SPEAKER_01
Welcome to the Jewelry Business Academy podcast. I'm your host, Robin Clark, and if you're a jewelry business owner looking to break through to the next level, then my courses, coaching programs and podcast are for you. You'll learn how to overcome the biggest challenges in your business and build and scale your business with as much ease and simplicity as possible.
I'm here to inspire and guide you with weekly episodes with ambitious entrepreneurs where we chat about everything from marketing, mindset and sales to life as an entrepreneur and more. There will be lots of actionable tips for you to level up your business, your mindset and your life. And let's face it, you can apply all of these strategies to any product-based business.
I'm so glad you're here. Let's dive in. Hello and welcome back to the Jewelry Business Academy podcast.
I'm so happy to be here with you today. I'm busy recording in my little studio at home and it's just been such a beautiful day and such a bit of beautiful week. Summer's definitely here and it definitely has helped me focus on my business even more and really be more productive in my business, which I think is the same for a lot of business owners.
When the weather gets nice and you want to be outside more, it really forces you to be productive when you are sitting down to work in your business so that you can enjoy time outside in the summer. So I'm really excited. I've got a few things to share with you today.
The first little thing I want to let you know about is that I now have a brand new avenue within the Jewelry Business Academy, which has been created especially for jewelry business owners who are not yet full-time. So it's really for the jewelry business owners who have had their business on the side. It's been a hobby and they would love to in a year or two's time go full-time with that business.
And so this is an avenue within the Jewelry Business Academy, which has been created just for you to support you on that journey and also keep in mind the fact that you may have limited time to be investing in your business at this stage. So I'll share a little bit more about that at the end of the podcast. And I will also share a little bit more about the one-on-one spots within the academy because we are busy filling up a little waiting list for July, which is very exciting.
So stay till the end to hear more about the program and more about the new avenue. So I am really excited to bring today's episode to you. I was very excited to record this one because our guest is extra special this week.
Our guest for the podcast is Olivia Ewing Shoemaker. And Olivia is not only an incredibly talented jewelry designer and entrepreneur, but she is also a very dear client of mine. So Olivia is a jewelry designer, the creator of Olivia Ewing Jewelry, and she's really well known for her nature inspired engagement rings.
So we talked about so much during our time together. It was honestly such a wonderful conversation. And she has such an incredibly inspiring story, which I know all jewelry business owners out there are really going to enjoy.
Olivia shares how she moved from the corporate fashion world to become a full-time jewelry designer, the inspiration behind her brand, and how to start your jewelry business on the side of your full-time job before you transition to full-time. We chatted about all of this and the importance of hard work, perseverance, and listening to your customers when developing your brand, how to build solid foundations in your jewelry business. And Olivia's one piece of advice for jewelry brands starting out.
We chat a little bit about motherhood and entrepreneurship. Olivia has two beautiful children at home. And we just chat a little bit about how she has found the perfect balance with her business and her family and her recommendations for others looking to do the same.
We chat about the importance of having clarity and having focus to increase your productivity when you're working on your business. And we chat around the process of outsourcing tasks in business and the importance of learning to let go. We chat about all this and so much more hiring team members, the most memorable moments in Olivia's journey, imposter syndrome, and how to overcome it, the best way to do market research in your jewelry business, how to overcome burnout, the importance of learning to work smart, why it's so important to have different outlets and hobbies in your life apart from your jewelry business, and how Olivia keeps her focus on her goals in her business.
Olivia has also been a part of my program, the Jewelry Business Academy, and she shares a little bit more about her experience of being a part of the academy and how it's helped her get more organized and focused and ready to hone in on her goals in her business. She also shares how the accountability within the program has really helped her enormously in her business, and she shares her advice for jewelry business owners wanting to go full full time and the importance of not underselling yourself and understanding your worth. So we covered so much during our conversation.
It was honestly so much fun chatting to Olivia. I loved it and I know that you're going to really love it and you're going to learn so much from her story. So I'll dive right in and if you have any feedback or if you enjoyed this episode, please send me a DM on Instagram.
It's Robin Clark Coaching or tag me on your stories. I'd love to see your favorite takeaways from this episode. Olivia, it's so good to have you on the Jewelry Business Academy podcast today.
Thanks so much for joining me. Thank you for having me. Yeah, I'm so excited to have you here today.
I've been looking forward to this episode for a while now. And this is a really extra special episode because I've been working with you for a few months and I know you and your business really well. And I know that your story is really going to inspire so many jewelry business owners who are just starting out and even those who've been going for years.
So yeah, I'm really excited to have you here and for you to share your story. Thank you. Yeah,
SPEAKER_00
I'm very excited to be here. Listening to some of your podcasts and I'm excited to be a guest. I'm honored to be to be chosen to.
So thank you. Oh, amazing. Yeah, I'm super
SPEAKER_01
excited for everyone to listen to this. So before we dive into all my questions, do you want to go ahead and introduce yourself to our listeners and just share a little bit of your background and how you got to where you are today? Sure. So my name is Olivia
SPEAKER_00
Shoemaker. My business is Olivia Ewing Jewelry. Ewing is my family name, so family middle name.
