Thrive By Design: Business, Marketing And Lifestyle Strategies For Your Jewelry Brand To Flourish And Thrive

Have you heard the saying: Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems? It’s the idea that your problems don’t go away when you have more money (or your business grows). In business terms: Mo’ Money, Different Problems. When my first company was growing, I used to throw money at problems. Uhh…bad idea. All that did was make me broke because the money I was spending was NOT an investment in the growth of the company. Trying to scale a business during an economic downturn with -$2.02 in the bank was interesting…but it was a gift. You know what happened? I was forced to be creative. Creative with cash flow. Creative with strategy. Creative with my time. Using my creativity to problem solve, got me exposure on shows like American Idol, got me out of a pickle with QVC, and helped me land some of my biggest accounts, like the Sundance Catalog. When you’re cash flow and resources are tight, you gotta be scrappy. And that’s where creativity comes in. Your creativity is NOT just something you use to make beautiful jewelry. Your creativity

Who are some of your favorite icons in the world? Maybe it’s Beyonce, or Marie Forleo, or Oprah, or a world leader. They’re people that we look up to and admire, and may even want to be like in some capacity. They are A Players. What if I told you that you could be an A Player in business too? You might not believe me. When I was first creating my businesses I probably wouldn’t have believed me either. But it’s true. Every single one of us has the capability to become an A Player in business and get exactly what we want. That’s what today’s episode is all about. I’m taking all of the lessons about how to be one of the best that I’ve learned from the 3 (yes THREE) businesses that I’ve started, and sharing them all with you. Do you want to play in the big leagues, and grow a business that makes a difference in your world? Then you need to be an A Player.

Think about all of the important lessons you’ve been taught in your life. Whether it was from a parent, or a college class, or an elderly person you met in line at the grocery store. Why are those the lessons that stick with you all of your life? Don’t think too hard on it, because I’m going to give you the answer. I can pretty much guarantee you that the reason they’ve stuck with you for a lifetime is because they were delivered using the art of storytelling. Because 65% to 75% of information shared through stories is retained by the people listening to the storytelling as opposed to only 5% of information that is retained through a scripted presentation or the delivery of facts. And it works the same way in business that it does in life…but I like to call it STORYSELLING when I’m talking selling my jewelry. Stories create connections. Sales can get a bad rap for being all about pushing and trying to manipulate a potential buyer. But the truth is if you're a good storyteller you have the opportunity to

Do you ever feel stressed about money in your business?

What’s your word of the year? My word of the year for 2019 is ELEVATE! Last year, my word of the year was SIMPLIFY here’s why… Have you ever felt that making money is hard because there are so many things you have to do to make your business work? …no shame in honesty here because I’m

Happy New Year #ThriveTribe… Last week, I wrote about 5 words to live by (and tools to set the precedent for your New Year) because, well, it’s the New Year! Time for some massive change! Which leads me to a kinda personal question…because it’s time to Sage that S#!zz and clear space for an awesome year ahead. Ready? Have you ever felt completely paralyzed about achieving your business or life goals? Or creating what you REALLY want in life? So logically you make excuses about why now is NOT the time. Or I’m not ready for XYZ. Or better yet, I don’t deserve to have what I want. Or my fave, Artists don’t make money. Even though you need to make changes, you hold your face in your hands and cry out loud saying “Why Me!” (Hey, this is a judgment-free zone here – I get stuck in the same BS all the time.) Without going deep into the reasons why this happens to all of us, the root of the problem starts with the “F” word. FEAR! Fear is the thing that derails you when you self-sabotage, fall short of your goals, don’

Every year around this time, I reflect back on how I did… This year was no different… Always – ALWAYS – my reflection starts with my WINS! Girl, you crushed it! Then I have to check myself re: the goals that I didn’t achieve. AND GET BRUTALLY HONEST WITH MYSELF… Was I playing it too safe? Was I pulling all the stops? Did I really want “it” that bad? Was it aligned with my vision? Or were my beliefs about myself holding me from reaching my highest potential? My practice helped me clear the energy of what I want to create in the coming year and the same is true for you too. When I started planning my 2019, I created a little practice for myself that included 5 words to live by… And I recorded a podcast about it to help YOU manifest your biggest hairy goals next year with these 5 words. 2019 is right around the corner and it’s time for you to make a decision for yourself… Will this be the #bestyearever? If it’s a HECK YES! Dive into today’s episode with into those 5 words now…

Content is King (yes, even for a jewelry brand). And when your content is marketed the right way, you can easily connect with those perfect customers…you know the ones who keep coming back for more? The ones who buy everything you make! The ones who tell the world about how much they LOVE your jewelry! Yeah, those ones! Have you heard of the 1000 True Fans philosophy? It states that you don’t need millions (of dollars, customers, products), you just need 1000 true fans who buy everything you make. When you get 1000 true fans, you’ll never be a starving jewelry artist…you’ll have an awesome business that supports you forever! One piece of the “1000 true fans philosophy” is that you need to create a relationship with your fans…that starts with them loving your jewelry and your story…you keep ‘em hooked by curating content (social, email, blog, downloads, etc) that adds value to your brand experience. Today on the show, I’m sharing How to Align Your Content With Your 2019 Sales Plan so you’ve got double duty wor

A recent NY Times Article announced that Conde Nast is selling off 3 of its publications due to a shrinking pool of advertisers and changes in the way content is consumed… …which in recent times isn’t so much on the printed page. So what’s a jewelry brand to do to get exposure for their designs? It’s true, the landscape of the jewelry industry and PR is changing – rapidly. One of the big changes is the shift from Print to Digital and experiential consumption. And those who discover how to navigate the new landscape will rise and prosper… PR IS NOT DEAD…IT’S JUST DIFFERENT. Branded experiences create brand evangelists who leverage the digital landscape to create exposure for you. Today on the show, I have my friend Janine “JJ” Just with me to talk about all things brand collaborations and PR experiences to get awesome exposure for your brand. Listen to episode #179 of Thrive by Design to get your all-access pass to How to Create Branded Collaborations and PR Experiences with Janine Just.

