In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Carol, the creative force behind Chained & Charmed from Utah. A mom of four and a passionate entrepreneur, Carol has been working with permanent jewelry for two years but officially launched her own business in June 2023. When Carol is passionate about something, she's all in—and her journey into the world of permanent jewelry is no different!

Carol shares how she initially started her journey with a friend but realized she needed something more fulfilling and creative to fill her cup. Starting and running your own business isn't easy, Carol gets real about the tech struggles, finding events, and balancing it all. But she believes everything has unfolded exactly as it should. Her entire family is part of the adventure! Her oldest 2 kiddos jump in by making charm bracelets and helping customers, turning this business into a family affair that’s packed with memories and valuable life lessons

Collaboration has been a game changer for Carol. She talks about the incredible support she’s received from other women in her area, joining a networking group, and participating in collaborative photo shoots where everyone promotes each other's businesses. Initially, Carol hired help with social media but eventually took it upon herself after learning the ropes. Starting at farmers' markets and splitting her inventory between two markets, she found reliable help which has helped her grow her permanent jewelry biz.

Her unique selection of chains and charms sets her apart from other Permanent Jewelers in her area. (No wonder her business is called Chains & Charmed!) and she’s excited about launching pieces on Etsy & has big plans for next year! She would love to host more home parties, where she enjoys the personal connections that come with them.

Carol's love for permanent jewelry is rooted in how it makes her feel put together and confident. She wants other moms to feel that way too no matter how hectic life gets. Her advice to other Permanent Jewelry owners? Find something that sets you apart and collaborate with other small businesses in your town!

Tune in to hear Carol’s story, her passion for creating meaningful connections, and her tips for growing a successful permanent jewelry business!

Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094681772329&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Hey there, I'm Jen Thyrion. I'm so glad you're here. I'm a former nine to fiver that dove into entrepreneurship eight years ago with zero business experience. I'm a wife, mama of two young girls, boutique owner, jewelry designer, and now the proud owner and coach leading GoldieLinks permanent jewelry. I have a passion to empower fellow business space.

This podcast is made to equip you with everything you need to succeed from actionable marketing steps to digging deep on your mindset. I know firsthand the heart, hard work, and let's be real. At times the struggle that makes up this amazing journey. You want to know what has enabled me to shine the brightest coaching plus community here at Goldie links.

We share openly educate and lift each other up, expect to get links with fellow PJ owners that will do just that. Sprinkle them plenty of fun along the way. Competition is an old school thought and connection is the way. Get ready to feel inspired. Welcome to the Goldie links podcast.

Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to GoldieLinkSupplies. com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, bangles, and more, including our non permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by our tribe of mama makers.

What is a mama maker? Stay at home moms that create on their own time between raising their children, serving as a self care creative outlet and supporting their families. Your items come with signage on how these supplies are made along with gemstone property info as each gemstone has a special meaning.

If you want to level up your business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out at goldilynxsupplies. com. Now onto the show. Today I'm chatting with Carol from Chained and Charmed coming from Utah. I met Carol at PJX and I actually referenced this in our chat, but by memory of her is literally the first class I taught, which of course I was very nervous, but she was literally within my eyesight.

Every time I looked at the audience, I feel like I saw her and I saw the look of passion and eagerness on her face, but also. She was so ready and willing to like put herself out there and ask questions, which I think gave the permission for everyone else to do the same. So it just created such a beautiful environment for the class and it just extended throughout the rest of PJX.

Every time I ran into her, um, we had such a great connection and conversation. So I hope you feel the same. Enjoy this convo with Carol. Okay. Hey, Carol. I'm so excited to see you today. It's so fun. Thanks for having me to see your face since PJX. It's like, I feel like it was yesterday, but it also feels like five years ago.

So you've been very busy, so I can imagine you've been busy too, but yeah. Tell us about yourself, who you are, all the things I want to know. I actually, I was reading your, the Goldilynx info and I saw that you used to be a massage therapist as well. You used to be a massage therapist? Yeah. No way. Like right before you started this?

And then he also has a part time job doing it work just for like steady income just in case anything ever happens. So we are both very, very busy and just support each other and yeah, just where are you located? We're in St. George, Utah. So first of all, what, what businesses do you, I mean, obviously you have permanent jewelry, right?

What other businesses are, you know, in the family? So then he also has a, like a power sports business where he buys them and he does really light mechanical work on them and then resells them. So cool. Cool. He just, he can't sit still. He never has been able to, so he's worked a few, like, you know, nine to five jobs in the past.

And he just, it's just worrying to him. He needs to be on the loop. He needs to be like a different, a different thing. Every day is his ideal work. So tell me about you. Like, how did you, how did you get into permanent jewelry? When did that all start for you? So this is the part of the story that I actually don't love, and I thought about lying to you actually, but I actually learned from a friend and she needed help in a really big event that she had going on.

And I'm the kind of person who, when I, when I devote my time or passion to something, I'm all in 100 percent of me, I will live it and I just, I give it all. And so basically things just didn't end very well between us. I give my all and I also like, I like to get, like, I like to be appreciated for what I do, which most people do, but it just, it just ended with me not feeling very appreciated and very negative, like name calling kind of stuff.

And it was really hard on me. And I just, I mentally, I couldn't stay in that kind of a position. And so I. I told her I was quitting and then I got really depressed and I missed it because it was my, you know, I being a mom, it was my like creative outlet and I loved it. And so I ended up buying all my own stuff and just rolling with it.

Um, to be honest, I don't love owning my own business. It was way easier for her just to say, Hey, I have this event. Do you want to work it? And I could show up and like, that was all I focused on was making jewelry and connecting with people. And now I feel like it's, it's fun. Like, don't get me wrong. I love it.

And I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it also is really hard. And I know you know that because in your emails, I see like all the hard things coming through to all the, all the tech work, all the, like the actual reality of owning your own business is really hard. Well, this is the thing. Yes, it's hard no matter what, but you're also a mother of four, which is like, I honestly, like, when I hear people, cause I have to know that, like, you know, especially too, when I met you and you're like, at the point, like, so it was a month ago, so you're probably like, I have a six month old.

I'm like, what has a baby and is doing this? I'm like, Oh my gosh. Like, I just feel like I was such a hot mess. Like every like, especially with my second. So, I mean, maybe you're just like this, like bad ass because you have four noses. You're like, this is no big deal. But for me, it's like when I had my second, Oh my God.

I talk about that as the dark year, but it's like, and it was honestly too, is COVID and there's so many other things. There's so many other factors going on for sure. But I was like, it was also in a beautiful year looking back. Of course it was a very formative year for me, but it was very hard. It was so difficult.

And so I think like that was before I started permanent jewelry. Granted, I already had an existing business. So that made it hard to, especially COVID, of course, as you know, just flipped everything upside down. But, um, I just couldn't imagine, I guess, juggling all of this, especially cause what this permanent jewelry business is very different from what my other business was.

It's more hands on. It's more, you know, so you're literally doing in person events. You know, you're not just, you know, setting something up in like walking away kind of thing. I mean, that is also like, not to take away from owning a business is difficult, but also being a mother is difficult. So it's like, how do you feel like.

Is it helpful that your husband does own a business where there's flexibility? Because how do you guys balance it all, I guess? Yeah, looking back, it all happens at the right time. You can see how it all just kind of plays together. But yeah, my husband, because he owns his own business, he can pick and choose if he is going to work that day or not.