So so I got the brand name. I started my business about 10 years ago while working full time in fashion. So I came from I came from a fashion background.
I studied up Parsons. I always wanted to go into wedding dresses, actually, I've always really loved the wedding industry. I don't I like love the idea of creating something special for the remembered for the rest of your life.
And I love dresses. But the fashion industry wasn't really for me because I like working with my hands. And so when I was working full time, I started to just sort of think around with jewelry, take some extra classes here and there.
I started in Brooklyn at the time. So that was really easy to do. And I started with an Etsy shop in 2012.
And things just kind of exploded from there. Yeah. That's incredible. Okay,
SPEAKER_01
so I have lots of questions about that. But do you want to tell everyone a little bit more about your brand? What inspired you to create your pieces? Your pieces are incredibly unique and so so meaningful. And so I'd love if you could just share a little bit more about your inspiration and and the types of jewelry that you're making.
SPEAKER_00
Sure. So all of my jewelry is inspired by nature. I've actually never been like a huge jewelry person myself, but I do love I love nature.
I love taking hikes and walks. And I've always collected little like twigs and shells. And when I first started making jewelry, I discovered that you can you can literally cast any organic material.
So it was like, that's so cool. I can cast twigs, I can pass my collection. So that's sort of how the inspiration came.
I started to just cast like twigs and moss and lichen and all sorts of things and kind of figure out what worked and what what made sense in metal. And so all everything is made out of twigs and bark in solid gold, but it starts from twigs. And the style is just like very low key.
I don't like I like jewelry that you can just like my jewelry. I've had the same pieces on probably for 12 years. I don't change my jewelry.
I just like jewelry that you can just live in and wear and not think about it's not like a fashion thing that matches your outfit is just something that matches your personality and who you
SPEAKER_01
are and you just keep it on. So I love that. I love that.
Yeah, your pieces are truly unique and they're so timeless and so meaningful. So we'll definitely we'll link your pages in the show notes. Because anyone listening, you definitely want to take a look at these rings.
They're just beautiful. And I love the stories behind them as well with all of your couples. So I want to dive back to when you were working in the corporate world in the fashion industry, and you started and you decided to start your own business.
Can you take us back to that time and just share the thought process of leaving the corporate world to start your own jewelry business? What was that like? And what would your advice be for a listener who is in a very similar position as you? Maybe they're even in the fashion industry and they thought this was their dream job and now they're feeling a little bit disappointed by the reality of how the fashion industry works at that level. And they wanting to go out on their own and they wanting to really use their design passion in a different way. And they just don't know how to start.
What would be your advice for
SPEAKER_00
them? So I didn't leave and then start. I started and it was a lot, it was very hard work for, I think there was about two years that I overlapped with my full-time job. I worked until one in the morning.
I got up and worked. I worked on my lunch breaks. I worked all weekend.
It was just non-stop. Because I knew where I was. I was in a bad personal situation.
I didn't like living in New York and I didn't like my job. So it was like something has to change. So that really gave me a lot of motivation to just figure something else out.
And for me, making things is like really a creative, it's a stress relief and it's an outlet. And so I spent a lot of time just making and anybody that knows my jewelry, if they saw where I started, they'd be like, that's not you at all. It
SPEAKER_01
was really bad.
SPEAKER_00
I doubt it. It was completely different. I had absolutely no money.
So I started working in silver, like a few silver pieces and brass. I had no gold. I had no diamonds.
I had no money. But it was just a lot of hard work. Like every single dollar I made, I would, you know, I got $300.
Then I would spend that to do two gold rings that I could afford for $300. And then it's just a lot of hard work and perseverance and listening to your customers. I never actually intended to go into engagement rings, but I was able to make one and people loved it.
And it was not even the style that I thought would take off or anything. It was just something that I made. But I just listening to your customers getting a lot of feedback.
I don't know if I necessarily recommend it, but I did a lot of very low price custom work, but that helped me. And confidence. Well, it helped me build up my inventory and build up my catalog.
So that custom work, like somebody was paying for me to create a style where I knew that was going to sell. And then I could also add it to my shop and it was just adding new styles to the shop. Basically for free.
Like they were getting it for free pretty much. They got a great deal. Wow. Yeah, or just, you know, very tiny bit of money, but it helped me help practice and then also helped me build items into my shop. And just, yeah, just really putting all of your effort into it.
I remember people, a lot of coworkers used to say, oh, I'm so jealous. I really wish I could do that too. And then they would go out to bars and clubs.
You know, I would love to have a social life. I don't have any friends right now. And now I do.
It's great. 10 years later, I have a whole family. So it's wonderful when it was worth it, but it's just a lot, a lot of work in the beginning and just really a lot of trial and error, just figuring out, figuring out what's going to work for you.
SPEAKER_01
I love that. And, you know, I think a lot of people don't realize how much work it is starting a business. You know, it's always going to be work.