I’m often asked: what does it really take for an emerging jewelry brand | designer | maker to successfully sell jewelry online? It requires 4 things: • Strategy • Resourcefulness • Creativity • A Can Do Attitude Here’s why: There’s a lot of strategy “conversion nuance” involved in getting customers to actually buy from your jewelry website or online channels. Because of that, you’ve gotta be creative in your approach to selling online, take action to implement your ideas, and resourceful, especially when, things don’t go your way!. Typically, designers try something once and think: ‘that doesn’t work for me!” Instead, they should be thinking: “how can I tweak my strategy to make this work for me?” So, when I hear people out there saying, “I sell jewelry online” – I’m ready to show them how it’s done… and proof that with the right strategy and actions, you can sell WAY more than your dinky holiday shows…. (I’m not dissing shows…they’re good too!

Following trends with your new collection is a great way to get inspired for Spring 2019. No matter what kind of jewelry you create, you can show these trends in your designs. It’s always fun to see how other designers are applying trends to their work! I’m excited because Delia Folk is back on the show! She is the daughter in the mother-daughter duo of The Style That Binds Us. We’re excited because she went to fashion week in New York, Paris, London, and Milan – so she’s got a hot scoop on the trends to look out for in 2019. Listen in on her take now!

Think you can’t keep a secret? The blogger behind A Thousand Facets has hidden her identity for almost 9 years on her blog! It’s so cool because she’s a big time blogger, but no one knows the woman behind the words. Or maybe I should say, the woman behind the website – because her posts are mostly visual. She’s still been able to build a following by showcasing the visual stories of other jewelry brands. So let’s get to know A Thousand Facets.

Blockchain isn’t just about BitCoin. In fact, cryptocurrencies were made possible because of Blockchain technology! So what does this have to do with the jewelry and fashion industry? Blockchain helps give a digital papertrail of each step in the manufacturing and sourcing process of a piece of jewelry. So this means customers know exactly where the materials are coming from starting from where the metals are mined! Crazy, right? To explain it much better than I can, I interviewed three blockchain experts while I was traveling to Chicago! I have Mark Hanna, the CMO of Richline Group. Mark has been in the jewelry space for over 45 years and has experienced all facets of management, manufacturing, marketing and sales and compliance. Then there’s Jennifer Dawes who launched her collection Jennifer Dawes Designs in 2000, and has since evolved to become one of the main proponents of sustainable, responsible jewelry while also creating pieces that are magical to wear. Finally, we have Cristina Villegas. She’s the a

Want the inside scoop on how fashion editors discover new brands? I’ve got you! Sometimes editors feel impossible to reach because you put them on a pedestal. They’re people just like you and me – and they use the internet to research brands. I’m excited to introduce and welcome Angela Koh to the show today! She’s the Market Editor for T, The New York Times Style Magazine. Angela covers jewelry, fashion, and accessories. As the editor, she’s editing pages, looking out for new designers to feature, and conceptualizing stories to tell through the magazine. She’s sharing how she finds new brands, and a few tips on how to follow the Spring 2019 jewelry trends, too! Let’s get started!

When you want to scale your jewelry business – you start seeing new problems to solve. It’s true, more money…more problems! Not exactly more, but different problems for sure. The biggest your business, the different challenges you’ll face. So I’m super excited to introduce you to our guest today, Jean Z Poh, founder & CEO at Swoonery.com. This lady is a serious powerhouse in all things business and strategy. She is a 4th generation jewelry professional, an angel investor, and one of Luxury Daily’s women to watch. I’m grateful to have her on the show sharing her insight on how to scale a business the right way. Plus, she’s gonna come back for more soon – so stay tuned, m’dear!

Business and life are integrated in so many ways. How we feel about ourselves and what kind of lens we view business through shapes our ability to actually succeed. Working that inner confidence muscle is exactly what our guest is going to help us work through today. I hope that you're inspired by what Patricia Moreno is sharing today! She’s the founder of Spiritual Fitness and the creator of the IntenSati method. She struggled with her weight for years. After realizing enough was enough, she created her signature workout, the IntenSati method. She shares more about it in the episode! Plus, tips and truths to believing you have everything you need to succeed already within you. What an empowering thought, right? Let’s get started!

Right now, LinkedIn probably sounds like Instagram’s awkward cousin in the world of social media. But what it lacks in flash, it makes up for in substance…and sales! The best part about using LinkedIn to grow your jewelry sales is that people are already in the business mindset when they’re on the site. It’s not “annoying” to see people talking about business opportunities because that’s the entire purpose of the platform! I’m so thankful to have Becky Mollenkamp on the show with me today to share all the ways she used LinkedIn to launch and grow her coaching business! Becky Mollenkamp is the creator of the “Own It Crush It” movement. She helps women navigate the mindset of self employment through her courses, exclusive membership community, and group program. Becky has mentored hundreds of women to own it and crush their boss status. I love it. You’re going to be super surprised at some of these tactics and how easy using Linkedin can be! Shall we begin?

Reviews of Flourish & Thrive Live are in – it was a total hit! Maybe you’re coming down off the NYC high, getting out of the jetlagged fog, or bummed because you missed it this year. In any case, you’re gonna want to listen to these lessons learned from Flourish & Thrive Live 2018. Hearing other people’s takeaways is powerful whether or not you attended the event. Multiple perspectives on the same topic help you master the concept. Here we go!