049: Charms, Chains & Chasing Dreams with Taylor from Forever Chains Permanent Jewelry

Ep 49_ForeverChained_GLP_FINAL

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Jen Thyrion: [: 00:00:00

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 of struggle that makes up this amazing journey. You wanna 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.

to the Goldie Links podcast.[: 00:01:00

Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to goldie link supplies.com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, Bengals, and more, including our non-permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by a 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 wanna level up your business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out@goldielinksupplies.com. Now onto the show, I am sitting down with a fellow permanent jewelry podcaster today, Taylor from Forever Chains Chat. If you don't know, there's another permanent jewelry podcast out there you should be listening to.

got to sit down and chat and [: 00:02:00

You're gonna love this chat with Taylor. Enjoy. All right. I'm so excited to chat with you today, forever chain chat, so we're chatting. I love it. It's finally happening. I'm here with Taylor. Do you wanna just start off by telling us who you are and a little bit about yourself?

Taylor: Sure. I'm Taylor and I own Forever Chains, permanent jewelry based out of Portland, Oregon.

rted back in the beginning of: 2022

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. So take us back to the very beginning real quick. I know you do share, like we said, you have a podcast and you do share a little bit of your story in that first episode, which I did listen to.

for anyone who doesn't know [: 00:03:00

Taylor: Yeah, so I basically started permanent jewelry. I had a friend who was like opening a salon, but it wasn't like a hair salon or anything.

They did like fun stuff like tooth gems and hair tinsel and stuff. And so she, at the time she was my best friend, she was like, oh, if you wanna be like a part of this, you can, but you need to find something to do. And then right around that same time I saw permanent jewelry on Instagram for the first time and.

I originally wanted it, so I started like looking for places in Portland and there was literally not one single person in Portland doing it. The closest I could find was Arizona and Seattle. And Seattle was like a fine jeweler who did it. So it was like only solid gold and it was like $300 for a bracelet.

land. So that's what started [: 00:04:00

And I for sure, definitely learned the hard way. 'cause I don't like you, I don't have a background in metals or anything, so I had no idea. And I ordered all the wrong stuff and did all the wrong things for like the first year. And then eventually I worked out the kinks and was good after that. But yeah, and then going into my second year, my friend ended up closing that salon.

udio space, and then that was: 2023

one. So that was it. Also in: 2023

t in a short period of time. [: 00:05:00

Going from like the dental. So were you actually, are you at all interested in doing tooth gems?

Taylor: No. No? Okay. No, I was not interested. I didn't wanna do anything dental related outside of my job, but my friend who opened the salon and who was doing the tooth Gs. She was also a dental assistant and we met through dental assisting.

So she was all in and she was like, you should do it with me. You should do the two gyms. We can do them together. Yes, I hear you.

Jen Thyrion: I used to be a massage therapist and now it's, I can't even tell you the last time I gave some, like even my husband, he is like, it's been five years. Can I please have a massage?

I'm like, no. Once I left I'm like, I'm done. Like I can't go back. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay, so tell me about, so that transition, so first of all, going back to when you did have that second location, 'cause I do feel like that's pretty interesting. Obviously there's a lot that went on, like we're simplifying it, right?

[: 00:06:00

permanent jewelry business in: 2022

But in Portland, the housing market is crazy, so we had to go outside of the city to find something that was like reasonable. So we decided to move an hour south of Portland, and so I was then making an hour long commute from my town to Portland where my store is. So I decided why not open a second location in my new town?

own, but the one that was in [: 00:07:00

It's a small town. I don't think that many people are looking for permanent jewelry. And so I even tried like moving that location to like central, downtown in the small town where I live. And even that move didn't work. So I just made the decision to close that store and focus all my attention back on my Portland store, which was.

Had a demand for more days. There was people wanting me to be open more days and I just had a lot more customers, a lot more people like seeking permanent jewelry. So yeah, it was a tough decision, but you know what, it was the best decision because I've only grown so much by making that decision. So

Jen Thyrion: I know sometimes people think like bigger is better and, and not like I have learned that lesson too, even prior to my boutique business.

d, rather than being able to [: 00:08:00

I think by that I was running ragged and I was like, okay, this actually wasn't, I just kept saying yes to everything and then I'm like, okay, like what's my intention here? You know? Did you have employees or was it always you?

Taylor: No, at that time it was me and I was splitting my time up, so I was doing primarily weekends in Portland and then like Thursdays and Fridays in the, where I live is Salem, the town is called Salem.

So I was doing Thursday, Fridays in Salem. And then. People in Salem wanted weekends and then, but Portland was always busy on the weekends, so I didn't wanna close weekends and I wasn't at a point where I could afford staff. So it was like just a losing battle, like I wasn't ever gonna get on, get out on top.

So yeah. So then I made the [: 00:09:00

Jen Thyrion: Oh, that's awesome. So you're like, and you went from a studio space to like more of a brick and mortar right now?

Or how does your structure

Taylor: Yeah, it is like a little storefront, but it's super tiny. It's like under 300 square feet. It's just a little, oh yeah. It's literally like a little box. You get five people in there and it gets crowded. So Yeah. I hear you. So it is like, it is a brick and mortar, technically it is a storefront.

I'm going to be moving into a bigger space, which is about double the square footage here pretty soon. Oh, fun Are that's exciting. Are still in the work. That's exciting. Yeah, so I definitely need more square footage because like this weekend I had two bachelorette parties in my store at one time and it Wow.

Was very crowded and very hot.