But the first few years, if you're trying to go full time, is a significant amount of work and energy that is required. And I love that you just took action, even though you went 100% sure which style of designs you were wanting to go into. And I think a lot of people get stuck behind not being 100% sure which direction they want their business to go into that they never take action.
And the key is really take action and get inspiration and get feedback as you go and let your brand develop organically like that.
SPEAKER_00
So I really, I think I read a blog or something at the time that just gave the advice like, when you're starting a business, everybody wants everything to be perfect. And so they never start. Just what you have.
So I mean, my first photos were from like, this little Casio, like I didn't even have a smartphone. So it was like, you know, terrible photos on like construction paper. But it's all something.
So you know, just like you just get it out there and then you get, you just refine as you go. But I think there's a lot of pressure on yourself to say like, okay, I have to start with like this amazing collection of jewelry right off the bat. Yeah. And it's always the money, honestly, like years later, I was like, okay, I'm going to like sort of change my style and do this whole, I spent tons of money doing this whole new collection and it didn't sell. Yeah. So it's not really worth it. You know, it's better to get feedback as you go along until you're bigger and kind of really understand your market.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. And that's actually, I love that you shared that because it's such a good reminder for new jewelry business owners who are listening to this. I see them go and get a full collection ready to launch and invest in $10,000 websites and invest in photographers and models and all of this and they launch and they don't get sales.
And it's heartbreaking to see, but the reality is like your approach of spending what you've earned and starting really slowly built such good solid foundations in your business and gave you the time as well to develop your designs and all of that. So I really love that approach and it's such a good reminder for everyone. You can't always just start off the bat with the winning collection.
It takes
SPEAKER_00
a little bit of time. And it's really good. Etsy is a great platform to launch small.
You can launch like three pieces and you'll still get seen. And it's not like you're going to have this weird empty website that doesn't look good. It goes in with everyone else's pieces and it's a really good way to start.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. So you've been on Etsy for almost 10 years now. I know now you have your own sites as well, but what would be your one piece of advice for somebody who is starting off on
SPEAKER_00
Etsy? I guess really research how their algorithm works and how their SEO works just to make sure that what you're putting on there is actually getting seen by the right people. So then you can get the feedback that you know that you need for each piece. It's tricky and I don't, my main shop is off of Etsy, but it's still a good place to get seen by a certain type of buyer that doesn't know how to find you elsewhere.
SPEAKER_01
Oh, yes, definitely. Amazing. Okay. So I just would love to touch a little bit on motherhood and entrepreneurship because I know you have two beautiful children and you have this thriving business and you have a really beautiful balance of motherhood and entrepreneurship, which I know a lot of people, it's their dream life that you've kind of created. So would you be open to sharing a little bit more about how you found the best balance for you and your family and your one piece of advice for somebody who's listening to this who would love to eventually have more time with their family and a thriving business and just be able to balance it all.
SPEAKER_00
Sure. So I will say the one, my biggest motivator in leaving the fashion industry was just looking around and knowing that I could never be a stay at home mother and work in fashion because it just, this is completely incompatible. And I knew I always wanted to be a stay at home mother.
My kids, my daughter is about to turn four. They don't go to daycare and they don't go to preschool or anything. My son is two, two small family.
But I'm with them. I'm home with them. I work in my, I work in my home.
So I have an office upstairs and my daughter is just, she's a little bit old enough that she can kind of help me. But I do have some extra help that comes in like almost two days a week. But in order to like balance everything, you just have to be very focused and like very on task and know what I need to get done each week.
And before I was a mother, I was sort of just sit at my desk and wait for inspiration. Like watch TV while I worked. Yeah. You know, it was very nice, very relaxing and 40 hours a week really to do that. So it was great.
But once I became a mother, it was, it was a steep learning curve because I had no idea what to expect. Luckily, they sort of asleep a lot in the beginning. So I kind of eased into like just when like, when my first just had my daughter, it's like, okay, she's down for her three hour nap.
Like, I'm going to get shit to do. Like, I have to know what to do, line it all up and like, you just have to be very, very organized and just really know focused, very focused. Yeah. And it is impossible. Luckily, I was, had my business well established before having children.
I actually, the week I met my husband, I had just quit my job four days earlier and he was probably not like, like, what is she doing? Oh my goodness. So funny. Yeah. So that all kind of worked out great because he didn't live in New York. And so I sort of seamlessly transitioned to my life out in the country and getting married and having kids.
But yeah, I think it's tough if you're starting out because it is a lot of work, but just really take advantage of nap times, grandmothers. There's, I mean, there's still nights that I put them to bed and then I work until midnight. It's just very busy.
So but it's just my priority to make sure I can stay with them as much as possible until they're older. So
SPEAKER_01
I love that. I love that. I'm not such good advice.
Like it's definitely a challenge, but I think it's really inspiring for people to see that it can be done. You know, it does take a lot of work to get there, but it can be done. Can be done.
