Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan Woods, owner of Woods Metals, located in Leavenworth, WA, USA.

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

Woods Metals is a small, owner-operated bespoke jewelry service. I started Woods Metals several years ago after working as a custom jeweler and stone setter. My aim was to create a personalized service to help people with anything jewelry-related. I have an underlying style that presents itself in my custom designs, but my business is very client-led. Whatever you want, I'll find a way to make it work. I use a combination of classic fabrication skills, 3D CAD design, and experience with sourcing materials.

Most of my clients are actually young men that are looking to create something special for their soon-to-be fiancé. Because of this, I strive to be as honest, patient, and thoughtful as I can. When you have absolutely no experience with anything jewelry-related, finding the right ring can be an extremely stressful experience. I find predatory selling behavior abhorrent, so every consultation starts with the question, "What is your ideal budget?". By doing this, my clients can be assured that there will be no surprises or pressure. My job is to find the best option to fill that budget.

Tell us about yourself

I started making jewelry technically in a high school metal shop. After completing our required projects, I had an entire shop to build and create. I was extremely lucky to have an instructor who was more than happy to let us work on our own projects. I started making rings from steel pipes. This quickly progressed to brass inlay and eventually setting a raw garnet that I found near my home. After high school, I was connected with a master jeweler who took me on as an apprentice. Here I learned classic techniques for jewelry fabrication. I used these skills to transition from job to job, learning everything I could along the way. Eventually, I was creating beautiful engagement jewelry on a daily basis. I used everything I had learned from nearly ten years of experience to create Woods Metals.

Every time I see a happy engagement announcement on social media or the look of genuine delight when someone opens up a newly finished design, it makes me incredibly happy. I'm very lucky to be a part of an incredibly special moment in so many lives. Jewelry has this wonderful way of invoking memory and meaning as well. I have worked with many clients on projects that are created to remember someone important that they may have lost. Mourning and memorial jewelry is an especially delicate and intimate part of my job. It takes a lot of care and attention to detail to make sure that whatever I create will last for generations.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is running my business with no debt whatsoever. I started small and slowly built up the necessary tools and equipment to take on larger and more complicated projects. This was helped considerably by knowing exactly what tools and equipment I actually needed. I was able to buy the right tool the first time for whatever process I needed to do. I am a complete tool junkie, though, so I love to experiment and test out new tools.

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

When you own your own business, there is no supervisor stocking your job box full of projects. I am accountable for any work that comes my way and also motivates myself to strive for more. Because I am the sole owner, I also take on the job title of marketing manager, designer, and CEO. The reward is worth it, but I no longer have the luxury of a team full of other people that make sure that engagement ring project ends up on my bench.

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

  1. Planning is incredibly important. You should have an almost day-by-day plan for the first few months of opening your business. Make sure you know what documents you need, what suppliers to contact, and how to market yourself.
  2. Depending on your business, word of mouth is incredibly important. It may seem cheesy, but make sure that everyone knows what your new business is all about. Your first few customers end up being your most important as well. They will be the ones to tell everyone they know about the kind of work you are doing. Make sure that they will have nothing but great things to say about you.
  3. Don't get discouraged when your business doesn't pick up immediately. It takes a while for you to start picking up clients and customers. One thing that worked well for me was making and posting jewelry that wasn't even for a specific client. Even if you don't have a paying client, it may be worth it to show off the results of your work anyways.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Running your own business will be challenging, but it's an incredibly satisfying way to share your skills and talents with the world. Make sure to be kind to yourself. If it's your first time opening a business, you aren't going to be perfect immediately. Keep motivated, learn from your mistakes, and treat every client as if they were your biggest.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.woodsmetals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodsmetalsjewelry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodsmetals_jewelry/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-woods-656a248b/

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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