Jen Thyrion: Gets really

Taylor: in there.

Jen Thyrion: I love that [: 00:10:00

So what does it look like right now? Do you have a couple? Do you have a charm bar? What do you offer with your business?

Taylor: So I started with permanent jewelry, and then last year in January I added the charm bar, which has been a hit ever since. People absolutely love it. And then this year I added the earlobe piercing.

So those are the three services we offer.

Jen Thyrion: I love that. Are you loving the piercing? Yeah, I've only done a couple and it's

Taylor: fun. It makes me a little nervous to do it, but once I get some practice, I'm sure I'll get over that. But yeah, it's what's intimidating to pierce somebody's ears. But I use the Inverness system, which uh, is really user friendly, so I like that.

t's like super popular in my [: 00:11:00

Jen Thyrion: I've been getting so many people asking me about that.

So I know. I actually just talked to a recent podcast we just put out and she just recently added Charm Bar too. So I know we end up like talking a lot about it during and like unintentionally during the chat, but what do you feel like, again, because what is your demographic? Obviously everybody is different.

Like for me for example, I do feel like of course it's across the board, but I do have a lot of young families in my area. So there's actually, I do get actually a ton of children or basically girls under 18. So what does your demographic look like?

Taylor: Yeah, I would say my demographic is like young females, probably like 18 to 30, like the twenties, 20 year olds like love the charm bar and love permanent jewelry.

So yeah, it would be like primarily female between 18 and 30 who come in and. They're loving it.

rmanent jewelry can apply as [: 00:12:00

But it's like the charm bar obviously is more affordable and it's. Fun for them to pick out their charms, but it's so funny. It's seriously all ages. I know it's probably what you stock too with your charms, but it's, I have really fun, like definitely fun enamel and like really fun ones. Even adults though, will interject, put in their Yeah, necklaces.

That's why I feel like it's so great because it serves so many purposes of a gift too, because we can't gift permanent jewelry. So it's like a really fun, I've had so many people gift around the holidays with the charm bar and then the people come back that had got the gift and they wanna add charms on.

So it ends up being like this thing that they can also edit as they go. Now that I'm sharing why I love it. Why do you love the charm bar? What is really I. Sparked your interest about it?

Taylor: Same. [: 00:13:00

And I also personally love, like ordering the charms. Like that is like my favorite. I'll just be like on the website ordering charms throughout the day and I don't hold back. I just, I have way too many and I order. Way more than I probably need, but I just love it. Like the creativity of it.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. So, so do you wanna share, like actually, what do you charge for your charm bar?

Because I know like a lot of people are curious about that.

, also includes [: 00:14:00

If they want any additional charms, then it's gonna be $5. A piece for each individual charm.

Jen Thyrion: I love that. I love that. Like I, I was actually talking about someone recent, 'cause I added shoe charms. I'm still figuring out how to price it because there is so many things you can do. You can have like beads that go on the shoe laces and all these things, right?

And I'm like, gosh, I just feel, I love that you like do it that way though, because I always say like a confused customer doesn't buy. So when they see all these different prices and price tiers, it's, it's almost too much. And that's why even the way, even though I have a ton of chains for permanent jewelry and I have.

Price tiers or collections, I should say. It's, I try to simplify it the way I, and try to make it as simple as possible so it doesn't feel too much with the way I display it.

Taylor: Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: But I love that you do packages, because I was talking to someone recently and they were talking about doing packages for the shoe charms.

That's so smart. Because I think when you're like, oh, you could do this and you could do this, and you could do this, and they're like, ah, their heads are spinning and they don't know what to do and they walk away because it's way too overwhelming.

l. Like when you include the [: 00:15:00

Like I have a lot of customers who are like, oh, it includes five charms. That's awesome. So, and then they're, and then they'll still buy extra, like a lot of, I would say most of the people who come in and do like a charm, necklace or bracelet, on average they're doing seven charms. They're usually paying for two extra.

But yeah, I feel like the packaged pricing like it, it very much simplifies it and it. Makes them more like eager to purchase it.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, I agree. And like also when you say that, yeah, because when it's straightforward, so I don't know about you, I always say, even if I have to do math with permanent jewelry, I'm like, oh my gosh, you guys, I'm, I suck at math.

That's seriously like what? Because also too, like the whole, even the concept of permanent jewelry, like charging per inch, that's what I think when you say, even say, you say $7 an inch. Okay. And people are like, oh my God. Well how much would that be? Like they can't do the, they're like, okay, seven times seven, what is that?

ht in your face, you have to [: 00:16:00

I do have my chains and my charm separate. But having said that, you, now that you said that, oh yeah, it's one price. And that way they can work with that and be like, yeah, I wanna add two more terms. That's only 10 more dollars. Cool. Versus having to do all that math when they're putting it together, if that makes sense.

So I, yeah, I actually really love that. That's a great idea. Okay. I know we were talking about charm bar. So going, so how is it structured? Like even the beginning when you were working at the salon, do you do a lot of markets and events or you always been like in your own space?

Taylor: Yeah, so from the beginning I was always in my own like space.

Even at my front salon, I had the little back corner with a desk that I did permanent jewelry, but I did do a lot of markets in my, like in the Portland Metro kind of back when I first started, I said yes to everything I did, like every popup in market that I possibly could, which was really helpful for gaining a lot of exposure in the beginning.

of like last year going into: 2025

There was times where I was closing my store to be at a popup or a market, and then it was a flop, and then I was like, man, I wish I'd just. Stayed at my store 'cause I would've for sure got some business there. So going into this year, I've made the decision not to just do everything I'm gonna stick with where people know I'll be.

