Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Melinda Millard, Owner of Sunstone Jewels, located in Hamilton, ON, Canada.

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

Sunstone Jewels creates trendy, unique, affordable jewelry and accessories for the bold human! Fun prints, eccentric charms, & gleaming gemstones for everyone!

Tell us about yourself

When I was in college, I found it difficult to find genuine crystal jewelry that was affordable as a student, so I created my own. I accidentally built a business overnight on social media, and now after nine years,

I still love it as much as I did then! I don’t need much motivation from day to day because I truly don’t stop thinking about what I want to do next. That’s the nice part about doing what you love. It really feels like you’re not working.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

There is no greater feeling than being out in public and spotting one of your creations in the wild. Seeing someone wearing a pair of earrings I made in my little home studio is so surreal.

Also, the friends I have made along my journey have shaped me into who I am as a person, and I have Sunstone to thank for that. I just don’t think I would be the same person I am today if I had taken a regular corporate job out of school instead of pursuing my passions.

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

Carving out time to spend with loved ones that are authentic and free from the stresses of work is both complicated and necessary. It’s hard to separate work from personal life when your studio is literally in your home, but it’s so important to have those genuinely authentic moments with people you care about. And it’s important to forget your business worries in those experiences.

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

My top three tips are

  1. Be passionate about what you’re doing. It’s the only way you’ll survive the lows and truly appreciate the highs.
  2. Understand that no one is going to love your business as much as you do. It’s hard sometimes to accept that the people around you may not be as interested in it as you are - but it’s your baby. Don’t interpret that as a negative experience.
  3. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Comparison is the thief of joy, so it’s important to have a network of people who spark joy in your life for the times you find yourself feeling low.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sunstonejewels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunstonejewels
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunstonejewels/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindaskinnerdesigns/

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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