figure out. But you just do it, put your head down and do it!

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

Never underestimate the power of planning ahead. Hire people that know more than you about whatever it is you need them to do. Always be mindful of your community: know the importance of their role in your business and seek to discover your role in theirs.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

NYC Jewelry Week 2022 opens on November 14 and runs through November 20. The week will run in-person in NYC and online for the rest of the world. I hope to see you there!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://nycjewelryweek.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nycjewelryweek/
https://www.instagram.com/j_b_j_o_n_e_s/

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.