So I do a really big market in downtown Portland. It goes from the spring through the fall. It's called first Thursday. It's the first Thursday of every month. They close off like four blocks and it's just like ton like hundreds of vendors, food trucks, everything. I always really well, every single time I do it and people know I'm gonna be there and I'm like a seasoned vendor there.

ke the spring, summer, fall, [: 00:18:00

But they do rotate out permanent jewelry. Vendors just to keep it fair. And then every now and then I'll do like a popup with a established business in Portland or something like that. But yeah, I don't do everything like I used to. Now that I have the store, I have to be careful to be there and be open.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, for sure. So how does it, how did you find your employees and how does that work? Are they on a set schedule or how do you just when on need basis or how do you structure that?

Taylor: Yeah, so they're on a need basis right now. All my employees I hired are customers, so they're people who have came and purchased jewelry from me and they're all really great sweet girls.

f somebody calls out sick, I [: 00:19:00

She's super smart and she works when I need her to, if I have something going on the weekend and I need her to cover, she'll work. Or if I'm doing an event, she'll work in the summer. They have a more set schedule and then that's when my other girls will be home from college 'cause they go off to college during the fall, winter.

And then. Summer, they're back on summer break, so they'll get like more of a set like schedule throughout the summer and then that's when I do a lot more like popups and markets where I'll need them to help me with that too. So yeah, right now I think I have 3, 4, 4 total

Jen Thyrion: employees. So how does it work like, because it is random.

Do you do a W2 for them or is it like a 10 99 situation?

, they get a hundred percent [: 00:20:00

Jen Thyrion: for sure.

I think the tips is a huge advantage for sure, because not a lot of jobs where you can get like a somewhat higher hourly meaning like over minimum wage and tips. You know what I'm saying? Because like honestly, I come from like a server background where it's like you had that really low hourly and you just worked, literally your income was all tips, right?

So it's almost like it is. A huge advantage to have the tip option for sure. Totally.

Taylor: Yeah. No, and people tip really well for permanent jewelry. My girls at the end of the day, like they're probably making $30 an hour or more, including the tip. So yeah, they do really well. That's amazing.

Jen Thyrion: So yeah, like how do you feel, do you feel like just doing, getting the word out the beginning and honestly being maybe one of the first, do you feel like was a huge advantage to you?

Obviously, like with growing your customer base and just having, yeah.

permanent, I set up a Google [: 00:21:00

There are a couple others now, but there's still not a lot of storefront places to go. So when you Google permanent jewelry Portland, just by default, I'm the first one who pops up still. And I think I just got really lucky just being like the first one to do it and then being the first one for so long.

'cause I would say it probably wasn't until a year in that another like jewelry business in Portland started offering permanent jewelry. So I think I just got a lot of people searching for it. So it bumped me to the top of Google and it just, and I stay there, so it works out. It's great.

Jen Thyrion: Have you seen any ebbs and flows in the business?

Obviously someone who's been in it from quote unquote the beginning, especially in your area. And like now obviously it has grown, like what do you see as a difference in the last like couple, I guess almost three years at this point would, have you noticed that shift?

feel like the first year was [: 00:22:00

I still, I went down to part-time, but I think because I wasn't focusing a hundred percent of my attention on my business and I had, that was when I had two locations. So I had two locations. Oh my gosh. Was working my dental assistant job.

Jen Thyrion: I didn't realize you were still working. Yeah, that's crazy. Oh, okay.

Yeah,

a hundred percent. So then in: 2024

And: 2024

ur dental job? What? Where in: 2023

Taylor: I quit in 20, 24. January. Oh, in

Jen Thyrion:: 2024

ame, you think, comparably to: 2023

Taylor: I think because I quit, it was so great. I think if I continued trying to work my dental assisting job and also do my permanent jewelry, it would've always just stayed like a side hustle.

It wouldn't have became like my main business.

t gonna treat it like a full [: 00:24:00

That's, yeah, that's, that's a huge lesson because I feel like also too granted for me. I always feel like I do things that I'm not, which honestly, maybe it's just life. Like everyone always wants to be more prepared. I don't know how you felt when you quit your job if you felt like you're financially ready or whatnot, but when I had opened the little boutique and I stumbled onto that, right?

And then I was still massaging actually, and I was not ready, like financially, I was not ready. Like I did not have a ton of money in the bank. Like I should have not quit. But I also felt like I was a year into having that shop and it was like not doing what I wanted it to be. But I also, I had no time to put into that.

And so that's when I quit my job. And don't me wrong, it was like a learning curve for sure, once I did. But like looking back, I'm like, that was the best thing I could have done. And also it's, it put your fuel to the, you have to do it right because it's like, you can't just be like, oh, I can rely on my job that I know I'm gonna make this X amount per week.

No, I'm not gonna make that now. So now I have to go full in because I have to make money. There's totally a total mental shift there. Yeah,

o, I, yeah, I was definitely [: 00:25:00

Like I would be like working and I'd be like, I'm working here eight hours and I could make I make in eight hours. In two minutes. Yeah. Yeah.

This is not worth it. So then I became like not the best employee. I was never like a terrible employee, but I just didn't care. So I didn't put, I wasn't trying hard because I was like, why would I try hard when I could go to my business and I could make this same amount of money in minutes versus being here for eight hours?

And then once I found myself thanking that. Like a few times in a row, I was like, this is probably a sign that I need to be done with this. Otherwise, it's not gonna end well for me. No.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I'm actually gonna get fired. Yes.