And even with his second work, the reason that he chose that job was because he could come and go. Originally it was for his four wheeler business, like where he could be like, Hey, there's a, there's a four wheeler four hours away. I need to go pick it up. I'm going to come in tomorrow instead. And they'd be like, okay, great.

And so now he's like, my wife has an event. I'm going to go with her and keep all the kids in the hotel and she's going to work these 10 hour days. And he just comes with me. And so the whole family just, we just traveled together and make it like a family event and a family trip. And my girls actually have started to make their own little like Charm bracelets.

I mean, they're nine and seven. So they're just like cute little, you know, they borrow my tools, they open jump rings, they fit it to people like it's adorable. And so it's really fun for all of us. Like the kids will come and hang out with me while the baby takes a nap with my husband in the hotel and it's memories like these are, it's fun.

So cool. That is awesome. Cause I mean, my girls are three and five and I think about that, like Harper went to my oldest, went to with me to just a charm bar event recently. It was just charm bar. So I'm like, okay, I can think I can bring her. And it was, it was such a special memory and to have her there.

And they made me so excited for the future of like showing them what's possible. Like, that's why I think it's so amazing. Cause of course the traditional, I mean, I don't know about you, but I grew up with two parents doing a nine to five type job, right. Not exactly loving their jobs, I would say, right.

It's like they're, you know, but for this, I'm just so. I want to show that it's like, you can do what you love, you know, yes, it's hard work, but I would choose this work over anything else. And I really do enjoy it. Like, I think that even if, even if it won the lottery tomorrow and didn't have to work, I still know that I would do this to some capacity, right?

I do. That's just who I am. So, but I also think just knowing that like, Yeah. Cause here's our nine and seven, which is so great. It's like, literally they could start helping you in this business and see what's like seeing, I guess, witnessing the hard work and like, and it's so cool with a business seeing like you do this and it gets this result.

Like you can see that more as when a nine to five, or you're just like, you don't really see how it grows the business or what you're, you know, it's not as, I don't know, immediate, I guess. And seeing the results of your hard work, does that make sense? So I feel like. That's such a cool lesson for our kids, you know?

Yeah. Well, they actually, so I do farmer's markets here and we're in Southern Utah. It's hot. Like we are two hours from Vegas. Like it's 115 during the summer. So I'm out there at farmer's markets and they love to come with me. And the first like maybe two or three weeks, they just came and I was so busy that they would ask for something and I would just hand them money and they would run away and spend all my money that I made.

After about two weeks of that, I was like, we, you guys, you, you either can't come with me or you have to work for your money. So I went and started them a bank account and I would transfer them money for them working with me. And they would get, they would, they would like talk, I would talk to people. They would listen to what chains or charms they wanted.

They would get those out for me and set them aside. And then when I was done, I would hand it to them. They would wrap the chain back up and put it back away in the case. Then, after about, you know, during like a downtime, then I would give them their money and they would go run. And spend it. So now we started them a bank account where at the end of every farmer's market, I transfer them money and they have to save half of it.

And then they know they have their cute little debit cards, but I never want anyone to charge their fees. So I always just give them cash anyway. They think that they're spending their money on this, on this card. There's so many like lessons in that. And like also to just, like you said, bringing your family.

That's so cool. It's like, what other job could you have where you bring, you know, The whole family and it's like a family work and learn. Yeah. Literally they were with you at PJX, right? Yeah. They were at a hotel in Vegas. Nobody slept. It was great. I know. Oh my gosh. You're like a superhero. So when did you start this permanent jewelry business?

22 I think. So I'm coming up on two years of doing jewelry, but yeah, it's since I started my own, it was last summer. Okay. So how do you, so obviously you already had the experience working with her and she was doing it, right? So you already kind of, did you already have a taste obviously of like how to reach out and book events and you know what I mean?

You already had your Not at all. No? No, I, she did all of that and she would just text us, like there was a couple of us that worked for her and, um, she would just say, I have all of these events that I have gotten into. Does any, who wants them? And so we would just kind of claim the, the events that we wanted to do.

So she did the farmer's markets and she did, then she did like other really big events or private parties or whatever, but yeah, she handled all the social media. She handled all the bookings, like all of that was new to me. Okay. So did you do anything like, were you like schooled at all with social media?

Like, how did you know, just kind of like, Well, I actually paid somebody to start my social media to like get it all up and running the right way and just teach me a few of the basics. I. I never, even on my own personal social media, I wasn't, it's still something that I struggle with. I will say that it's very inconsistent.

I've learned a lot. Um, but my biggest growth and all of that, I think has come from a collaboration group that I was invited to last year. And, um, basically we do these photo shoots and so it's businesses from around. It's women owned businesses in our town, and I will say that that has been my biggest blessing and my biggest takeaway from owning my own business.

Like, collaborating with these other women, we all support each other. We all promote each other's products. Like, I mean, it really has been my biggest gift. And growing my business since last year. Tell me more about that. Because I, so is it kind of like, is it to have to be different areas of niches of business that are all involved?

It's kind of like a networking group. Like what do you, what does that entail? So we have a photographer. We have a girl who organizes like private picnics, like for elopements or for engagements or just for fun. Um, so she, and then we have like a, a makeup artist, a hair artist, a, or another girl who does jewelry, but it's not permanent.

And then we have somebody who does lemonade and somebody who does sourdough and some, we just have this huge group of women. And it originally started as getting together and, and it still is, we get together and do photo shoots. So we all bring our own products. So it doesn't cost any of us anything. We all bring our own products and give what we want to.

So sometimes I'll do like free jewelry and the products and tens I'll do 50 percent off sometime. It just kind of depends on where I'm at and what time of year it's at, um, with how willing we are to give as much as we give, and then we create these beautiful content photo shoots. And it's all, it's, it doesn't cost us anything cause we're all, and then we all promote each other's businesses.

And then, um, when, when one of us post something, we all jump on and just like clamor it with comments and support and sharing. And it's really, it's been really fun. That's so cool. What a great idea. Because even in the beginning when you said you got social media help, which did you, do you still get help with social media or no, you kind of took it over on your own.

I took it over. Once she set it up, I've tried to hire a few people, but honestly it's, it's something that is. It's so expensive. I try to schedule posts and, and stay on top of it that way, but it just kind of comes and goes and I'm just okay with it. I'm not the kind of person who is very active on social media and it's not kind of, it's kind of just not true to who I am, so I don't, I don't push it.

But I think it was great that you at least got like schooled in it and like the initial help with it. I think that's great. You know, just. Kind of reaching out and knowing that that's important and you need to kind of like get started and get a base. But then of course, you know, at least have some knowledge going forward.

You think that's so awesome. So where do you feel, do you do a lot of events? You're obviously totally mobile right now, right? There's no brick and mortar situation. Like what does your business look like? Um, so I do a farmer's market here in St. George, the downtown one every Saturday. And I'm also doing, there's another cool market that started here in March and this is all crazy because I just had my baby in December.

And when I was pregnant, I was driving an hour north up to Cedar city to do their farmer's market every Saturday because it was so congested down here and there was only one market in our town. And I think somebody told me that there are 40 permanent jewelers in our little town. Really? It's really congested and really, I hate to use the word competitive because that's not how I feel, but it's.

There are a lot. And so, yeah, it just has really been hard to get into certain events. And so I was driving up to Cedar City and then in March, or it went right before I had my baby in December, I heard about this new market opening. It was actually right across the street from my house. And so I, I took a leap of faith and I signed up for a month of the market and started going and it actually was amazing.

There was so much, our community is amazing at supporting small businesses. And then in April, I got into the downtown market. So I was starting two markets with a three month old, four month old, three month old because he was born at the end of December. And I was trying to hire people and it was, it was kind of chaos.

