In a few days, Homebird Jewellery will be turning 10, and the Golden Era will begin 🎉
As I reflect on this incredible milestone, I find myself feeling nostalgic, sifting through old posts and photos, and pondering the journey I’ve been on.
It makes me wonder: Where were you 10 years ago?
Me? Well, let's just say things were very different back then. I was cruising around in my in-laws' red Ford KA with Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" blasting from the speakers. The idea of being a jeweller, let alone running my own business, wasn't even a blip on my radar. But life has a funny way of showing you who you are, and here I am, a jeweller and business owner. Who knew!
Looking back, it's easy to see the path that led to where I am now. But at the time, I had no idea what my next step should be or where I was heading. That's part of the process, right? The journey is filled with uncertainty, but it's the small steps and little moments that guide us to our destination.
As I celebrate a decade in business, I've been reflecting on the history of the business and the milestones I've achieved.
But beyond those highlights, there's so many small steps - and even more failures! These might be things you wouldn't want to shout about as CEO of a jewellery business , but they mean everything to me, the budding jeweller and former lost soul at the heart of Homebird Jewellery.
For me, these three moments are my highlights:
The First Sale
The excitement of that first order is something I'll never forget. It was June 20th, 2014,15 minutes after opening my Etsy shop and KACHING! The joy of knowing someone chose to spend their hard-earned money on something I created was overwhelming. I still do a little happy dance every single time an order comes in.
Moving out of my Studio
This one was a big one. At the time it felt like a HUGE step back, but little did I know that it was the best decision I would make and the biggest lesson I would learn: The importance of trusting my own intuition. Getting a separate studio space seemed like the right move, becoming more of a professional jeweller right? But it didn’t work for me.
Joining Jeweller's Academy
It can be hard working on your own, and finding the JA community really changed the trajectory of my business. Having a supportive network of other budding and established jewellers cheerleading each other on can make all the difference. Whether it was showing off my first jeweller's bench, talking about that perfect solder flow, or venting about a challenging project, having the support of a like-minded community really got me through.
And if you'd like to check out the Jewellers Academy community (and I think you should!) you can find them here
It's impossible to sum up 10 years of joy, failure, and excitement in one tiny timeline. Each small step and little moment has brought me to where I am today. And that's why the Golden Era Collection is the perfect way to commemorate this moment. It's a collection celebrating all the small steps that have culminated the successes of today.