Taylor: Yeah. [: 00:26:00

Jen Thyrion: 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 code scheduler, and the list goes on. I know how overwhelming it can be, and this is why I created the GoldLink 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 ex. 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 wanna level up their businesses together while creating lasting friendships and having fun.

salon, right? But then when [: 00:27:00

e in? Is that when it all HAP: 2023

Taylor: was, yeah, that was: 2023

Oh, okay. So I just moved units. I didn't do a whole location move.

Jen Thyrion: Sure. Okay, cool. So yeah, we talked about it before the call and you announced it too, that you're changing, like you're rebranding essentially. Right. Along with is that aligning along with obviously this bigger space and

Taylor: I did a whole, like I should have done the name change last year.

then I actually met up with [: 00:28:00

We both were there. Oh see? Oh

Jen Thyrion: yeah. Met up. How is that? We should talk about that because I remember you said you were there.

Taylor: So I met her there 'cause she just happened to be there. And then Sheik was the one who was like convinced me to have a more kind of like a brand. Name that wasn't so specific to permanent jewelry.

'cause Forever Chains, that's like probably hundreds of people have that name. And I've been thinking about it for a while. And then she was the one who was like, you should just do it. You should just do it. So then ever since I left Vegas with the, okay, I'm gonna change my name, but I didn't have an idea of what it was.

And then finally one day I thought of something and I really loved it. So we're going with that. And we're doing a name change, but we're keeping all the same branding because I love the branding that the girl did for me. It's just gonna be the name change. It's

Jen Thyrion: actually like less work on your end.

Taylor: Yeah, exactly.

ame? And she was like, yeah, [: 00:29:00

Jen Thyrion: I know. That's the thing, it's like when people go into this like. You never know what the future's gonna bring and like what it can lead to, right?

So whether or not you end up adding more services and you're not just permanent jewelry. And so what do you feel like with this name change? 'cause I know you're not sharing it, although you did share it with me, which is super cute and I'm excited for you to share it. But yeah, like obviously there's no chain in it.

We can share that, right? There's no like specific like where it's niche down to that. So what in your mind made you do that? Because. Where do you see your brand going from here?

Taylor: Yeah, I really love the concept of like customizable jewelry, like making things really personable. I think I wanna, like right now my goal is just to create a space where people can come in and like kind of customize and personalize their jewelry through what I'm doing now, but maybe broaden it a bit in the new space.

Maybe add some new things that they can customize with the charm bar. I've seen the Italian charm bracelets. I think those are really fast. Yeah,

n Thyrion: we're doing those [: 00:30:00

Taylor: exciting. I'd love to add that. Maybe do eventually in the future, maybe do a little bit more, a little bit more fine jewelry, not like super fine like diamonds and stuff, but just more like.

Personalized pieces that people could come in and do at the space. But yeah, I just chose something that could work for really anything. If this all fails and I need into something else, I feel like the name could work for a very large variety of businesses. So that's what I, my thought process, choosing the name.

So I thought it could just work as like a brand name, whether I stay in jewelry or I move outta jewelry into accessories or whatever I choose to do. I feel like a variety of different things.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, for sure. That's such a great idea. And like a lot of times what is what it is? You don't go into it again knowing, and especially at the time you went into it.

at is what we did and that's [: 00:31:00

Means so much more than just the name. But do you have to think a little future? And I know you can't tell the future, you might not know, but you might get into this and realize, yeah, you fall in love with Turn bar and you get more into turn bar than you do permanent jewelry. Who knows? Right? But in the end it's, yeah, where do you want the intention behind and just the feel of your brand in general.

Maybe not such niche down, just something specific like chains or links. But here I am, I am Goldie Links, but at the same time it's for me, Goldie is my daughter's name. So like obviously there's a lot of connection there. And for me, links is like connection, which I'm huge on, right? So that's always was one of my like values.

ust some special meaning and [: 00:32:00

If you said your name forever chained, you don't, you're not thinking of clothing you're not thinking of because who knows where it could go. So tell me about magic. People might be curious because if you don't know, magic is a wholesale like marketplace in Vegas that goes on twice a year. I used to go all the time.

What were your thoughts on magic?

Taylor: This is my second time going. I went to the one in August and it was fun. And so I went with one of my friends who owns a boutique and we just, we went together for fun and then this year I decided to go back. I like to do a little like trend. I do trend research pretty much.

I don't do a ton of buying there. There are some, if you do charm bar and stuff, there are some, I. Wholesalers there that you could purchase from for a charm bar. So I did make some purchases, but not, not primarily going there to make a ton of purchases. I'm mostly just going to see what the trends are gonna be for the following year to stay on top of things.

So yeah, [: 00:33:00

Jen Thyrion: So do you go to any classes or anything like that? I.

Taylor: I didn't go to any classes because I did bring my best friend with me. So we, and we literally went for one day.

So it was really like short. But yeah, it would be fun to do like some of the classes maybe another time, because I do have some really cool speakers and stuff like that.

Jen Thyrion: I know. Just so everyone knows 'cause so yeah, it's, and honestly, I, I mean I haven't, I keep saying I wanna go back to magic. It's been years because when I had four locations of boutique, like I would do a lot of my buying and yeah, one day is all you need.

buying clothing, it's, oh my [: 00:34:00

Let's just say. I could imagine that. Yeah. But there's, there is. It is amazing. It's so great. Even if, especially maybe going the, like with the intention you did with not No. Not having that pressure buying and staying under budget and No, just going to see the trends. That's such a great idea. And maybe popping into a class.