I was trying to split my inventory between two markets. I was trying to buy tents and tables and. Um, amongst all the social media and having a three month old and I just, I, it was chaotic and I had this amazing girl who actually used to have a permanent jewelry business who met me at a market, wanted a necklace for her boyfriend.

And I asked her if she would mind helping me with a few Saturdays and she jumped in and she worked every Saturday for a few months while I got on my feet at one or the other markets. And it was, it was a lifesaver and she was great and my customers loved her. And then I was able to hire more people and train them.

And so yeah, we're, we're really, I'm taking two or three weeks off of one of the markets right now because it's just hot and it's traveling for summer. But going forward, I, so I have two markets that I do here in St. George, and then I do all of my extracurricular, like 4th of July and all the other events, like in Cedar City.

Where it's 15 degrees cooler at any given time. So with the, like you said, how many permanent jewelers are in your area? Do you, hearing that you do a lot of markets, are there other permanent jewelers at the same market? There are. So there's, um, at one of the markets, there's always another permanent jeweler.

So there's, there's at least two at every market, sometimes three. Okay. So how do you feel about that? Like, what, how do you approach that when it comes to being around, I mean, do you, Kind of reach out. Do you talk to them? How does it feel? How does it feel to have, do people mention that if they come to your booth and say, you know, and kind of compare are people doing that when, or?

It never bothers me. I've never get like, uh, the only time that I will say that it bothers me is when the other permanent dealer, and this just happened recently. I've never been in an event like this before, but the other permanent dealer was offering, um, very poor quality. items like pleated jewelry. Um, and not just like pleated, like the enamel chains where they last right a year, they, these would last like two weeks.

And that really bothered me because I, I just was like these, you know, I don't want anyone to come to me. Basically, I don't want anyone to come to my booth saying I got this piece of jewelry two weeks ago and it tarnished. So are your items like that as well? Exactly. That's what ends up happening and that people, when we talk about even pricing too, and if someone's really pricing low, it's kind of like, again, like it's, it's affecting the whole industry as a whole.

And I remember like speaking, actually going back to massage days, I remember there would be people I'd run into that were like, I haven't had a massage in years because I had my first massage and I got so sore after, and they were so like rough. And I'm like, cause it's like then when you have that initial experience, just like if someone got a, you know, really cheap bracelet and tarnishes.

They kind of automatically assume that maybe, you know, they're now wary of like anywhere else, you know, even though that might be completely obviously different than anyone, you know? So I'm like, what a shame that you haven't been able to experience another massage. Cause you assumed that everyone was going to beat you up.

Right. You're missing out. Right. So it just kind of, it's that whole thing. It's like, then it's still instills this fear and assumption with, when it comes to that in general. So it hurts the whole industry. Yeah. No, I actually, when I'm at events with other permanent dealers, I'm the kind of person. And I want to see how they do it.

I want to see what they have to offer. I basically I want to learn from them and I want to build a good, like morale and a good friendship so that if I'm ever busy or I can't take somebody, I want to be able to send them to somebody. And so, yeah, I think that I maybe view it more like you do where it's not so much competition, but more of like a friendship and a collaboration rather than like cutthroat.

Yeah, for sure. How many employees do you have currently? I don't even know.

I have probably four who know how to weld, maybe five who know how to, who know how to weld. And basically I just send out a sign up and I just, these are the available dates. And sometimes they work one weekend a month. Sometimes they work four and sometimes they work four and then the next month they don't work at all.

And so. Yeah. So. I have four or five who can jump in and that I trust like to just buy it completely. And then I have like kind of teenagers who are assistants who are there to support, like put, like talk to people, answer questions, not change, but change the way, um, just, especially for, you know, it's hard for me where I've been doing it for almost.

Like a year and a half. And I feel like I have it down really well to where, you know, if they've only been maybe doing it for two months, like they're a little bit slower. And so to be able to answer questions and work is really hard. Yeah, for sure. So how are you, it's probably a great question because I know a lot of people are wanting to add and they're to that point in their business, they want to scale and adding an employee is one of those ways.

So how do you find your employees? Like how do you find good people? people that you trust. I will say that knowing the people first is a bonus. I will not hire anybody random. I will, I will go without doing an event before I hire somebody. I don't know. Well, what's great about this business is we're like, we are meeting so many people.

Cause even, you know, just a past customer that maybe has come to you a couple of times that, you know, you just get this good vibe from like kind of go with your gut, right? Yeah. Like, but I won't just put out there on Facebook. Hey, I'm, I'm looking for hire somebody like You're right. Yeah. I, I would, I, in fact, I have hired assistants that way.

Like I was at a really busy event. One of my assistants couldn't show up that day. And my first customer was a mom and her daughter. And I was like, Hey, would you maybe want a job today? That's awesome. She, she literally jumped in there and worked the whole day with me. That's so cool. And it was really good.

That's awesome. So do you, at these markets, cause you're, it sounds like your markets over there are pretty busy. Like, do you stay pretty steady during these? Are you always like. booked basically. Yeah. So I don't, I mean, I, yeah, I don't take appointments, but it's, it is to the point where I will, I have a waiting bench and I will have anywhere from like two people to 10 people waiting at any given time during this four or five hour market.

That's amazing. So in addition to markets, are you doing a lot of private parties off of that? Or what do you think there's any. Yeah, I don't push those as much just because again, like creating that content on Facebook is really hard for her. Like Instagram is really hard for me. And so it's all word of mouth.

So I've done, I've done quite a few private parties. Like I, I actually just traveled four hours to a private party two weekends ago because she loves my charms, my charms. I, so my business name is Chained and Charmed. And I, And the terms are my favorite, especially, you know, things like where you create things that have never been done before I brought these little things.

I don't know if you've actually seen these. So these are made by local Native Americans, these little, um, like turquoise charms. So I need to be better about putting those on Facebook. But when people come to my booth, you know, I have like pink conch shell and I have like black onyx and like, these are all so I picked out these stones as local Native Americans.

And you can turn them into rings, bracelets, anklets, like you can put them on anything. And then you have all the letters and birthstones and then I have all of yours. So I'll show you my tray. This is what it looks like. Love! Lots of stones. I love stone. I love the gemstones, you know? And then I have two or three other trees at each event.

So I have my chains and I have all of my charms and that really is, I think what sets me apart from everybody else. Like a lot of people walk up to my booth and say, Oh my gosh, I've never seen charms before. That's so cool. And then I have this little like look book where people can look through and get ideas and inspiration.

And then they put together this completely customized personal piece. Yeah. Yeah. And so this party that I did in Heber, she had stopped by my booth and saw all my charms and loved them. And so she messaged me and she was like, I'm doing this birthday party. I know I'm four hours away, but I would love for you to come.

Oh my gosh. So real quick though, are we talking about when you say charms, are you talking about on permanent pieces or are you talking about whatever people? Like a lot of people are doing right now, the trendy charm bar, like where people are like making, or no, you're just talking about charms or adding on to permanent pieces.

Correct? Yeah, I don't do, I haven't gotten into the charm bar. That feels really overwhelming and unknown for me because I like all of, and I just don't like, is everybody doing gold filled charms or sterling silver charms? Are these like plated? You know, like it's, it's so overwhelming to me to, I don't know why I just want to stick with gold filled, but then that seems so expensive for just like a trendy piece or, you know, like something that they're not going to wear every day.