I will say my biggest
SPEAKER_00
down until about 10 months ago, I didn't have any help. My mother comes a few hours a week, but other than that had no help. And my daughter is four, so she stopped napping.
And finally, I never wanted to do this, but I'm going to hire a babysitter. And it's the best decision I ever made because then that just gives me like a little bit of time. She's only here one and a half days, but it's like that.
I know I have about one and a half days of focus or uninterrupted. The kids are, you know, the kids are occupied and safe and fine. Yeah. And they still at home with you. So they're still at home.
They still have them. You've seen them at a lot of meetings. Yeah. They're so cute. They're always in and out.
They know I'm here and I go lunchtime. I eat lunch with them. And so there's, I still have that mother time, but it's very helpful if you can get help.
Having help to just know like this is your time to work and then just focus out that time. I love that. That kind of brings
SPEAKER_01
me to another thing I'd love to chat a little bit about is, you know, building a team and outsourcing tasks and hiring VA's and all of that, which I know you've done a lot of that over the years. Can you talk a little bit about the process of outsourcing tasks in your business and any mindset shifts that you had to make? Did you struggle to let go of aspects of your business at any stage? And what advice would you have to somebody who's feeling the same way? It's like, my business is my baby. I can't trust anyone
SPEAKER_00
with all these little aspects. So when I lived, I've gone through different stages in my business. I would say about six years ago, I had somebody who would come into the studio in New York and help me and she would do production work.
That to me was a lot easier because I was there seeing everything she was doing. She's a talented jeweler and she was great. After I moved out of New York, it's a lot harder where I am because there's just not an abundance of jewelers, which is not in that area.
So I didn't have any help until recently, actually with your encouragement. I just recently hired two people and it was very hard for me. It was also a great decision because it's definitely a mindset thing.
I'm just like, nobody else knows how to do this. Nobody else can do it as well as me. But the flip side of that was I wasn't doing it because I didn't have time.
So maybe I would do it the best, but it's better to have it done than just not ever get done. Because I had a backlog of two years worth of work, there's just not getting done. Now that I've hired two people, I'm actually much more confident working with other people.
I realize if you hire the right person, you talk to them, you realize that they're smart and they're talented in their area. And you give them time to learn and time to train. Yeah, one girl is working on all of my photos and my editing and getting photos onto my site.
And I gave her the first, I would say the first month she did work, but she also, I just said, just really study my website, study my products and know what you're working on. And don't worry about speed. And that was a really big help to just now I feel like she knows my style.
She knows the pieces. You can look at it and see, oh, that's a maple's ring. And just knowing that she knows that
SPEAKER_01
is a lot of confidence. Yeah, I love that you shared that because, you know, often when people hire somebody, they don't give them the time necessary to, to get good at the job, you know, you need people training time. So I love that you shared that because it does take time, especially with your pieces.
I mean, they're very detailed and stuff. So
SPEAKER_00
I think, right, I think you just give them a lot of feedback. And yeah, it's like, they have to really know, like, I've been working with my rings for 10 years. So I know, yeah, I know them right out.
And she had just seen them for the first time a month ago. So it's yeah, it's definitely a very steep learning curve. But as long as you give like the right support and feedback, I think it's worthwhile.
SPEAKER_01
And what would be your one piece of advice for somebody who is hiring or outsourcing for the first little task in their business? Is there something particular you look for? Do you look for a certain characteristic or personality trait? Like what is the one thing that you would recommend they look for?
SPEAKER_00
I would say, well, first I would recommend if you're hiring, especially if you're new, I would say that you should know the position very well yourself. Because that's very important. That is so important.
And I made the mistake early on, outsourcing like SEO and just things that I didn't understand. And so I didn't know enough to know that they were doing a bad job at the time.
SPEAKER_01
I love that you actually bought that app because that's a mistake so many people make. I made it in the early days as well, because there's aspects of the business where you're like, you know what, I'm just going to hand this right over to the professionals. Often it was ads.
I've done this with ads. And you're like, well, they know what they're doing. And not everyone knows what they're doing.
So you have to have a very good understanding before you outsource anything. So yeah, I'll go back to you with the characteristics.
SPEAKER_00
Even like website design, I did that with my first website. If you don't try to build on yourself, you don't have to know code, but if you don't understand how you want it to look and how you want it to operate, then you can't just hand it to some guy who lives it. Who builds a website.
Yeah, who builds a website. Like he builds a totally functional website for me, but it doesn't match. So yeah, but back to hiring.
My biggest one was just looking for people that that I could kind of see as a customer, I guess, not that they are customers, but just that had the same like they have the same sort of personality and vibe as me and as my brand. And obviously looking at past work, I hired a copywriter and I got tons of applications. I looked through everybody's work.
And when I read her work, it was just it was sort of just a really easy decision. Like she just had the right tone and vibe that I wanted for my site. But it did.
It took me about a week and a half to getting applications and meeting through everything to make the decision. So don't make any snappy decisions. Yeah, take your time.
