064: Inside Imprinted Supplies: Quality, Connection & Growing a Permanent Jewelry Brand

Ep 65_ImprintedTiffany_GLP_FINAL

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Jen Thyrion: [: 00:00:00

So if you're building a business that shines as bright as your stacks, you're in the right place. Let's link up and make some magic.

Tiffany Vincent: Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent

Jen Thyrion: 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 our tribe of mama makers.

r items come with signage on [: 00:01:00

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. Today on the podcast we're sitting down with Tiffany. The woman behind imprinted supplies, a name you probably already know and trust in the permanent jewelry world.

But today we're getting to know a little bit about her. We're diving into how imprinted supplies came to life from Tiffany's beginnings with her own jewelry line to her background in nursing and building a supply business offering 14 Kara Gold fill, sterling silver jump rings, chains, connectors, charms, and essential findings for permanent jewelers.

ve nailed Tiffany down for a [: 00:02:00

Do you wanna get going and just let people know who you are and a little bit about yourself to get us started?

Tiffany Vincent: Sure. I'm Tiffany. I'm the owner of Imprinted Supplies. We wholesale permanent jewelry supplies, Goldfield and Sterling Silver.

Jen Thyrion: Awesome. So take me back, like when did this start?

I mean, if we go way back in: 2014

My second child and I wanted to get my first daughter a gift for her. And so I went online and I bought a birthstone necklace and I was so excited about it and I got it and I was like, oh, bummer. This is like not as cute in as quality as I was expecting full nesting mode, ready to have my second baby, like literally in a couple weeks.

ewelry. And he's like, okay. [: 00:03:00

And so then I was doing hand stamping at the time. And you had mentioned about hand stamping. You know, there's like no room for error. So once you make a mistake. That. So I was showing my husband like all the things I'm making, but then I was like, Ooh, I need a cheaper hobby. Or he said, you need a cheaper hobby because this is getting really expensive.

But then I was showing my friends and they wanted to make thi wanted to buy things from me and literally I started my business five days before I gave birth to my second daughter.

Jen Thyrion: No way.

Tiffany Vincent: I gotta my first few ET orders. And I went into labor and I was emailing those customers. I'm like, I am so sorry.

Like I might be gone for a couple days, but I'll get it out to you as soon as I'm back from the hospital. And that's where that started. And then I remember still, like my husband was kind of hesitant about this job. Like I'm spending a lot of money on supplies and yeah. And I remember December, 'cause that was in October.

By [: 00:04:00

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Tiffany Vincent: And I went back to Nur, uh, full-time as a nurse and I continued my jewelry business while I was full-time as a nurse.

COVID hit in: 2020

Jen Thyrion: Wow.

Tiffany Vincent: And my business just exploded. And so, I mean, that was such a blessing in that whole situation was I would've never been able to give up my nursing career and focus on my jewelry career if there hadn't been COVID. Giving up nursing was the hardest decision in my life. I did it, and then my business exploded and I went full-time into doing jewelry.

And [: 00:05:00

And I'm screenshotting it and I'm trying to Google reverse image it. And I found it and it was a, the original sunstone impulse. And at the time I wanna say it was like $3,000, maybe 3,500. And I was like, okay, well I want this, but this is really silly. I don't need it. I wanna buy this thing, but if I buy it, then I need to make it enough money from specifically this tool.

I need to make that: 3000

off the price of the [: 00:06:00

And I said, you know, I can bring my welder here to the spray tan place and I can do it. And she was like, really? Yeah. And I freaked out 'cause I got my first event, like out of nowhere I had no idea what I was doing. I made $1,200 that first event, and I was like, sold.

Jen Thyrion: Oh my gosh.

Tiffany Vincent: So that was how I gone for majority from all the things.

Jen Thyrion: What year was that again?

four years ago now. So. Okay.: 2021

Jen Thyrion: I was like convincing Tiffany for the last year to talk on the podcast and I was like, so I like, and I love doing this too, because I learn about people. I mean, I've talked to you a few times of course, and I didn't know you made jewelry prior to doing the supplies.

I had literally no clue.

n the welder. I already had. [: 00:07:00

But I was determined to make that money back specifically for that welder as I was learning, teaching myself how to do permanent jewelry because there was zero, I think Shari had mentioned there was like an Irish man on YouTube who was welding this super chunky curb chain, and that was the only video I ever saw as well.