And so No, I hear you. I just want to verify, like, you know, make that was clear because I know when we say charms kind of everyone's, their minds are going to like charm bar, you know what I mean? So you're saying like the charms, like on permanent pieces, are you doing a lot of like it? Yeah. Charms. Do people get a lot that charms that hang off or are they doing connectors?

Like, is that more common? What's more? Connectors are definitely more common, I think, because that's my preference. That's really all that I have. I do offer a few where they have like a removable class. So on like a big piece of turquoise. When they can, it's just like a little trigger clasp on like a necklace or a bracelet and they can take that piece on and off.

So the necklace and the bracelet stays permanent, but then the connector or the, the charm can come on. That's awesome. So how do you, how do you price your chains? How do you have to price tiers? Like how, how do you price yours? I do price tiers. And I would say that I am a little bit lower than the average permanent doer because I encourage people to do the charms because that's what, makes me so unique.

Um, so I like the enamel pieces. I do 30 for a bracelet. And then, um, like I have like a basic tier that's a 35 for a bracelet and then a mid tier that's 55 and then like a really thick, sturdy tier that's 95. Okay. That's awesome. Well, I love that like you from the beginning. So from the beginning, you obviously chose your name knowing that you wanted to go kind of like right heavy with that, like The terms, right?

Well, I actually changed my business name three times. So I started as pretty little things and it just didn't feel very unique. And you know, I just, I had a really hard time picking something. And then I went to created by Carol because my name is Carol. And then in February I knew that I was going to, or like March, I knew that I was going to be starting to markets and that I would have to hire people.

So I didn't want my name to be created by Carol. And because obviously somebody wouldn't be Carol that was working for me. I don't even know how it came to me, but it just changed in terms. I pondered on it for months and I love it. I will never change it. Even though my husband is still afraid that he's going to have to do all my paperwork to change it again.

No, that's perfect. Cause like you said, it's like, you really get a vision of What you have, you know, just by your name, which is amazing. You can kind of already like get the niche from like, so, and then I know, honestly, of course, meeting at PJX that you got, you did get a lot of my handmade chains. Um, yes, I think I bought you out of everything you have left.

So I just want to hear, because honestly, too, getting again, like kind of thinking about what sets you apart and whether it be like you do do a turn bar or it is like, you know, your hand, you do handmade jewelry or you're focusing on just solid gold or, you know, everyone has their vibe. Right. So. And do you feel like those handmade chains just kind of play into, you know, your charms, like that whole vibe that you have is like, because from what I see, you do like the stones and the gemstones and things like that, right?

Yeah, so I actually just put those out for the first time this last week and I've been holding them, holding on to them, like, Not really knowing the proper way to like, release these to the town because they're so beautiful and so delicate and I feel like I just had to release them with like this amazing bang, but I finally gave up that idea and just put them out on my table and I couldn't believe.

I mean, I had people being like. Did you read these? These are amazing. And then I got to explain that they're made by a group of stay at home moms, which, you know, then they support my business and your business and those stay at home moms. And so it's supporting like three people in one purchase, which really just speaks to my heart anyway, being a mom.

Yeah. So they were met with huge enthusiasm and. Like in awe, like, well, I've never seen anything like this before. That's beautiful. And so, yeah, I, I definitely go towards things like my husband and I have this running joke of like, Oh, it's never been done before. Of course you want to figure out how to do it.

Cause I, I love turquoise. My grandma always wore turquoise and. I looked everywhere for connectors and I, I've searched probably 50 hours on Etsy and every website I could think of trying to find a piece that had two links on it. And of course it couldn't be done. Like it had never has been done. And if it has, it's very expensive.

And so, um, I'm actually in the process of having quite a few pieces made and putting them on and like an Etsy shop for other permanent doers. I, they're being made. currently. And again, I don't know how I'm going to release those. Probably just like a very subtle, Oh, they're on there. I can't hype things up.

I get overwhelmed. So yeah, I love the jewelry that you have created and I love the handmade. I just, I love anything that's unique and that's never been done before. I think that is definitely what I lean into in all of my work. Yeah. Being different. Yeah. And I think that, you know, whether it is like handmade, you know, the gemstones.

But for anybody, it's like, yeah, like what does make you unique? Like what makes you special? Even if it's down to like how you present your business or, you know what I mean? It's just who you are. Right. So like really going deep into like what excites you about this business, you know, cause as you know, like it's exciting to start, but when you're get into it and it's like becomes, it's like there has to be things that keep you going to keep you inspired and passionate about this business because then it becomes, it does, it can become kind of.

Complacent and boring in a way, you know, if it's not something that's really aligned with your passions, you know? Yeah, I, I would say that I can't really relate to that. Like I think I get, I get too excited and I have to space it out. Being a mom of four, I can't go buy all this amazing product that I see.

Yeah. I have to, uh, and I probably should even space it out more than I, than I do, but I have my eye on three or four chains that nobody else in my town carries right now. And I fully intend to incorporate those into my business this year. No, I hear you. But that's, what's so great about the freedom of this.

Cause for me, if I wasn't continuously thinking about things I could make and like, and if I just was offering the same, like 10 chains I started with or something, like how boring would that be? Right. And then. And what would that say about me as a, as a business owner? Right. It doesn't really say like who I am.

I mean, I guess it would say who I am if I'm having things I started with, but you know, as you evolve, it's kind of like you kind of get deeper into why you're doing this because I can even hear it in you. It's like, okay, he's changing your name. Obviously like the, when you got into it, then you're like, No, this doesn't feel right.

Like that name doesn't feel like me. Right. So what feels like me, so it's evolving thing. And that's, what's so great as you get deeper into this business, because I keep hearing about permanent jewelers, like now they've been exposed to jewelry making, some are getting into silversmithing and some are, you know, so it's like, it's, it's really cool to hear what direction people go and kind of what ignites their passion for it.

For you, I'm hearing a lot of like the handmade, yeah, supporting, and then like The turquoise obviously is meaningful to you. And that's really amazing. And to tell that story to people, that is really magnetic too, for your customers to understand that that has a deep meaning for you. There's a reason for it.

It's not just because it's just pretty, there's a big reason behind it, which is awesome. I love it. Um, and I will say too, with, with finding that passion, you know, I, I get so busy at markets. I've actually had a second. Welder with me the last, so we have two welders going at one market and we're like constant to where we're not even looking up.

We're, we're just so busy. And I heard a couple of weeks ago that our booth was really busy, but the other permanent jeweler wasn't. So, you know, I think ultimately when you have something different that sets you apart, you know, who 95 for a bracelet if the same person has it over there for 65? Why do people pick that person over?

Over me. And so I think picking your price points to where you're comfortable with, you know, if I, it's just not something that I'm even comfortable with. Like, I heard a lot at PGX. Oh, you could be charging more for that. And I think originally I came home from that wanting to increase my prices, but yeah, absolutely.

I kept them the same, but then I added the 90 because before I went to PJX, I didn't have the 95 price point. And so when I went to PJX and saw all of those chains and all the, the sturdy ones in person, I spent more on those and invested in my business. And so of course I then bought Feel comfortable charging more, but I, I'm not going to take a chain that everybody else has and just like put it up there at that 95 price point.

And so I think that's really what I took away from PJ X is, is valuing like your class, you know, valuing the things that make you unique and adding in. Other things that you feel really passionate about that set you apart. And I truly think that that is like those, those unique things are the reason that my booth is so busy at a market because it's things that people have never seen before.

That's just what I draw to is things that have literally never been done before. That's amazing. And yeah, like speaking to that, I mean, pricing and everything you The PJ classes, all of them are amazing. And it's one of those things that, yeah, you can get inspired by something by listening and be like, okay, I should do this.