Definitely. I did. I did interviews with both of them. I mean, they're both remote, but I did zoom interviews to just to get a feel for how they are as a person.
Make sure they're easy to work with because they might be really smart. But if they have some weird attitude or something or just don't like, you're just not on the same page. Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, to the work with them. You know what, I completely agree
SPEAKER_01
with you like personality to meet Trump's skills because skills can be taught depends what you're hiring them for, of course, but generally like you especially because we have our own businesses. The whole reason we did this is freedom and being able to choose who we work with and how we work and all of that. So personality plays a huge part in into hiring
SPEAKER_00
and who you're going to hire. So and I'll say that's for the two positions that are like taking over what I did personally. So that's like that's closer to my heart.
Yeah. When I hire for I have a great team now that does my website. I have an SEO team and I just hired an ads team.
That's more skill based. So that's talking to them, making sure they've worked with some in similar industries, similar brands. And I don't really care what their
SPEAKER_01
personality is, but they're true. At that level. Yeah, that's just like, as long as
SPEAKER_00
they get the job done. Yeah, that's more technical. So yeah.
But anything that's going to be touched on my actual website, I want to make sure they understand me who are on a personal level
SPEAKER_01
who I am. Oh, yes, for sure. Especially when it comes to copywriting and stuff like that.
Yeah, definitely. Okay, so what would you say I know you've probably had so many, but what would you say is one of the biggest highlights of your entrepreneurial journey
SPEAKER_00
over the last 10 years? I think of like the most memorable moments. I really early on, like, selling my first ring. I'll never forget that moment.
That was an engagement ring. It was actually just like a gold band. It was an engagement ring, but it was $300, which to me, I was like, cannot believe somebody was $300 and something I created.
And it was the proudest moment of my life. I love that. It was awesome.
I was at work at the time, I was setting up for like a trade show or something, and I was just like trying not to jump up and down. So proud. And to me, that means more than like, I mean, every sale is means something to me.
And I work, I know a lot of the customers and everything is very special, but like that first one is very special. And then my first engagement ring was also like, I still remember the guy I dropped it off to him personally. Oh, wow.
That was how it was back then. Like, I brought it to him in in Times Square, he was visiting from Mexico and it was like, it was just, I'll never forget him. I said, yeah, like all the little milestones in the beginning are just really, really memorable and special.
SPEAKER_01
I love that. You know, yeah, I guess your first sale, you never forget your first sale generally and especially such a special one. And it just, it gives you the push that you need to sort of keep going at the very beginning stages as well.
SPEAKER_00
Because like other people believe in you. Yeah. Even if you are not sure you believe
SPEAKER_01
in yourself yet. Yeah. And that's so important is, you know, you have to believe in yourself, but sometimes you just don't in the beginning. And so having other people believe in you in you at that stage does help a lot.
Yeah. And I think everybody always feels like sort
SPEAKER_00
of imposter next to other businesses. Oh, yeah. Oh, they're making no jewelry and I don't
SPEAKER_01
know what I'm doing. So I have a question about imposter syndrome. Like, is it something that you still experience to this day? Or was it just in the early days of your business? And what would your advice be to somebody who is experiencing it a lot at the moment?
SPEAKER_00
I do. I mean, I think everybody experiences it from time to time. When you're, I don't know, if it's just like evaluating your style and you see somebody else's more glamorous or something.
And definitely, I don't feel it as much as I did. One thing that really helped me, I don't know how many years ago, but I just stopped following other jewelers because you I find that like, in some ways they're good for inspiration, but it also it makes you feel like you have to be doing what they do because they're very successful instead of just following what you want and what you like and what your customers are asking for. It I don't it's I guess it's like the whole social media.
Like, it makes everybody feel like everyone else is doing so much better than you. And, you know, knows more and it's more popular. And just not playing into all that just sort of being in your own little bubble.
To an extent, you know, now I say now that I'm a little bit over it, I it's, it is good in a way to know what other people are doing. But when you're in that like initial stage where you just feel very insecure, just do your own thing and get your own audience because they already have an audience and that's for them.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, you know, that is such such good advice because there's so many jewelry businesses out there in any industry choose any industry, there's going to be thousands of businesses. And you know, it's so easy to get in the comparison game and be like, well, how do I stand a chance with all these other businesses doing all this amazing stuff out there? Whereas if you just spend all your time and energy and focus on your you and your business and what you're doing, you can actually be very successful, very successful.
SPEAKER_00
Right. There's a lot to space for everybody. Oh, yes.
Because there's tons of customers and it's more helpful just focusing on what customers are actually saying to you. That kind of feedback that you're getting and then just she's making much more beautiful jewelry.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. That is that is so true. Get the feedback from people who are paying you.
That's how you get the real feedback. You know, that to me is the best form of market research, doing market research before you launch a business, asking people hypothetically if they're going to pay this is not getting you the right data. So I think this is your customers is the best way.
