My biggest takeaway from interviewing Page Sargisson recently is that longevity comes from being willing to evolve. She's been in business for 20 years, and along the way she's shifted her approach several times. As she put it, "I've grown slowly over the years, and I've evolved many different ways, because that's what you have to do." She also shared advice that I think is good for independent businesses to hear: don't wait for perfection. Move forward, learn as you go, and

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Wing Yau, founder of Wwake. She shared that early on, she thought the work should speak for itself. But her growth came when she started telling more of her story. As she put it, "People love storytelling. People love connecting with the maker. They love the context." It's a good reminder that finding your voice isn't a destination; it's a practice. The more you articulate why you do what you do and what makes your work different,

I had the chance to interview Todd Pownell for the Stay Gold Collective. He’s built a strong jewelry brand with his signature techniques, a pricing strategy that protects his margins, and a slow, intentional approach to growth. One of my big takeaways from the conversation: “Your voice develops over years, not overnight. Trust the process.”

I have to bring up my interview with Lia, Sales and Operations Director at Polly Wales, one more time. Mostly because it was so helpful, but also because it gives me an opportunity to share this photo of her daily layers from 2019 that I love. I keep thinking about what she said about AI, that as it creeps into more and more parts of our lives, people are going to start craving human connection in response. And that there’s a genuine opportunity right now to lean into strong

I recently interviewed Lauren Jennings, the designer behind Palm Sunday. I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s chatted with the Stay Gold Collective (she’s an OG member) about her beautiful branding in the past, but I enjoyed hearing more about her newsletter on the Success with Jewelry podcast. We talk about the importance of email marketing all of the time, but Lauren is showing up consistently in a unique way. One of the many takeaways from the conversation for me was

Do you feel like your digital marketing isn't working right now? You're posting consistently, you're showing up, but your jewelry isn't selling (or in my case, my workshops aren't filling up). One fix could be to lean into trends, show your face, use popular audio, and work towards creating something viral. But here’s the more effective option: lean into your network. Because real people and real connections lead to sales. A consistent content strategy is still important bec

Building a jewelry business takes time, and I think the people who build something real and lasting are the ones who get really clear on a few things early on and then actually do the work to build them. I've had the opportunity to lead many interviews, and three important things usually come up: Passion, relationships, and values. Allison Heutshe said it clearly at the end of our recent conversation: get out of your own way. Trust your experience and follow your passion. She

I started the Stay Gold Collective seven years ago this month. The idea came from two things. I wanted to give independent designers real information and resources about an industry that is unique and often challenging to navigate. And I kept seeing designers come together and support each other, at trade shows, at events, and I realized people weren't just looking for information. They were looking for community. It's evolved a lot over the years as I've learned more from th

I have a few things to share this week because I’ve lined up and have been hosting so many great interviews for The Stay Gold Collective and with spring approaching, I’ve been attending more in-person events in Asheville. 1. Most recently, I had the chance to talk to Allison Heutshe , who opened a beautiful store in LA last year and has a long history and incredible experience in the jewelry industry. There were so many great takeaways from our conversation, but the one that

Focus was my word going into this year. I felt clear on what I'm building, clear on the work happening behind the scenes, and clear on how I wanted to show up more consistently. The past few weeks, though, my visibility slowed. Some feedback got in my head longer than it should have, and the weight of everything happening in the world didn't help. I found myself hesitating instead of creating. The work continued. The marketing didn't. Recently, the Stay Gold Collective and I

If you’re at the Tucson Gem Show right now, I hope you’re finding beautiful gems, staying (mostly) on budget, and connecting with your jewelry community. Last week, during a welcome call with a new Stay Gold Collective member, they shared this: “When I logged into the platform, I felt like I wasn’t alone in my studio anymore.” Stay Gold began seven years ago after I noticed something at a trade show. Designers, people who were technically competitors, were sharing informatio

Christina Peabody designs and creates pieces intended for everyday wear and heirloom quality, blending thoughtful aesthetics with skilled craftsmanship. Her work reflects a reverence for classic jewelry-making traditions while making each piece feel personal and wearable for modern life. “Stay Gold Collective has been such a beautiful addition to my life and my business. As a bench jeweler, my work can be incredibly isolating at times. This community has provided not only hel

Did you see the trend last week where everyone was sharing photos from 2016? Along with a mix of other emotions, it had me feeling nostalgic. 2016 was a big year for me. It was the year I started working for myself. I curated the JA New York New Designer Gallery for the first time, took on my first client, and made the move from Denver to Asheville. It was a year of mistakes, growth, and so much change. As I was reflecting on that year, I was also in conversation with the St

We’re back! JB Jones and I will be showing up quarterly with a new wishlist. Watch the video and see details about the pieces we selected below. Lizzie Fortunato clear cuffs Judi Geib statement necklace Edie Parker lighter Ciara Bowles cameos Sima G Ltd. Double-strand Emerald bead necklace Suna Bonometti nose ring x 2 and cup Gabriella Kiss earrings Amy Tavern medal Oxbow Designs Dries Van Noten lipstick Made Line pendulum Dusen Dusen placemats Lucie Gledhill chain

I shared something similar in my final note of the year, but I know 2025 was tough for many of you, and you may still be feeling burnt out. I am too. At the same time, I’m feeling energized as we head into this new year. During the holiday break, we had a small virtual happy hour with a group of long-time Stay Gold Collective members. It was simple and grounding, and it reinforced something I already know: community matters more than ever. When I was thinking about choosing a

As I’ve been thinking about what to share as a final note for the year, and realizing I may have been putting a bit too much pressure on it, I thought about a recent conversation I had with Polly Wales . She talked about her Skull Ring and how bringing it to shows for years didn’t lead to immediate success. Buyers weren’t responding. Instead of cutting it from the collection, Polly and her team believed in the design, so they kept it. Over time, it found its audience and eve

Maggie is an independent jewelry designer and maker based in Chicago, creating meaningful, wearable art. She began her journey in jewelry design in 2024, following four years of experience as an industrial designer. Karmila Darling, named after her late grandmother, is inspired by the warmth, freedom, and playfulness of girlhood. Maggie designs each piece from start to finish, blending modern 3D tools with traditional handcrafting techniques. "Liz has been one of the most gro

Last week, I had the chance to interview Hannah Cole, founder of Sunlight Tax, on her podcast to celebrate the release of her new book, Taxes for Humans . We recorded the episode live at the beautiful Tracey Morgan Gallery in front of an audience, which made the whole experience feel special. I’ve read the book myself and loved how straightforward, kind, and surprisingly funny it is. Hannah has a gift for making complex topics feel human and accessible. The episode is out tod

Maybe you can use this advice now, or bookmark it for January. If you’ve been here a while, you know I often talk about one-to-one outreach. Social media and mass marketing matter, but what really drives sales is real, personal connection . I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. We’re reading Hug Your Customers for the Stay Gold Collective book club, and it’s filled with reminders about the power of genuine connection, especially something as simple as a handwritten no

I know so many of you are deep in production mode or prepping for your last markets, so I wanted to share something simple and grounding from a recent conversation with designer Kimberly Doyle . We chatted with the Stay Gold Collective about her journey, from the Gemgotchi going viral to building a strong audience around her 90s and gemstone-inspired designs, and the biggest theme that kept coming up was this: When you trust your own vision, you create work that connects. He