But then, cause in a way you did increase your prices by adding that other tier, but other prices stayed the same. Cause you're like, realize you got to sit with things and be like, okay, what feels right for me? You know, because it depends on a lot of things. Everyone has different structures or their business too.

Like, yes, a brick and mortar has way more overhead. So I even say that to people who come to me. I'm totally mobile. So when they're like, Oh, I went to this brick and mortar in Denver. Oh my gosh. Like sterling silver. I was paying three times. I'm like, well, and I always, honestly, I never badmouth anyone where I'm like, I just, because there's a reason most likely for that.

And knowing what rent is in Denver, there's a reason why they have to ask for that price. You know what I'm saying? So just taking in all those things in account and you know, your numbers and what you're comfortable with. And honestly, in the end, you got to feel good about your prices and what feels good in your gut.

That's it. But being aware of like, obviously industry standards too, like having said that, of course, like you could say, well, it feels good to do 20 bracelets. It's like, well, like, I'm just saying like, obviously you have to be aware of those things. It's all within reason. Right. But like, And there's a reason that I don't want a brick and mortar and it's, and it's because I don't feel comfortable charging those top dollars, but.

For people that say, Hey, do you have a location? I really want to bring somewhere to bring my mom. I'm like, I don't, but these people do. Like you might pay a little bit more, but you're paying for that amazing experience where you're going to sit down and have a drink and have a comfy to sit in, like you're not going to be sitting on my hard plastic chair at a farmer's market where you're sweating bullets, right.

And that's so true. Like, that's also like, like you said, there's a reason for that price. Not only things you don't know about what their rent and their overhead and all the things involved in it. Also, like you said, yeah, it's comfort. Like they can take their time more than likely. Like for me, even if I'm doing, I might not be outside in like a hundred degree weather, but I'm inside where it's like, it's more fast paced.

I can have to pick, they can't just relax. Or like you said, maybe get a drink or those things play into what you're paying and the experience you want. Right. So you make a great point. Having that, how, actually, can I ask you, how much are you pricing the handmade gemstone chains, if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, so I think what I settled on, um, was 115 for a bracelet for the single stones, 125 for the stones that are three, one patterned and then 140 for the solid, just like stones, stones, like crazy. That's, that's just where I settled on, you know, taking into account, like they are a little bit more fragile bracelets.

And so if people bring them back to me and if I'm, if I'm going to offer them and stress about, um, fixing them, then that's where I, the price point where I feel comfortable. I love that. So where do you see your business going? Like, what are your kind of, do you have any goals in mind? Are you kind of just riding the wave right now?

Or do you have something like an ultimate where you want to be in this business in a year or so from now? So I originally, again, walking away from PJX, I actually texted my husband and said, brick and mortar coming. And I gave him a date and I can't even remember what that date was, but walking away from that, I actually changed my mind.

That's something I'm going to focus on. I don't think I really just, innovation is the focus of my business. I never want to get Complacent with what I have or what I'm offering. I always want to be offering something new and exciting. Yes, I know. I can tell. Like, even when I was teaching my first class at PJX and you were, you were in that class and I, I actually remember where you were sitting and everything, because of course I'm so nervous.

I never taught before ever. And it was just like, you were so, I could tell like your enthusiasm and your passion, your curiosity. Cause you were not afraid to ask questions, which I fricking love. And I would, I would encourage anyone, especially when someone's so When someone's speaking, they want more of that.

They want to know what people want. You know what I mean? So it was so great to hear you because I think also you gave, I feel like you were the first one to kind of ask more questions, which gave everyone else the, like the license to do the same. I feel like everyone that that was the first class and the class that people ask the questions most.

But I think it was because you kind of started that trend, which was amazing. And then I was like, okay, cool. Yeah. I love answering questions. Like what do you guys want to know? You know, so I feel like I could tell that you're very, first of all, passionate, but curious and you, you like, so innovation totally makes sense for you to like, I think that I had tried a lot of the things that you were introducing.

And I mean, I, I've been trying to wire wrap and I sit like, I'll never forget the way you laughed and you were like, what are you doing? And I told you that I was trying to wire wrap and the whole thing would bust and the beads would go flying everywhere. I know, I'm like picturing like some wild, like cartoon, like how are they flying everywhere?

Like, I don't understand. Well, eventually I will try it again. I know it's funny. I'm like, God, I just want to sit down with you right now and see what you're doing. Cause I'm so curious. Like, I didn't know, even know how to answer that. Like, well, um, yeah. But I had already been, you know, I'd already been stamping.

Like I remember the first time that I offered like stamped initials at a market and when you order these little discs, they only come with one hole punch while I wanted them to be connectors. And so I scoured the internet looking for. a hole punch that had a small enough hole that matched the initial hole punch that they did.

It ended up being like a leather punch. It didn't even cut the metal. And so then I had to like, hold it as tight as I could and then cut off the back and then stamp the initial on it. I mean, I was, you know, I was doing things that I just learning. By trial and error. So I had already done kind of a lot of the things that you were talking about.

We failed at them. So to hear you say, Oh, it can be done. This how was so interesting to me. Hey, busy entrepreneur. As you know, being a business owner, you have to wear all the hats. You're a social media manager, marketer, graphic designer, accountant, photographer, videographer, web designer, business coach, scheduler, and the list goes on.

I know how overwhelming it can be, and this is why I created the Golden Link Society. It's our monthly permanent jewelry membership. We have a weekly call to talk about all the things, but not only that, including monthly photography and video to use for your social media and marketing, Canva templates, monthly business expert, monthly training, support group, discount, and first dibs on Goldie Link supplies and more.

My intention is to create a beautiful community of permanent jewelers that want to level up their businesses together by creating lasting friendships and having fun. This is what I wish existed when I started my business almost 10 years ago. If you want to know more, check it out at GoldieLinksSociety.

com or at AllTheThingsPermanentJewelry. com. I hope to see you there. And it's just really, you know, I know it seems like you're a person who likes to like, just try everything, you know, I get that from you. So that's, what's also great though, because it's like, you learn so much in the process though, because who even like, honestly, with a leather punch, like who knows, like maybe I've done this before, at least I can speak to this where I buy something.

I'm like, this isn't even what it's meant for. I wasn't even doing my research. I kind of just don't even really look into it. I just buy, or I just go for it. Right. That's time to research. But I'm like, Oh, that kind of, then sometimes that spurs an idea though. Like even my mistake will spur an idea. That's why I'm like, please, like everyone keep trying.

Like at least try this, like see, and you might not want to make glow ups or bangles yourself. You might want to buy them from someone else. You realize that's not how I want to spend my time, but at least try it. And you know, never know, like. Creating one thing could lead to an idea to create something else, which that's so cool about.

So your, your glow ups and your beads, I don't know if you can even see my necklace here. Um, necklace. Yes. So this is just like a basic, like a flat linked chain. And then I was working, I was trying to create your glow ups, which also did not go super well for me. Beads went flying many times. Um, it's not my thing.

I will just buy them from you. So, but doing the, the bead covers, the crimp, um, not the crimps, but like the crimp covers. Um, I was at church and this lady had the cutest necklace and I was like, Oh my gosh, is that permanent? I've never seen anything like that before. And of course I get right up in her space and like, Examine it and it's just from Amazon.

So I'm sure it's just like a plated piece of jewelry, but they just had like bead crimp covers on it. And so I came home and used all my supplies and made myself this necklace and I have gotten more compliments on this necklace than anything else I sell. Or where you are just putting crimp covers. Yeah, I literally counted out 25 links between each.