So I'm assuming as a business owner, we've all had so many challenges over the years. Can you walk us through one of the biggest challenges you've faced in the past few years in your business and what sort of mindset work did you have to do and what would you recommend for somebody going through something similar?
SPEAKER_00
It's a tricky one. You don't have to share the details. No, I know I can't say I've had
SPEAKER_01
like any huge setbacks or issues. Even just like mindset, maybe at the beginning, did you have any doubts with your business? Did you have anyone? Did you have any anyone not supporting your business or not giving you nice feedback about things? How did you handle that?
SPEAKER_00
I will say I'm very lucky. Everybody in my family is very supportive of me. My husband, when he got over the initial shock, he started dating.
He's like my number one fan. Very supportive of me. I think my biggest critic is myself.
I mentioned earlier, six years ago or something, I guess going back to the imposter syndrome, my jewelry is not, it's not like a real engagement ring. I just felt like what I'm doing is not really jewelry or whatever. I made this whole new collection where it was not as dainty, not as much my style.
Just because of the little voice in my head, just saying, oh, you're not doing it right. Totally ignoring all the fact that I was getting consistent sales, that I was doing well in my business and all the customers like me, just, I don't know, just talking myself into feeling insubstantial. I made a big collection and none of it sold.
Customers are just continuing to buy the pieces that I'm known for. That was a huge, it was a big financial step back because it's a lot of money to launch a whole new collection. But it was also a very good learning experience.
I'm glad that it happened early on when it did happen. It just taught me to just listen to, don't listen to yourself, listen to what you're telling me.
SPEAKER_01
Well, I guess listen to yourself, but don't listen to that hesitation. Don't listen to the doubts and the criticism that you're giving. Listen to the creative pull and the good feelings you're getting, but don't act on thoughts that are doubting yourself in the direction you're going.
SPEAKER_00
Right. Yeah, listen, I mean, they're not even pieces that I wear. It's just, I don't know, some part of me just thought this is what real jewelry should look like.
It's just ridiculous because there is no one real jewelry.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. And your pieces are gorgeous. So I don't know why you'd ever thought that in the first place.
Okay, so can we chat a little bit more about mindset and entrepreneurship? As entrepreneurs, it's really easy to feel burnt out. And I know a lot of people, especially with everything that's gone on over the past two years, they're feeling a little bit burnt out. They're feeling tired.
A lot of them have lost their spark. A lot of designers are struggling to create. What would be your advice for them? Like what's something that's helped you over the past two years and what would be your advice to anyone going through something similar?
SPEAKER_00
So I think actually having my children really helps me with burnout because my life is so compartmentalized. So I work on Monday. I'm with my kids Tuesday.
I work Wednesday. I'm with them Thursday. I work Friday.
And then so it's very like broken up. And that really helps with burnout. But I don't think you have to have kids to do that.
I think you can just give yourself the freedom to take some time off, like go to yoga three days a week. And the more you work, it doesn't mean that you're going to get more done.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, I love that you said that.
SPEAKER_00
That is true. I think that's something a lot of corporate business owners have learned in the past two years, but you don't actually need to be working 40 hours a week. You just need to be working smart and productively in however many hours you have to work.
And if you're tired, you don't work well. So you think it's very critical to just make sure that you have a lot of space from your work and different things going on in your life, different different outlets.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, that is that is such good advice because, you know, I've I've done the same mistake years ago is my business was my only focus at one stage and and that leads to burnout. You know, you have to have other things going on. You have to have like hobbies or family or friends and you have to be very disciplined when you are working, I think, and and have those that set work time because otherwise you can work 24 seven when you're when you're
SPEAKER_00
starting out. And it's hard when you're like, my hobby is making jewelry. Like, I have other hobbies now that I had to develop.
My favorite thing to do is to work. I mean, like my husband goes on a business trip, I work until midnight every night. Like, I actually I really enjoy it, but it's not healthy and it's not in it's not recommended.
So I realize that you also have to you have to make yourself not do it even if you really feel the potent desire to do it sometimes.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, I love that you shared that I think a lot of jewelry business owners listening to that needed that reminder because, you know, a lot of designers go into it because they love making jewelry. So it is a hobby. It starts as a hobby and then becomes a business.
So then you do need to find more hobbies.
SPEAKER_00
Right, exactly. Even though it's lucky to have a job.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. Amazing. So I'm a huge believer in how you start your day affects your life.
So I'd love to know how you start your morning. What's your morning routine? How do you set yourself up for a successful day?
SPEAKER_00
My mornings are really chaos. Yeah. For a while, I was trying to wake up before everybody and I was great and just like having my morning to read and drink my tea. I'm not a morning person.
So usually now like I wake up because my daughter is like staring at me.
SPEAKER_01
It's a good alarm clock.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah. And then it's like then I got my son up and then everyone screamed me on the breakfast. So I believe that's true.
I'm not a good example. Yeah. My mornings are crazy, but I do try to take like the first one. I actually start my work day, which is like on depending on the day, it's not more different times.
Yeah. Different times of the day. Like Monday, I started 11am.