'cause definitely, even if you're not a clothing or a boutique, you definitely can take so much from the classes and just, it's just that business in general, right? We're in that business of. Retail and fashion obviously. Yeah.

Taylor: And they have speakers who speak about all kinds of stuff that could apply to any type of business, like marketing and stuff like that.

Yeah, I think it's helpful. I really enjoy going. I think it's fun mostly, but yeah, it's so fun. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: If anything just, it's fun. I remember there's another market in Vegas too. It's at the world market like center. There's a lot of where furniture showcase rooms and stuff like that are, it's happens right before magic.

ey're usually like six weeks [: 00:35:00

Yeah. They were

Taylor: giving away drinks and coffee, like each booth had like a latte person there. We were so.

Jen Thyrion: So I, what is just a quick takeaway from magic then. What do you see? What do you see as the trends? I, what should we know about that you feel like you popped out to you?

Taylor: Charms are going nowhere.

They're staying for: 2025

ve like designs and stuff on [: 00:36:00

Jen Thyrion: Yes. Yeah. With you expanding, are you thinking about offering anything else in addition to, obviously you have permanent jewelry, charm, bar piercing now obviously, so you are expanding, but do you think about adding anything else?

I know you talked about more customized, possibly jewelry or I guess you already maybe spoke to that it's a little higher end jewelry line or whatnot, but what is your, what are your forecasting for your bigger location?

Taylor: Yeah, I definitely wanna add the Italian charm bar. Yeah, I think that's so cute. I so cute.

Do not have a place to put it in my current spot. Like I'm at capacity, so I'm gonna wait until I move. But I definitely wanna do that and I've had people come in and ask for that and then I had another. Vendor reach out to me and she makes rings like stacking rings. And she said she has a curated like ring stacking bar.

ifferent style like stacking [: 00:37:00

So those are gonna be like what I start with and then we'll see where from there.

Jen Thyrion: So do you have, are people able to make their own bag chains with you or do you have all your like charm bar chains cut to size? Or do you have it where you can make your own?

Taylor: I have pre-made bag chains that I've purchased Okay.

On either end and they clipped to inside of the bag and the other side of the bag. So yeah, they built their bag chain and then they pick their charms and then I put them on for them. Yeah, it's really cute. I've had, it hasn't been super popular, but this last weekend I had three girls come in and make bag chains and they were really cute.

So I'm hoping they take off.

Jen Thyrion: I love them. I know, I'm wondering if like some things, 'cause I've been talking about this and it's so funny with my space and we've been open, not even a month and just sporadically, but it's, I tell people like, it's so funny, the things I have in my brain, they're not really, they come in, they're like, everything looks fine.

But of [: 00:38:00

And like people are like, like their head is spinning again. They're confused and they're like, I can't do this right now. Bye. I've got way too many other things in my life to worry about. So I wanna make some samples to show like just what's possible. 'cause as we keep adding on the possibilities for charm bar, it's just like endless.

It's endless.

Taylor: I have a little purse that I bought off Amazon, $15 purse, and I made a bag paint and I hooked it on the purse and I put it on one of my shelves. And then that has helped people see that and they're like, oh my gosh, that's so cute. I wanna make one of those. I. So, yeah, have a real life example.

all this eventually, but I'm [: 00:39:00

Oh, 'cause what I was starting to say was the shoe charms. Okay. Like you said, they're becoming hot. I don't feel like it's really hit in this area yet. I say it and they're like, oh, that's cute. But no one's done it yet. But I also feel like I don't have samples. So when people see it, they're like, what do I do with this?

So it just really helpful because honestly, it's like sounds easy. Like you can do an easy way, you can just add a charm to your shoelace. But there's really so much more than that. Like you can add beads down to your shoe laces. You can do those pearl bows. You could do shoe laces. You could do shoe chains.

It's all, it's just crazy.

Taylor: Yeah, that's a lot. You almost need like a lookbook or something.

Jen Thyrion: A lookbook, exactly. Like something, and that's what's helpful. Even permanent jewelry talked about that. Even in, in my membership, we, there's a few girls have implemented like either one of those digital frames or an iPad where people can just scroll through and see.

ilable than they were back in: 2022

Because I don't know about you. Do you feel like you're helping people a lot? Like a lot of repeat, especially if they're adding on and say they have existing bracelets. It's like they get so confused on what to do next. Do you feel like you're holding their hand through the process Sometimes.

Taylor: Yeah, I get a lot of people who like, don't like, especially for permanent jewelry, like they, like you said, they don't understand like how many connectors can go on, where they can be placed and all that.

So I usually end up like bringing up my Instagram and like showing them some photos on there that I've taken. And yeah, I'm definitely, and charm bar, like a lot of people like are like, oh, I don't know the order. Can you suggest an order? So then I'll be like suggesting, okay, we wanna put the heaviest in the middle and then you wanna make sure we have an odd number for a necklace.

So yeah, you definitely are like. It's a lot of like consultation, like you're helping them. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, for sure.

Taylor: So yeah, I [: 00:41:00

And I've swapped them out for photos of that I've taken of like charm necklaces and bracelets. And so people can, when they're designing, can just look up to the wall and see some inspiration. So that's helped a little bit. But yeah, it is a lot of. Consultation with customers.

Jen Thyrion: I know, I feel like, 'cause that's actually one of the things as I'm implementing new employees, that's one of my biggest with training everything else that we do here.