Chain link. And I just put the crimp cover on. So I'm testing it, but if it goes well, I'm totally going to make this chain and start selling it. Interesting. Because like, of course I make a beaded chain like that. That's wire wrapped, just like the gemstones one you bought. Like I do have mixed metal and metal beads that are wire wrapped.

But if you could just crimp them on, just crimp them on. I mean, of course there's a theme. If you guys, if, if You know, listening, they're, they're basically, they look like beads, but you close them down. So there's a seam. There is a seam on them. But interesting. Yeah. You'll have to let me know how that goes.

And I, um, the chain that I use is just the, I mean, this one is the 2. 1, um, and I can't remember exactly what it's called, but it's just, you know, like the basic, do you know what this is called? It's just like the, it's not, I can't even, I can't really tell from the video exactly what kind of chain it is.

It's just like the most like made by Mary, you know, the made by Mary chain, like a, like a okay. I, this is the 2. 1 and I'm using the four millimeter crimp covers on them, but I had just a piece of scrap 1. 9 of the cable chain and they, the three millimeters fit really well on those. So I'm going to be switching to, I just ordered 50 feet of the 1.

9 and, um, of all the colors and then all the crimp covers. And let me know how it goes. Cause my only concern, especially with the bracelet is that those crimp covers would move. That's my only thought, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And I didn't, so I didn't order very many crimp covers, but this is also just one of my basic chains.

And so that's why I ordered 50 feet of it because. This is really popular for just like when people are just trying permanent jewelry for the first time and it's like, you know, it's sturdy. So I don't feel like it'll break on them. So it'll still give them a good feel for what permanent jewelry is. Like I don't, I don't sell anything in my inventory that is less than 0.

45 in thickness because I'm, I don't want to give it. That name to like sturdiness of it. Cause I am really hard on jewelry. So yeah, I, I'm going to test this. I actually, we call my husband and I laugh too. Like we have something called Scarlet approved. My, my seven year old is really hard on things. So we put something on her before I sell it.

I'll have her wear it for two months. Make sure it really is sturdy. Great idea. That's a great idea. Oh my gosh. Yeah. That's so cool. See again, like you didn't really, you didn't catch on to glow ups, but you're like, Hey, I'm going to put these crimp covers or like, yeah, the bead covers. So going back to social media, you said you're not really like very active on there, but you do a lot of markets.

So do you feel like that's where people are just seeing you and know about you is basically from the markets? Yeah. I like jobs. So at every market, I don't. I don't usually put out too many business cards. I just, I have a big picture frame that has a QR code. Like, you know, when you go into your profile and you say share profile, it, it gives you a QR code.

So I just copied that to Canva. I printed it out. Um, and I basically, I just like to use my Instagram as like, like a scrapbook. So I just, I don't put too much thought into about what I'm saying or how often I say it. Like my biggest thing is that I want people to go on there and see ideas. Or to be able to, the one thing that I do every week is I post my schedule of where they can find me because I don't have a brick and mortar.

I feel like that's the biggest question that people have is where can I find you and when can I find you? So that is the one thing that I do every week is I just post a story from my location. And so I think that that is, but then if I have something exciting that I want to share, like. This is why I don't do social media.

I'll give you a good example. I put together a picture of my new bangle that I'm trying, that I like totally just like tried it on my own, figured it out, like based on what I've seen your pictures. And I have spent probably 11 hours trying to make and post these pictures. I'm like, I'm not kidding you.

Like that's not an exaggeration. That's not just opening Canva, sitting down when I don't have kids interrupting me, or, Mom, can I play a game on your phone? Or somebody calls me, or, like, things, texts are popping up, and I get distracted. Like, I genuinely have, and it's not even posted yet. I have not even submitted this post.

I have gotten to where I had to type out the description of what I'm posting, and I've given up, like, five times. So I don't even know if this post is, like, saved somewhere, but I just need to put, like, Bangles coming soon. Connected by a permanent chain. Come find me at a market. Legit. Please do that. So do you feel like, yeah, do you feel like you overthink it?

Way overthink it. I'm like, I don't know if that was a question you had to answer, but yes. So this is my, I know I have gone into many phases with social media, even again, prior to permanent jewelry with my, you know, You know, other, which don't be wrong. I even have someone helping with social and I still struggle with being consistent.

I do feel like I'm the most consistent in my story. So at least I'm showing up there. And I feel like I get, everyone has different experiences. Like for me, I get more, more engagement in my stories than I do. If I put a post, I think it is helpful for the way I see it is like your feed is, I want it to be like a catalog, you know what I'm saying?

Where someone can like. Easily look at it within 10 seconds and see kind of your vibe and what you offer. Right. If they want to get to know me more, they're going to go on my stories. I do share like my girls here and there and funny things that happen. And I do like to like connect with my customer there, but that's me.

See, I don't do as many, I don't do markets in the way that you do. So I feel like you're finding and you're connecting with people that way. My way is I feel like I am getting a lot of people finding my Instagram and then they'll get to know me and my stories. Do you know what I'm saying? So I feel like everyone has their own way.

And I, that's why I want to make clear, because I think we go right to being in this day and age, like you have to be on social or you have to like post so many times a day, or you have to have a story on all the time, but really it just depends on like how you want to structure your business and what feels good to you.

Like for you, you realize you love markets and that's kind of where you are meeting your people. That's a good point. Yeah, I think that the majority of my followers have not just been, like, happened to come across my profile because I'm really consistent and Instagram, like, pushes my algorithm. You're right.

Most of, like, in one given day, I will have, like, 50 new followers and then I won't have any until the next big market I do. You're right. I, I really shouldn't stress so much about. Posting consistently or whatever, because that's not how I find money. Yeah. I mean, you're putting effort into your business, but in a different way than I am, right?

Like I choose not to do markets because I did market so much with my previous business. I'm kind of burned out from them. Like, I, I loved them when I would did it, but then now I'm like, meh, like, I'd rather just stick to doing. Try to push parties. And I do like more pop ups inside of like shops and things like that.

Like, that's my vibe. Like, you know, you're putting out such an amazing, you know, connecting with your community in a different way, but also like, I think I got to a point with social too, where I did put so much pressure on myself and I'm like, you know what, I just, if this is not fun, we shouldn't be doing it.

That's how I feel like, you know what I mean? And if it's not fun too, then maybe, you know, I know it's hard. And like you said, it's expensive, but whether you can like even find a young Person that's a really good at social that wants to do it for like a small fee. I mean, there are ways to work around it and not have to let go of that control too, which is hard for me.

I think that I have a hard time just because I don't, because I want it to be genuine. I don't want it to be like this clean. You know, I don't want somebody to come to my Instagram page and be like, Oh, she's perfect. I'm leaving. Like I am, I'm very, very open, honest, genuine. Like I never want somebody to come to me and get it.

picture of that. Like it's too clean cut for them. I am a mom and which is doesn't show me in the right light right now because I actually got up and got ready today. But you know, I roll up to markets like this often because I want to like represent my brand well to strangers. Um, but to give you an idea of my, about one of my really good friends came to a market looking for me to get her son's, her and her son have a matching bracelet.

Then she was standing in front of my booth and she was like, where is she? And she actually called me and I answered my phone and she was like, Oh my gosh, I didn't even recognize you. Like she, my good friend, who I see like weekly, sometimes multiple times a week. I went to my booth and didn't recognize me, like, so two things, like, you know, I want to put up like a good, like brand representation when I'm at a market, but I also want it to be like my social media.