Wednesday, I started at 1pm. So, but I take the first 10 minutes to just focus, organize my emails. I'm very like type A.
So if I have any, like a big number of my emails on red that like really stresses me out. So everything I just get everything very organized and make sure zero inbox and orders are organized. And then I usually after that start with something that I like to do.
So then work on a piece of jewelry and maybe listen to a news podcast just like easing to it.
SPEAKER_01
I love that. Yeah. I will say you're very organized. Like, you know, I know a lot of jewelry business owners and a lot of designers and, you know, often that creative creativity doesn't and not a lot of people have the creativity and the organization, but you have both.
So it's it's really incredible. And that's why you've been so successful as well. So yeah, I love that.
So with everything that you have going on, your children, your business, or your customers, how do you keep your focus? How do you hone in on your goals and just stay on track in your business? Well, you've helped me with that a lot.
SPEAKER_00
Amazing. Definitely helps to have somebody to talk to. Yeah. And just like get yourself away from the day to day and like, you know, zoom out to the big picture every once in a while just to make sure you're going where you are. We want to be going.
I definitely am. I'm always on top of looking at sales, comparing sales. So this year and last year and sales goals and finance spreadsheets and all that.
That's something that a lot of people run away from.
SPEAKER_01
I really enjoy numbers and I enjoy doing that. It's like, yeah.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, that like is just something that also kind of like relaxes me. Amazing. But yeah, I think having somebody to talk to about bigger pictures is definitely, definitely very helpful.
Whether it's a coach or I also have a dual or friends that I talk to, and just about like larger trends and what's going on in our business and our life. And it just helps because when you're just always working by yourself, you get kind of like focusing a little bubble, I think. Yeah, I love that you shared that because, you know, as entrepreneurs working for yourself without like a team in your office with you,
SPEAKER_01
you are on your own a lot and it does help you to be able to do that. Outside feedback and insight and just have somebody, some people or community around you that you can talk through things who understand your business. So yeah, I'm ready.
I think that's really good advice to have friends who are jewelry business owners get a coach if you need one, if you're needing that support. And while we're on the coaching, can you touch a little bit just on the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the you touch a little bit just on because I mean, we worked together for a few months. We're still working together.
You were in the jewelry business academy program. And could you just briefly share your experience of the program for anyone who's listening and who's just curious, curious about the program. What sort of shifts have you experienced in your mindset and your business over the past few months?
SPEAKER_00
I would say it's definitely helped me get even more organized and more focused just to give me like something I've always tried to do, like plan my weeks out ahead, but now I have, I have you to keep me accountable to make sure that like what I say I'm going to do, I actually do. Yeah. Which sounds like might sound like a small thing, but it's actually enormously helpful to just, it's sort of like having a boss in a big company or somebody's looking at you, make sure you've met your sales goals, make sure that you've, you've finished the collection that you're supposed to for the customer and like that you're just on top of your job. And when you're working for yourself, unless you're, even if you are very, I mean, I think I am very highly motivated, it's just helpful to have the extra support, the extra push.
Like there's a lot of things I think are like, that's something I want to do this year. And then you'll say like, okay, when are you going to do it? Yeah. Okay. Let's get done. It's amazing.
So, yeah. Amazing. Like hiring somebody, you know, I think I've sort of like, oh, maybe I should hire somebody and you're like, okay, put the app.
Let's do it. Yeah. It is later I hired my first person. Yeah. I think I would have been like eight months out from that. So, it's just, it's just really
SPEAKER_01
helpful to have accountability. Amazing. Thank you for sharing that.
And yeah, it's been so much fun working with you, still so much fun working with you. So what advice would you give to somebody listening to this who's feeling really inspired by your story and have realized that, you know what, one day, maybe I could actually launch my own jewelry business or maybe my business I've had for a few years, which is kind of just a hobby on the side. Maybe I could actually make this work.
But I'm still feeling like there might not be enough space for me. I might not be a good enough designer. Like, what advice would you give to them? Well, if you're looking to start,
SPEAKER_00
I would say just start. Just because you can't, nothing's going to happen if you're just sitting there worried that maybe nobody will like your stuff because you don't know yet. Yeah. So yeah, I would just start. And I think like you were saying before, there is space for everybody.
You just really have to find your niche. I'm still finding my niche and I'm finding it like I'm narrowing it down more and more. And it's like not at all what I imagined it would be when I started.
But everybody like there's just so many different niches and interests out there and people looking for somebody's looking for what you want to make. I think for everybody. I agree.
It's just like mine is such like a focused little group. It's funny. But yeah, your pieces are just they're so
SPEAKER_01
unique and so gorgeous. And yeah, I mean, I love that you shared the importance of having a niche because a lot of people in the beginning stages want to please everyone. And so a friend says, oh, but can you do this? And can you do this? And can you do goals in silver in this? And so I see people wanting to have options for everyone to make everyone happy.