It doesn't worry me as much when it comes to the jewelry aspect. 'cause so many people do want help. I think not even as much in the hats. 'cause we do hats now and it's like they are more. More likely to just, they might want an opinion here, opinion here and there. But jewelry for some reason, maybe it's 'cause we have so many choices too, but it's like people really want like feedback.

? So they really want, they, [: 00:42:00

Like you always make it look good. Okay. So it's, and I think it's like with anything, the more you do this, you find that you know, you know what to suggest. But training that, do you feel like maybe, 'cause your employees already had that existing love for permanent joy 'cause they were your customers, but do you find that that's things that's hard to let go when it comes to training and having people like represent your business?

Is there any like hesitation with that?

Taylor: No. I feel like my employees, when I train them, I have them follow along with me for like a week and watch me do things and I tell them that people are gonna want. Opinions and don't be scared to give it like I've taught them, like you for necklaces, you wanna recommend for charm bar that, that we do an odd number.

their opinion because people [: 00:43:00

And feedback. So I've been lucky in that sense. But yeah, I don't know how it would be like with somebody who's like more shy or like more timid.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, for sure. Because I know like that's the one thing when I was interviewing, I was like really being aware of how people, I did group interviews, so I was like, I wanna do that intentionally almost to see how if they would communicate with each other and be willing to like, because I do feel much of this success in this is honestly communication.

I really do like in being willing to connect with the customer and help. And it's really, it's definitely very service based and there's no question about it anyway. So, okay. Let's talk about basically the future. I, let's talk about your podcast too. What made you wanna start a podcast? Let's talk about that.

Taylor: I honestly, listening to your podcast, I've literally listened to every single episode you've put out.

ady know. You're like, yeah, [: 00:44:00

Taylor: fine. No, but I was so excited to see you opening your own store, so congratulations on that. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Yeah, I just, I was listening to your podcast and listening to all the guests you were having on, and I just found it really helpful and I like yours and the pink welder, the only two really out there, and I was like, I was like, it'd be cool to start this and have even more guests on who could share their experiences because I love hearing everybody else's experiences.

So yeah, I just was like, I don't know, maybe I should try this and see if it works. And here we are. We're going on like month three now, and it's going, so it's a lot of learning. Honestly,

Jen Thyrion: how has your, yeah, how has your experience been so far? Has it been pretty with anything? Especially in the beginning, permanent jewelry, the first few months, you could say the same thing, I'm sure, but like it's a learning process always.

But yeah. How do you feel that the experience has been so far?

like my interviewing skills. [: 00:45:00

But other than that, it's been great. Like my guests have been amazing. Everybody who's come on, I feel like I've taken away something that they've said and applied it to my business. Like it's just really inspirational to hear from them and the ways that they do it, because every person I've interviewed so far, like runs and operates their business a completely different way than the other, like.

It's each person is so different and where they want their business to be in the like next five, 10 years is so different. So it's so cool to hear everybody's like different perspective. So it's going great. I love it.

Jen Thyrion: I know, I love that you said that because honestly, like I said, I selfishly do this just because I like A, I like talking to people.

ly Valentine's Day last year,: 2024

Taylor: Yay. A celebration. Yay. You shoulda have done like a one year celebration.

Jen Thyrion: I shoulda, dang it. Okay. I guess next year, two years. But yeah, so really it was like, there wasn't at that point nothing. Of course, I've been listening to business podcasts for 10 plus years, but nothing specific to our industry. And I'll say it again and again, which you've probably heard is when I had the boutique, I also was that there was very little boutique niche business help out there.

And then when there started to be, I was like, that helped my business so much because it's one thing and when we're in business, we all can understand cer certain things, but nothing's gonna, no one's gonna understand. Exactly where you are. If you, you don't know until, so although someone owning a coffee shop, they're gonna have relations to you and like similarities because we're both business owners, but they're not gonna really know the ins and outs of this industry.

ple do business in different [: 00:47:00

And so to actually hear, like even how you do your pricing structure, how you're like, oh no, I offer just this many charms and this and it's a package deal. And I'm like, no, I do it different. I do it this way. And that's just what works for either one of us. But for me, hearing you say that, I'm like, gosh, like maybe I should do my shoe charms that way because that would actually be a little less intimidating for shoe charms of a packet.

You know what I mean? Taking things from other people and being like, wow, maybe I should try that. And considering the other ways, like maybe that would work for me, but what works for you won't always work for me. So hearing those different perspectives is just so. Helpful. And that's so eye-opening and knowing that, like you said, which we can talk about, which you brung in the fact that you obviously have more people in your area.

The whole idea of competition that everyone talks about. 'cause as this industry grows, but just talking to you like you are doing different stuff with your business than someone else who's a permanent jeweler and the different directions are heading into. Right. Um, and, and just kinda like their offerings or how they're doing it or their specialties even in permanent jewelry.

grows, what's so great about [: 00:48:00

You know what I mean? So like everyone has their own niche, I guess you could say, with lack of a better term. So how do you feel, actually speaking of that, with the competition and more people arising in the last few years of this, do you feel like it's played into your business? Do you feel like, how do you feel it's affected you?

uch competition. And then as.: 2022

f put that aside and I tried [: 00:49:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was a struggle at the beginning, but now I've realized this is my own business. I'm doing things my way that people who want. To experience it this way will come to me. People who want things done a different way or want different options or a different experience will go to them. I'm not stressed out about it.

