Wednesday, March 11, 2009

business questions? i got answers!


More and more often I am getting questions about entrepreneurship, and starting a small business- which I LOVE to talk about. So I would like to offer my advice regarding small business, ways to grow, or what running a small business is like. Please post your questions in the comment section and on Friday I give my honest and candid opinion on the topics you propose.

I will also state that my advice is based on my personal experience in business and may not be applicable for all companies. (So please don't sue.) But I can say that:
  • I started my company at the age of 15. Which means I have been a business owner for nine years.
  • My jewelry is sold in over 95 stores across the country (and one in Canada- yea for Oliver and Lilly's!)
  • I work alongside four part-time employees, interns, sales reps, and several freelance workers to keep Jess LC running.
  • Jess LC is 100% organically funded (no big start-up funds for this little lady).
  • I personally create and maintain the website.
  • I graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 2007 and moved to Chicago to pursue Jess LC full-time.
So now that you have a quick idea of how I spend my time: Please, ask away!

4 comments:

  1. Why Chicago?

    Do you think that in the future you will need to move the operation to NY or LA as it gets bigger?

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  2. :: your top 5/10 tips for a jewelry designer just starting up?

    :: what are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your business? What's your best marketing tip?

    :: if you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?

    thanks for the offer to offer advice! i'm a jewelry designer just starting up, and i LOVE your lines--they're fantastic. :)

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  3. @ Anonymous and Krista: Both of you posed some great questions! I am excited to tackle them tomorrow- stay tuned!

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  4. How were you able to find wholesale contacts? I find that when I search on the Internet I come up with thousands of results, but none that I really want (or that aren't selling junk!). Is there a good resource that you use?

    How do you plan to use your blog (and other networking sites) to help promote your business?

    What do you think is the most important step in laying the groundwork for starting a business?

    Love that you're doing this. It's so impressive that you started at the age of 15... amazing!

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