Jen Thyrion: Yes,

Tiffany Vincent: there was nothing out there. As I was teaching myself, I realized. Wait, I already have all the knowledge to start this business. Other people are gonna wanna do this too, but they don't have that background. So I found the hole in the system and I was like, I'm gonna fill that hole and I'm gonna start an Instagram where I teach people how to do permit jewelry for free.

ese supplies for. That time, [: 00:08:00

So I'm just gonna share that information for free. Sell my supplies. It started with Birthstones. I didn't even, that was where I started 'cause I didn't have the investment at the time to buy all these chains. And you don't buy chains by a few feet when you're a wholesale buying thousands of feet. So I, at the time, I'm like, well, I'll just sell.

All the birthstones I have, and that's how I started. I just started birthstones and then I added the hearts and the moons, and I think clasp after that. And then obviously jump rings, but it was just like one thing at a time.

Jen Thyrion: That's amazing. Like you said, you went to the tanning place and did a popup.

Were you doing that as well too? Were you doing permanent jewelry for a while while you were building the supply business, or no?

Tiffany Vincent: Oh, I did permanent jewelry for maybe three to six months total. I knew immediately, like obviously as hard as it was for you to get me on this podcast, like I get social anxiety, so I did these popups.

I'm really good. Like. Just [: 00:09:00

Jen Thyrion: Behind the scenes.

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah. Talking to people all day long is like, is just,

Jen Thyrion: which you would never guess because if I, if you met t Tiffany at Pjx, like I would never guess that you had social anxiety.

Like completely Yeah. You're, you're like such an easy person to be around and you're so easy to talk to. So be gentle with her if you meet her at PJ X. Be gentle.

Tiffany Vincent: They asked me to teach at PJX.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, did they? Yeah.

Tiffany Vincent: Absolutely not. And then Sarah was like, you can do something easy, like teach about jump rings, like you're an expert in jump rings.

And I said, I would rather die. And I said, if, if you sign me up to teach, I am not going

Jen Thyrion: suddenly become sick. Yes,

we all have our things, you know, maybe you see it. Never say never, because I always, I mean, I taught at PGX the last two years. I never thought I would speak in front. I never, like, I remember going to a mastermind once and someone said to me, they're like, oh, you, you could speak. And I'm like, I, you'll never, you'll, I will die before I speak.

w, I was, and I'm like, it's [: 00:10:00

Tiffany Vincent: it was like last year at the Unchained Retreat. I had just told you I wasn't doing this or I bailed on you the first time for this. They all, everyone was telling me, you've got to do it.

And then you were like, you're gonna do it and then, you know, get here. But here I am.

Jen Thyrion: I love it. I know. And so, yeah, exactly. So this was now, next year, like you did something you didn't think you were gonna do and then you do something new next year. I love it. We'll, we'll see you teach one day. Okay. So, yeah.

I love that you said step by step because. It's just like anything building a business, right? Like even with permanent jewelry, and I mean, I, when I think back to what I started with, even the amount of chains I had versus what I have now and what we have in a brick and mortar and all these things, it's really step by step.

Do you like think of designs too when it comes to what you offer now?

So that's been really fun to [: 00:11:00

Has been really fun.

Jen Thyrion: Are they out in your store yet or no? You're working on it? Yes. Are they

Tiffany Vincent: our new one, like our interlocking, our, uh, heart. In a heart, it's like a mommy and me heart. It's a little heart and then a big heart that goes. The pieces would fit together. We added connector links to each side.

Um, those are exclusively ours. We did some swifty themed things like we did the heart Hands. We've been designing connectors for a while, but our cat faces are ours.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, the cat faces? They do really well for me.

Tiffany Vincent: Oh, good. Uh, so yeah, we have our own designs, but then the fact that now we can cut them in house has been new and

Jen Thyrion: so Cool.

So where do you have this machine? Like I'm assuming I see the, the, now I see all the cutouts from like the sheets of metal that's on

Tiffany Vincent: your

Jen Thyrion: Instagram.

nd my brother. And they have [: 00:12:00

So they have to have a big facility. So that is where my brother is doing the laser cutting. 'cause this machine is the size of like an industrial refrigerator. It's, I

Jen Thyrion: was gonna say, it's gotta

Tiffany Vincent: be huge, huge. And everything that goes with it is, it's huge. It's not something that you could have in like a office or a house.

Yeah. So that's there. So my brother's doing all of that. He's in full control of that. I actually have, I don't even understand how it works.

Jen Thyrion: So first of all, going back to all that, because when did you say you started? It was like over, over 10 years ago when you started selling your jewelry? 11 years now.

So sure it was a different time. But also jewelry has been saturated on Etsy forever. I mean, I have been on and off Etsy for. Going on probably 20 years, to be honest. Like back when it was like really itty bitty, I think. But what was like, you know, you grew it so well. I mean, did it have a different name by the way?