I want it to be for moms like me who are in like haven't showered in days and haven't changed their clothes and their houses and grass and, but wearing jewelry. I think what really sold me on permanent jewelry was two years ago in the fall my son got RSV and I was in the hospital holding him and I was just covered in his mucus and he was on a breathing tube and he was connected to all these wires like I couldn't put him down and I just sat in a chair and hold held him for three days while we weren't sure if he was coming or going like it was really scary but I had my permanent necklace on and I And it's so silly, but that little thing like made me feel put together for a few days while I didn't have any other self care in the world other than a nurse, like holding him while he cried while I got to the, go to the bathroom a few times and get, it really was the thing that just, and it's in one of my pictures and.

My uncle actually painted a picture. I took a picture of my husband. It was a really rough night. His levels kept going up and down. And I took a picture in the morning. I was completely exhausted. He could see my necklace and you could see my bracelet on his back. Well, I helped him. My uncle painted that and he painted this jewelry and.

I just, every time I look at it, it's so special to me because it seems so silly, but it really is, you know, going to the hospital, I wouldn't have been like, Oh, I need to put my necklace on because I need to feel put to, like it was just there and it was this shiny piece. And it just really, I'll always remember that as one of the very first times that I really fell in love with permanent jewelry.

That was before I even had my business. That's amazing. And of course, like people are getting pieces as we know already in either memory of someone or dedicated to their kids or birthstone of their kids or whatever. But in your instance, it's almost like you just, it was a source of you feeling kind of like put together in this really, like really difficult moment and most difficult maybe of your life.

And now that's kind of associated with that in a way it's like connected to that moment a little bit. So now it's like, that has a different connection because that kind of kept you, there was some, you know, Source of like comfort in that knowing that it was like self care and self care. Exactly. Yes. I love that.

And that's what's so crazy. So like, yeah, my, my feed isn't full of like, cause I can relate like to again, the hot mess mom who, you know, but yeah, I always have an amazing stack on, even if I'm wearing a shirt that has a stain on it for my girls, like spilling something on, you know, but it's like, I remember this one.

Girl so sweet came to see me and she was a first time customer. And she's like, I came to your Instagram. I don't know how I got there, but I looked at your stories and she's like, I'm so glad that you posted this. And I was like, yep, I'm going to see her. I booked appointment right away because my story was me trying out one of those curling irons that like suck up your hair, like a vacuum.

And I got stuck and I couldn't get it out of my hair. And I have both girls like yelling at me and like, I had the one to put a Frisbee over the fence. So I'm like, literally was scared to take it out of my hair because I was like, going to rip out my hair. It was like stuck. And so I'm like, okay, Jordan will be home any minute, maybe you can help me get this out of my hair.

So I'm like, literally took a video of me going next door to try to find a Frisbee with this like curling iron, like hanging from my hair and like my oldest gets like so worried about she's like, mom, will it ever come out? Like it was just so much drama. And you're like, I really don't know. I might lose half my hair.

I don't know, but it was just so funny. Cause like the chain, like sharing that real life, like hot mess moment. She's like, I knew you were my girl. Like, I'm going to go see you get for me. So it's like, yeah, it's just, it's sharing that bits of yourself. Cause again, someone's gonna relate to you and like, and want to, you know, and just know you, they feel like they know you through those things.

And like, okay, I can relate, but yet. I'm a hot mess mom that also wants to feel put together. So yes, exactly. That's the perfect way to say it. That's a, that's a, like my caption on my description on Instagram should be like a hot mess mom who wants to feel put together. I changed that tagline now. Okay. I love it.

Well, what advice would you give to someone just starting out with permanent jewelry? Um, I actually just gave it to somebody the other day. Somebody asked me at a market how I got started and I, you know, I'm very honest, so I told them and I didn't want to, but I did, I said, find something that sets you apart, like find, you know, like the permanent earrings that everybody's doing that, like, if that's what, It inspires you to do that, like just find something, one thing, it can be a chain that nobody else has.

It can be the color of your booth. I mean, my sister, I actually talked into starting permanent jewelry and she lives like three and a half hours away from me. She has a salon. She sent me a picture of her booth and it's like, it was literally a hot pink tent with a neon purple tablecloth. I mean like, like eccentric colors, but when you walk by her booth, you're not going to miss it.

And her name of her business is never go naked. So never go naked nails and never go naked jewelry. Like she's like, we can be more different, but we both rock at what we do for completely different reasons. Like, so find something, one thing that sets you apart from everything else, whether it's like the color of your booth.

Or something that you sell that nobody else does. Yeah. And that's like the whole thing with maybe another permanent jeweler. Like for instance, say she was at the same event you were at, right? Someone is going to resonate more with that and then more with you. You know what I mean? So that's, what's so important about showing.

You are branding really being clear about like being intentional with your business is because you're going to attract that person. And it's also okay to make mistakes along the way and not do a perfect. I mean, I changed my name three times. I made so many different banners of my business in designs and colors and names.

I mean, it really took me, I'm really happy with where I am right now, but I failed a lot getting to that point. And that's okay. To figure out what you want and what inspires you. It's not going to come perfect overnight and just go with it until you, you know, you'll figure it out along the way. And I feel like I see certain themes in people that I talk to when it comes to feeling like the growth of their business and the success of their business.

And so one thing I do want to mention the fact that you went to PJX, right? So you went to PJX, not even, well, I guess like a full year into your business, maybe almost, but what made you decide to take that leap and go? Cause you came alone. You know what I mean? I think people are to go to something like that.

Obviously you had your family in a hotel room, but Essentially, you came alone, right, to classes and whatnot. I think people are like a little fearful, especially like they don't, don't know anybody to go to Vegas by themselves, to go to these classes by themselves, but like what urged you and what made it important for you to go to PJX?

So I think actually my husband was the one who mentioned it to me. So I live about four hours from the Sunstone like warehouse in Northern. So they're in Northern Utah and Southern Utah. My husband travels for ATVs and so I had him pick up some. Some gas tanks for me from Sunstone and he saw it on their, on their door.

Well, he, we used to, he used to manage massage and bees here in Southern Utah. And so he had to go like they was managed to really had to go to massage and be conferences once a year, but he learned how valuable they were. He knew that the classes, the. Connections, the ideas, the things that you walked away from those, like he has his MBA.

And so he, when he was managing those and he would go and anyway, so he just knew how valuable those would be. And so he mentioned it to me and I looked it up and it was 800. And I was in shock. My small business can't afford that. We're going to afford it. And he was like, we'll figure it out. Like he just was so nonchalant about it because he believed in it then.

So I waited probably two more months. And basically nothing better came up during that. I booked it and I was really excited about it, but I had never been to a massage and we conference. Like I didn't know what it was going to be or like, I was really overwhelmed. I walked into that casino on the complete opposite end.

It took me like 30 minutes to get to the right end of the casino to find where PJX was. I walked in the doors and just. Checked in and then there was a girl walking by and I was like, Hey, do you know what classes you're doing? And she was like, no, I have no idea. So we sat down and we like mapped out our classes together and we hung out that whole weekend.

So I think that's awesome. And I made two or three other friends that way. Like she was going to a class I didn't want to go to. And so I sat down and I just started talking to the person next to me. And we like, we have this group chat now where we're like, Hey, what do you guys do in this situation? What do you do in this situation?

