Have you ever ever dreamed of opening your personal brick and mortar jewellery enterprise?
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Gandia, founding father of Greenwich St. Jewelers.
Jennifer owns the household enterprise together with her sister and their mother and father. Whereas she at all times liked jewellery, she was hesitant at first to step into the household biz. Particularly in an age the place so many companies are on-line solely.
Nonetheless, it was late 2001 in New York Metropolis, and the impartial jewellery designer motion was simply taking off within the states. Whereas working alongside her household, Jennifer gained a brand new appreciation for the jewellery business.
The time interval was simply after 9/11 right here in New York and it was the start of the impartial designer motion within the states.
She discovered deep appreciation and inspiration by her reference to different artists. She liked attending to witness designers making a second for themselves with their jewellery creations throughout a few of the most susceptible instances of their lives.
After gaining a renewed love for the jewellery business, she determined to take a leap of religion and open her personal retailer.
Right here’s how she did it…
Obtain the present notes right here
Leaning on Neighborhood Assist
One robust factor about opening an impartial retailer is that you simply don’t at all times have a group.
Neighborhood assist is critically necessary for each small enterprise proprietor, and it may be very troublesome to search out once you’re first getting began.
Jennifer stresses the significance of discovering the suitable areas to attach with like-minded folks in your business.
“Having an out of doors perspective and recommendation could be essential to a terrific enterprise,” she explains. Jennifer suggests discovering different retailer homeowners in non-competing cities.
You want folks in your business who you possibly can choose up the telephone and name once you get caught. Individuals who you possibly can belief to offer you helpful recommendation as you’re studying to navigate the panorama as an impartial retailer proprietor.
Promoting Wholesale as an Unbiased Designer
Jennifer has a singular perspective as a wholesaler searching for impartial designers to function in her retailer.
When Jennifer was simply beginning out, she labored with numerous designers who wouldn’t essentially be the most effective match for her retailer now. However on the time, she was nonetheless getting her footing, and was extra open to varied design factors of view.
“I might encourage designers to exit and search for the shops which might be simply beginning out,” Jennifer says. It may be a terrific alternative to get your foot within the door.
As a result of so many clothes and way of life shops are promoting jewellery now, there are extra alternatives than ever!
You Have To Be In It To Win It
Jennifer let me in on her greatest piece of recommendation for starting designers.
She says the important thing to build up your online business is consistency, dedication, and a willingness to take your time in making your product the very best quality which you could afford.
These are nice ideas, however in her thoughts, crucial facet to actually carve out an area on your personal designs is originality.
Originality that isn’t solely distinctive, however properly executed, reveals dedication and fervour to different enterprise homeowners and potential companions. (Her Astra Assortment is a good instance of this).
You should definitely hearken to the complete episode above as Jennifer shares her story on how she constructed her jewellery enterprise initiative by initiative and failure to failure, how she upgraded to her personal brick and mortar retailer, and the way you are able to do the identical!
xo, Tracy
Hyperlinks:
Comply with Jennifer on Instagram!
Extra Sources for Jewellery Designers