Or did you just transfer over?

t. Yeah, it, well, no. Okay. [: 00:13:00

Jen Thyrion: Oh, really? Okay.

Tiffany Vincent: It really has like 10 items. It's just, I'm just trying to get rid of stuff, but it was called imprint memories because I was imprinting, hand stamping, and then like birthstone jewelry, so like.

Memories, like I wanted it all tied to something sentimental. So that is why my current name is Imprinted Supplies, which is the most random name ever, because when I started this business, I felt like I needed that backing of my original business. I wanted my logo to be this name. I wanted to people to be able to reference my other business to see that like I didn't just come from nowhere.

I have this huge history of making jewelry. So that's why my name is so random,

Jen Thyrion: but so funny. I did not know that. That's what's so funny.

Tiffany Vincent: I don't do any hands stamping, but I'm still imprinted supplies.

Jen Thyrion: Tell us a little bit about that. Like how do you feel you grew your bus, the, the jewelry business so well on Etsy.

not like a seller. So often [: 00:14:00

A sentimental gift for a mom who just had a baby. And then I would put like little cute quotes with the jewelry where that made my necklace stand apart from the other necklace that looked pretty much the same, like a birthstone and a name. But mine came with like a sweet little message that made it perfect for a new mom.

Yeah, it was just thinking more like a buyer, which I think a lot of people don't think of when they're selling something online.

Jen Thyrion: I know I, it's like, I say this probably every episode, but I have my quotes, and one of them is when you're inside the jar, you can't see the label. So I feel like when you are making something, or even for myself, I learned that over time too.

, oh, this is gonna fly, and [: 00:15:00

I, I don't get it. So it's just like, because you're all, you're just inside your own head and you kind of, you get excited about something or you think something's different and cool and it's really not what people need or want.

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: And you know, and so sometimes you just have to see things from the other side, like you said, step inside your customer's shoes.

Tiffany Vincent: So many of my ideas when I was selling jewelry on like the retail side was because of customers asking me, Hey, do you have something for a quinceanera? I never would've thought. I had a market for quinceanera, but the moment I started selling necklaces for quinceaneras, I sold tons of them.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Tiffany Vincent: And now, so often I go on Instagram and I just ask my customers in my wholesale business, what am I missing?

Because then they can say, oh, the only reason I have to shop somewhere else is for this item. Great. I'm gonna find that item and I'm gonna bring it so that I'm not missing that.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, you get all that feedback from your customers for sure. Oh my gosh. Yeah. That's the best, the best form of evolving your business.

because if, I mean, I'm sure [: 00:16:00

That's every, every wholesaler, every manufacturer, any, anything you buy in general. Right. But sometimes I'm willing to spend a little bit more money. Even if I can get that connector cheaper somewhere else because it's so convenient, I'm buying this anyway, and you know what? Hers is 50 cents more. But you know what, that's fine because it's convenient.

Tiffany Vincent: I had manufacturers that I just, I won't deal with working with because I will pay more to get a quality product from another manufacturer that I'll pay more because it's just, they're better at it. Like,

Jen Thyrion: yes,

Tiffany Vincent: the quality is so important to me, but also me being able to run my business efficiently is super important for me so that you guys can run your business efficiently.

have a team that helps you. [: 00:17:00

Tiffany Vincent: Any customer service is me.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. I'm like, you respond so fast.

I'm like, Ooh, I love that. You know what I mean? I love that. I'm always trying to get better about that too, you know? So you're just super reliable, which I think people have. You've built a lot of trust in this industry. Just so important. But I don't know. What do you think? Like. What are the biggest FAQs kind of from permanent jewelers that you've heard over the years when it comes to supplies and stuff?

Tiffany Vincent: Okay. Well, I will say, first of all, the reason I respond, the way I respond quickly and ship things efficiently is because of being on the other side of things. I know how hard it is to ask a question and then not get a response or order something, and then. You know, wait several weeks to get it. So that's why I do those things is 'cause I've been on the other side for so long, frequently asked questions.

So I'll say anything that is a frequently asked question. Then I try and avoid that question in the future by how can I make things simpler so that we, that question, for example, what jump ring goes in this chain, every single one of our chains comes labeled with the jump ring that fits in it so that you don't have to ask me.

I would say, yeah, [: 00:18:00

Jen Thyrion: I was just gonna ask that.

Okay, great.

Tiffany Vincent: Well, I'm, I make a post about that and then when someone ask that question, instead of going on and on and res answering it, I just send that post and then they can read it. So, so many of my posts on Instagram are just the answer to a frequently asked question so that I don't have to answer it.