And I think I was really lucky to set myself up so early in the Portland area that I've established myself as like kind of the place to go. So I'm lucky on that end. Yeah. So I'm not too worried about competition, honestly. That's great. That's

Jen Thyrion: good. That's amazing. So one of the worries people have too is, is permanent jewelry going out?

u feel the industry is going [: 00:50:00

Taylor: I don't think so. I think it's, it's so funny that you mentioned that because when I first started permanent jewelry, I was like, oh, this is gonna be like a little side gig.

It'll probably last a year and then people won't want it anymore and it will be over. It's just a trend was my thought process. And then going into year two, still people wanting it, I'm like, okay, maybe this is a little bit more than a trend. And then going into last year, which was like my. Busiest year yet I was like, okay, this is not going anywhere.

Like I think it's here to stay and it goes in ebbs and flows, right. There's some months where I am like really busy with the charm bar and not very many people come in for permanent jewelry. But then there's other months where it's like very permanent jewelry, heavy charm bar's, not very heavy. So I don't think it's really going anywhere.

I think it's like the new. Way of jewelry. You know what I'm saying? Yes.

s something because I'm even [: 00:51:00

That was my first popup ever. I was nervous. I was like sweating bullets. Took me a million years, each bracelet and we reminisce 'cause she came in with her daughter and about how I was probably like my, her, she was probably my fourth bracelet I did. And starting and, and in the end, okay, so this lady, she has two anklets.

She has eight bracelets. She, and she's to the point where she's, yes, she would come back to me. She had a party. She's one of those ladies I met. That's a forever customer. Okay. Like in, in the beginning, she was obsessed. So she would, I see her a lot. She'd come to my pop-up, she had a party, then her friend had a party, she went to her friend's party.

Like it was one of those things, right? But now she's to the point where if people love it, they're willing to like, okay, I've had this on for a year. I'm actually gonna cut this one off. And you know what's so cool? I dunno if you've done this, but like I always give them an option. I'm like, do you wanna make it into a ring or something else?

omething else. And then that [: 00:52:00

It's not one of those things that we thought, okay, you're gonna get a couple and then you're gonna be over it and want 'em. Just, you're like, it's no, people either wanna add or they actually are getting to the place they wanna replace pieces, so Yeah. Yeah.

Taylor: I have the same thing. I have customers who come in and they like to swap out, so I have.

Customers who will come in with a stack of bracelets and they'll be like, okay, let's cut these three off and then I'm gonna get these three new ones. And then I give them their ones that I cut off and they take it home and they put it in their jewelry box. And then when they decide they want it back on, they'll bring it in and I'll weld it back on for them.

So yeah, I do the same thing. I, I'll offer to turn it into another piece. If they're like, just get rid of it. I'll be like, do you want a ring? Or if it was an anklet, I'll be like, do you wanna put it on it as a bracelet? We could make it a bracelet. And some of them pick me up on the offer. I usually try to convince them to take it home because I'm like, you paid for this piece of chain, keep it.

tomers who have been with me [: 00:53:00

Jen Thyrion: I love that. Yeah. 'cause and I think that's a selling point too, to someone who also is just maybe just starting or not really into the point where they're getting repeats. But even if someone's hesitant, getting a new person who's, I'm not sure about this, first of all, if they're not sure about permanent, I'm like, listen, I suggest you try it first and then not put a class bomb right away, but try it permanent first.

And then I couldn't put a class bomb later. But also keep in mind 'cause they feel, oh, there's something on all the time just speaking to that, being like, Hey, I have people come back after having it on for six months and then they decide to make something different with it and then get another chain.

because she was a surrogate [: 00:54:00

So she had the baby. Fast forward, it did stick, she had the baby and then she's, you know what? I love this piece still, but it's not, it's just not. My life right now. Like I had the baby. So we actually took the bracelet, it was actually one of my handmade chains and we connected it into and made it into another, A necklace chose another chain.

And so it was kinda like almost half. It was super cute. So cute. And I'm like, and I was obsessed. I actually stopped to post it 'cause I'm like I have to post. Some people know that. Again, these are meaningful pieces so you don't, a lot of times people get 'em, they might just get 'em 'cause it's okay, it's cute, it's a stackable, whatever.

But some people get 'em because they're really special. Like they have something on 'em that's a memory or whatever and they don't wanna get rid of it 'cause that feels wrong. So it's okay, let's make it into something else. So anyway, that's just things to know if you're just starting to talk people through the process.

hat to people, they're like, [: 00:55:00

Taylor: repurpose a lot of it.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, for sure. Amazing. I know I feel like we can talk about things forever, but I don't know. Let's get down to the nitty gritty.

So what, what would you tell somebody, when I say nitty gritty, like a summary of, first of all, what do you feel is the biggest struggle you've had in permanent jewelry business? What do you feel that would be?

Taylor: Oh goodness. Probably like the financials of it all. I'm not great with numbers. I'm not great with doing my, my own taxes and stuff.

So learning how to do like the backend was really difficult for me. The creative part, the making the business, the adding the new things all comes so naturally to me. It's the actual like nitty gritty of running the backend of the business where it just goes over my head, like I.

we are. 'cause I'm the same [: 00:56:00

Taylor: No, I do not have a bookkeeper. Probably should. I'm just this year getting like a handle on like my numbers and all that because I couldn't tell you my numbers for the last three years. I have no idea. Like it's bad. But my husband is very a numbers guy, very. Smart knows that stuff, so he is stepping in and helping me more this year.

she's been willing to answer.[: 00:57:00

Some questions for me, but yeah, the goal this year is to hire some type of accountant or bookkeeper who can better track my numbers because I definitely will need that information for, especially if I plan to scale or anything like that.