But you know, having that niche and honing down on it. And keep to like the materials that you I did that mistake in the
SPEAKER_00
beginning. I was I wholesaled in the beginning and somebody wanted for my jewelry. So I started doing plating and like, I don't that's not who I am.
I don't like plating. Like just stick with what is meaningful to you. And people will find you.
And that's also really important. Like I said earlier, understanding, if you're going to start on SEO, even on your own website, understanding SEO, like, you're not going to get anywhere. If you just say like, put it out as an engagement ring, like, it's minor very specific engagement, like engagement rings for nature lovers who are into fantasy novels.
Yeah, it's got a very specific niche. Yeah, like sales will get you every time
SPEAKER_01
on engagement rings. So it's not even worth trying. Yeah. Okay, so what book would you recommend to all entrepreneurs to read if they could only read one? Is there one that's really impacted you and
SPEAKER_00
your entrepreneurial journey? Um, or podcast? Yeah, I'm gonna say I'm a really big reader and I'm really one thing that helps me like calm down is reading novels. And I focus my reading on novels, but I do listen to a lot of podcasts. Gosh, I've listened to how I built this.
I find extremely inspiring. I mean, those are like massive scale built businesses. Yeah. But they're also just started by like people, normal people, people that start really small and most of them, I would say 100% of them don't have like any backers, like they just start out with an idea. So that's just really inspirational.
Under the influence I really like that talks about that's Canadian one. I talked about just like marketing and psychology behind what people are looking for. It's very interesting.
SPEAKER_01
Jenna Kutcher's podcast Gold Digger is a really good one. Amazing. Yeah. Okay, we'll link those. We'll link all of those in the show notes so anyone listening can take a look.
But yeah, so Olivia, it's been so much fun chatting to you today and learning more about your story and all of this. I'd like to ask you one last question before we say goodbye. What is the biggest lesson that you've
SPEAKER_00
learned in all your years of business? The biggest lesson is to not undersell myself. I think that's like the hardest thing I think that women struggle with it, especially is just like not believing that you are worth what you're really worth, like not underpriced. And just believe in what you're making and that you are offering value to people and it's worth what it's actually worth.
I think that's the biggest lesson and the hardest lesson that I've learned.
SPEAKER_01
I love that. You know what? That is a lesson everyone needs, especially women. I think we often underprice and undervalue ourselves and doubt ourselves and you know, a lot of creatives start their designs and doubt what people will pay for their designs and doubt the value that they're bringing to the world.
So yeah, thank you for sharing that. I think that's so important for everyone listening and such a good reminder. So yeah, Olivia, thank you so much for being here and sharing your story.
It's so inspiring. So for everyone listening who's feeling ready inspired, they really want to check out your rings. You definitely want to have a look at her rings if you are listening or where can they find you and how can our listeners support you? So my shop is
SPEAKER_00
oliviauang.com and follow me on Instagram, Olivia, you and jewelry. I've always, always listened to, always respond to DMs and emails and however anyone who wants to reach out, just even if you just
SPEAKER_01
want to say hi, I listened to your podcast. So it'd be great. Amazing.
And so we'll put all of those links in the show notes. So anyone listening, you can go click there now and follow Olivia on her journey and you can also sign up for her emails. So we'll link all of that for you.
And yeah, thank you so much for being here, Olivia. It's been so much fun chatting to you. Thank you Robin.
SPEAKER_00
It was really fun. Thank you. Thank you for inviting me.
Thank you so much for listening. I hope you
SPEAKER_01
enjoyed this episode as much as I did and that it shifted your mindset and inspired you to take action to get your business to the next level. If you enjoyed this screenshot the episode you're listening to and tag me on Instagram at Robin Clark coaching so that I can connect with you on your entrepreneurial journey. I know you've heard me talk about the jewelry business academy and I'm really excited to share that I am opening the doors to a brand new avenue for you to join the program.
So the jewelry business academy is the most expensive container for jewelry business owners who want to accelerate their growth and are ready to take their business to the next level. This is high level individualized support with me with an emphasis on building solid foundations in your business and scaling with a simplified strategy and streamlined systems. So the new avenue is a group coaching avenue and it has been especially created for jewelry business owners who are still in their full-time job but are ready to feel supported as they scale their business to eventually go full-time in the next year or two.
So this long-term container includes a lot of one-on-one support from me and it also includes the strategies, systems, tools and knowledge that you need to get your business to the next level. You'll get one-on-one time with me strategy sessions, coaching calls and so much more and I'm excited to share that the doors are now open to join the program which is starting in July 2022. So if that's something you're interested in send me a DM on Instagram it's Robin Clark coaching and let's chat.
If you are already a full-time jewelry business owner who is ready to take your business to the next level then I have really good news for you. I have four one-on-one spots left within the 12 week container of the jewelry business academy and that is starting in July. So if you've been waiting for a sign to join the program and you're ready to feel supported as you take your business to the next level then this is it.
Send me a DM on Instagram at Robin Clark coaching if you're ready to dive in and I'm really looking forward to seeing you there.