Like We've gained so much knowledge and everything from that connection. So I don't regret it. I will go again, but it wasn't like a no brainer for me. I really had to think about it and I wasn't fooled on it. Yes. Well, yeah, I love, I love that you're sharing that story. Cause I think a lot of people were in that boat and a lot of people I talked to that didn't go, they're like, okay, for sure.

I keep hearing about it. I want to go next year. Cause not whether it's PJX, I mean, of course, like again, being an entrepreneur now for 10 years, I have to say when I opened myself up to things like that, that's when my business changed. And the connections I made, that's when my business majorly changed.

Like even with you, I know you were invited, but being part of that, like local, like networking group, whatever you call it, like things like that can totally just improve and just the connections alone is literally what I think sets your business apart and kind of Scales your business faster than if you were to try to do everything by yourself.

I think going to like local, you know, what are the chamber of commerce are great. But I think actually I changed my answer to what I would recommend to somebody just starting in this business. I would actually recommend finding a group like that, where you collaborate with each other. You know? Because now that I, like, I'm sitting here thinking about it, my Biggest events like my most profitable events have them from those connections.

Those people have helped me get into and book, you know, private parties. My biggest private party came from the photographer who is it of that collaboration and the downtown market like, like all of it, it all came from those collaborations. And even like the second market that I got into actually came from somebody in that group posting, Hey, has anyone heard about this new market?

What do you think about it? Yeah. Yeah. So all of my events have come from that group. So find something that sets you apart, but collaborate and even more so than just like a chamber of commerce, like honestly, just go to a downtown market or something and just be like, Hey, would you want to support each other?

Who's going to say no, I know. I mean, and I exactly, I was going to say, if you can't find it, start it yourself, you know, but whether most people have like a local Facebook group of some, of some sort, right. If they're like your town or city or, because I've even for me myself, I am an owner of a gym over here.

We're talking about doing kind of the same concept you're talking about, but kind of a, not really a networking group. I hate to use that word. I don't know why it just, I feel like it's more of a business mastermind. But at the same time, like, so we talk about collaboration, exactly. Like collabing and like just really supporting each other in our small businesses.

And so, yeah, I think there's, there's nothing that beats that. And even the permanent jewelers you met, just how you're helping each other in your businesses or say they found something that you would want to add or. You know, just kind of how much you're improving your business just by just by those relationships, I think alone, because that's my experience, meaning other business owners and a business mastermind totally just skyrocketed my ideas and my inspiration.

And you know what I mean? So it's It's really a domino effect for sure, like what can happen after events like that. Well, I'm completely inspired by you. People ask me all the time if Chained and Charmed is a franchise. And I was like, no, I don't even know how to do that, but I would love for it to be.

Hearing you say, I didn't even know you owned a gym. Oh, no, sorry. No, I'm going to collab with a gym owner. We're going to go in together like, yeah, no, I can't do that. No, but no, I'm going to collab with another business owner in this area and like, start that group. Yeah, I'm not a self starter. I'm not a self thinker.

Like I really have to talk it through and, and work it through all the details with somebody. And, um, I think that the collaboration really has skyrocketed my business. I would not be, I would be like this tiny little. business with like 200 followers without that group. Do you mind sharing like what has been your biggest like event so far?

So my biggest single day event, like single day, me working by myself, I was not expecting to be busy, was in Cedar City. And Cedar City is like half the town of St. George. Like it's really little. Um, I signed up for the 4th of July, so it was just barely. And I did like 2, 700 in one by myself in four hours.

And I, I had my waiting bench. I probably had 10 or 11 people like laying around my booth, just waiting to get their permanent jewelry done. So just, I love doing events like that, like single day events, you know, multiple day events like fairs and stuff, but it's so draining and you're there by yourself, you can't leave your booth without some of it, like.

Asking somebody to watch it. So I think those single day events are really powerful for me to just jump in there. And permanent jewelry is popular enough where I am that people know what it is, but it's still like a hot commodity, especially when you have something that nobody else has for sure. Do you have like a monthly goal, like a monetary goal or do you kind of just, do you feel like it's pretty consistent at this point with how, you know, what you're bringing in?

I don't have any goals just because I genuinely don't even have time to track. Like, I can't even tell you how much I've made total this year. Like it's, it is just all over the place. And, you know, I sit down at my computer and my seven month old is like banging on the keys and my two year old is peeing on the couch and my nine and seven year old are like tearing each other apart.

Like, I, that is definitely something that I struggle with is like, you know, I, I still haven't turned in like my tax papers for like the past three events that I've done. I need to, and they keep sending me emails that I will be banned from future events. But I really struggle with the paperwork of it. My husband often takes over that for me because he pulls out his phone and everyone leaves him alone.

But I pull out my phone and everybody's like, can I play a game? Can I blah, blah, blah, blah. We could talk about that all day. I know there's such a difference between moms and dads. I don't know what it is. It's like when dad's around, they're like, yeah, you know, I'm at an event there with dad. He's like, Oh, they were chill.

As soon as I get home, like they start crying and tantrum. It's mom, mom, mom, every two seconds. He's like, man, they've just been playing by themselves nicely for you. I'm so happy for you. Weird. But no, you're not alone. I love that you're honest about that because I feel like with the tech stuff, especially someone starting a business too.

And I know I mentioned this a couple of times cause I'm in the eye. Can relate to that, not setting things up or like taxes and worrying about the numbers and all the things, you know, it's kind of like a second thought when really it has to be obviously a forefront of your thoughts. Um, but it's a, it's something that I also will let go, you know, and be the last thing I, cause like you said, there's so many other things, especially when you have, again, yeah, little ones that you can't just focus when you're with them that can easily be put to the wayside, not be a first priority.

So you're not alone. We'll get there. I know. Exactly. It's nothing's ever perfect. That's for sure. Especially when you're a one woman show. But that's amazing. So thank you for hanging out today. I loved meeting you at PJX. I knew I had to chat with you further. It's so good to hang out and hear more about your business and your life.

Yeah. Thank you. That was fun. It was fun to put some of those things like really out there, the things that just kind of flow in my mind and some of those goals, I think even just some of the question prompts that you sent this week, I was like, Oh, I'm not sure that I've ever, like, I don't have a goal of like one to five years.

Like I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing. So I know. It's fun. And that is great. It's so funny, but I think that it is good to check in because I think we just go on autopilot, but in the best way, like, you know, if you're happy doing what you're doing, that's great. That's great. You know, but. Sometimes, I think sometimes we do it too, but then we don't check in and say, oh yeah, do I still really like doing this?

You know what I mean? Because sometimes you just keep doing what you're doing without like checking in with yourself. Familiar. Yeah. Yeah. And be like, all right, yeah. Where do I want this to go? Like, do I love still doing markets? Do I, you know? 'cause who knows that for you could change like in Oh, it definitely could.

Yeah. Yeah. So you never know where it can lead, but I'm excited to see where it leads, for sure. Yeah. I currently have three welding machines contemplating getting a fourth. Like I run faster than I probably have energy for. That's a lot of growth in a year, girl. It's fun. It's so fun. And I love, you know, like we talked about supporting other moms to other, other people, other businesses.

And so it's fun. So thank you for having me. Thank you. And from your podcast and from you. Oh, thank you. All right. We'll talk soon. Well, how do you feel? I hope you found value in today's episode and you walk away feeling inspired. I would love to hear from you. Let's link up. You can find me on Instagram at GoldieLinkSociety.

You can find out more about our permanent jewelry membership at GoldieLinkSociety. com, our handmade permanent jewelry supplies of connectors, chain, and more at GoldieLinkSupplies. com. Okay, I will see you next time. Have a golden day.