Jen Thyrion: Oh yeah, that's what I was gonna say to you. 'cause honestly, again, having the boutique business prior, I never, I same as you.

I had no idea like what I was doing month to month. Like no idea. I wouldn't know until the end of the year and I had to sit for two days and add up all my receipts and, and I did have an accountant, but that was someone who just helped me one time a year to file. And I'm like, oh wow. I made this much money last year.

Cool. I have no idea. Like I wasn't being smart about, oh, this percentage is going to buy new merchandise. This is paying myself. This is, and honestly, even. So far in my permanent jewelry business, I've gotten better about the budgeting thing, but not to the point where I feel like I should be. So I still feel like I'm, and I think that in the end, that's where help comes in.

wanna scale, you wanna do it [: 00:58:00

'cause you didn't even know where you were. So Yeah,

Taylor: no, that's my biggest fear. So

Jen Thyrion: yes, I hear you. I hear you. I, I'm actually talking to someone who's gonna be on the podcast. I've, you've heard of Profit First? The book, profit First. Oh my gosh, that's a great book to read. It's such a good book to read. And she's actually a Profit First expert, so she's gonna be on the podcast and I'm actually going to, she does bookkeeping as well.

She's actually the person who's gonna be helping me honestly. And she's gonna be on the podcast soon. Yeah. Finding someone you align with. But reading, just even reading that book, I would highly advise you too, because I read it in the past so many times and I always felt, oh, I'm not ready yet to implement this.

This is smart, but not now. And I'm like, no. I would tell anybody from the very beginning to do it if I were to turn back the hands of time. That's one thing I would've changed completely. You know what I mean? Because you always feel like you're not there yet. You're like, no. Like maybe when I'm bringing in this much, I'll start that.

that, what advice would you [: 00:59:00

Taylor: I guess my advice would be like to do your research, probably invest in a good training program.

Back when I started, no training really existed and I really. Hard way just 'cause I didn't have a background in jewelry at all. I didn't know, I didn't even know the difference between goldfield and gold plated. So it took a lot like a, like I said, like a year of just like struggling and learning and replacing tons and tons of bracelets and stuff.

So I would just really invest. Don't throw yourself into it and think you can figure it out along the way. I think it worked out for me in the beginning, because permanent jewelry was so new, but there's so many people out there. You wanna make sure you like establish like a good name for yourself and a reputable brand.

I would invest in the training. Take your time. Practice that before you start. That's what I learned. Yeah. So that that would. My advice,

Jen Thyrion: advice I, I [: 01:00:00

And for me, I had jewelry experience. So having said that, like I always, I always talk about there was definitely a like leg up for me in that sense, right? And also just being in business in general. But I have to say, if someone who's never been or has no idea how to open a jump ring and what gold fill even means, oh my gosh, yes.

Like it's just, it's so worth it. It's so worth it. But anyway. Yeah. So anything else you wanted to share? Where can we find you actually like your podcast, everything? Like where can we find you?

Taylor: Yeah, the podcast is gonna be Forever Chains Chat. And then I'm also on Instagram with the podcast Instagram Forever Chains Chat.

And then my business Instagram is gonna be Forever Chains, which is like my permanent jewelry business. And then I have a personal Instagram too, but I don't, I never post on there, so. Oh my gosh. I know. How do you keep up with

Jen Thyrion: it all? [: 01:01:00

Taylor: Are

Jen Thyrion: you doing your

Taylor: social

Jen Thyrion: media yourself?

Taylor: Yeah, I, hi. I recently hired a girl who.

She's not a social media manager, but she comes in and she just helps me shoot content once a month. Perfect. So she'll come in for two hours and she'll get some content of us doing jewelry at the store. If there's like any trends we wanna do, we'll do those. So she'll put, she'll give all of the rock footage that she took, which is like hundreds of clips and photos, and then she'll put together usually three to four, like Instagram reels ready to post.

So I have those like on hand. So if you're, if you're wanting some type of. Help in social media. I recommend finding somebody like that because then you don't have to pay the cost of a full social media manager, but you get like some help creating the content.

comes in and just takes, and [: 01:02:00

X amount and it would be cheaper, like for sure because they know they're getting this retainer right. Every month. Or even if you have someone who's just like super, like a friend who's like super great on you have those friends who are just like amazing at naturally good at photography and video. Like to come in and have an outside person.

'cause you know how it is and we have a busy day and you're like, oh my God. Granted, I have gotten a really great habit of taking a picture of every stack I do. Like literally I take a picture of everything I do. It's been a habit from the very beginning. But see, I have it in the outside where it's like someone taking video of you welding or like that other stuff, like of the shop in general or even featuring merchandise or stuff.

I'm not great about that, I forget. Yeah. But I'm really great about taking pictures of things on people.

the girl who helped me, she [: 01:03:00

And I just was like, I just, she announced the business and then I just was like, oh, I'm gonna shoot my shot and see if she'll come do this for like my business. And she was willing. Yeah. That's amazing.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. That's so cool that you created these connections with like people you just know and then there's like already that trust factor there, which is amazing.

Yeah. So. That's great. So great chatting with you today. Oh my gosh, this is so fun. I've been loving listening to your podcast. I think you're doing an amazing job and so it's just been fun to, to have another place to listen to Amazing Jewelers. Alright, thank you. We'll be talking you soon. Yeah. Have a great rest of your day.

inksociety.com, our handmade [: 01:04:00

Okay, I will see you next time. Have a golden day.