Over and over again.

Jen Thyrion: I love that. I mean, even as a permanent jeweler, I mean, I know you're a supplier, but even as a permanent jeweler, there's so much value in that because you know whether or not you have a website or again, same as Instagram, you can point them to an Instagram, be like, Hey, actually this was whatever.

I mean, whether you can send a link to the post or just look through and say it's about 10 posts down, but same, even with our brick and mortar, we have a lot of parties and stuff. So I'm like, okay, how can I simplify this process? And part of me even wants to create a video, like to create a video where they can like, here's a link to this video.

t you don't get, da, da, da. [: 00:19:00

Tiffany Vincent: That was kind of my whole idea when I started the wholesale side of things, knowing that the questions that I had when I was starting permanent jewelry. There was no one with the answers. The moment that I found that answer, I'm like, this is something I'm going to share on the Instagram page. And so then people started following me because I was answering those questions that were literally, there was nowhere else to find these answers, like sharpening electrode.

I had to learn that on my own. No one, there was definitely nothing that ever said, you're supposed to sharpen an electrode like those giant sparks a few times where I'm like, what on earth? And so then I just made like a simple post. If your electrode looks like this, sharpen it. It was just a reference for people who would have no idea that that was even a question to ask.

I created GoldLink Society. [: 00:20:00

Templates, trainings, weekly calls, support group, and access to expert trainings who understand this industry. If you are craving clarity, confidence, and community, Goldie Link Society is built for you. You can join us anytime. Go to goldie link society.com. I can't wait to get to know you and your business.

See you soon. So what does your, what does your day look like? Do you pack orders yourself? Do what do you do?

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah, so

Jen Thyrion: day

Tiffany Vincent: in

Jen Thyrion: the life

Tiffany Vincent: has evolved significantly each year by year. Um, I hired my first employee about three and a half years ago, and at that time, definitely I was still packing, I was actually packing a hundred percent by myself because.

se into a small office space [: 00:21:00

We launched our website in July, but I started building in February, and so February of last year was when I pretty much. Escaped the day-to-day tasks and handed that all off to an office manager, and now she, even though we're all in the same place, they're right out there even though we're all in the same place.

I stick kind of to my office doing the administrative roles. Now they are out there running, packaging, everything. My day I get up, drop my kids off at school. Get to the office, I answer emails literally from the moment I open my eyes in bed to the moment I go to sleep, which is why you get responses so fast.

I cannot handle a to-do list. So when I have like that notification, you know there's people that have like zero notifications and those that have like tens of thousands,

Jen Thyrion: yes.

. So that's why I respond so [: 00:22:00

But once I'm in the office. We, um, yeah, I sit down, I do some ordering solve problems that are going on that on out there in the office, and then I go pick up my kid at two, and that's my day.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. That's amazing.

Tiffany Vincent: I, I feel like I, I built the dream job because most moms, there's no better job than to be able to drop off your kid at school and pick up your kid at school and complete an entire workday.

Like it's awesome. Everyone who works for me is pretty much similar. They're able to do those mom functions while still working.

Jen Thyrion: So how many people do you have working for you right now?

Tiffany Vincent: Five, I believe. Yes.

Jen Thyrion: Awesome. Well, now you said that you did share a post, so I guess we can go look, but why is there a difference in I, you know, when you have gold, why is there some that are, there are different tones and others,

Tiffany Vincent: so hold on, I'm gonna pull up my post just so that I can, uh.

[: 00:23:00

So you need to add other parts of different metals to make it stronger. We still call it quote solid gold. So even if it was solid 14 karat gold not talking, uh, 14 gold filled, it would still be 14 parts gold, 10 parts, something else. Well, those 10 parts of other things are copper, silver, zinc, and they make that color.

And then where it gets even trickier, the plating process after that, everyone says, don't buy. Plated. Well, believe it or not, almost all gold filled products are plated after they are gold filled metal. So we've still got that 5% gold on the outside with the brass core that that's not gonna wear off. But then the manufacturers plate the chains after to cover all those little joints in the chain because the chain imagine is made from a wire.

e jump ring and there's that [: 00:24:00

So you're gonna get a range from yellow to more champagne. None are wrong. And that's what the message I wanted to get across on that post is that people will say. That looks, that doesn't look gold filled. That doesn't mean it isn't. It might not be, but that doesn't, the color doesn't mean it isn't. So yeah, they, there's just, there's so many things that go into making the color that one color versus the other is not wrong.

And different sides of the world, like different things. So Eastern culture likes really yellow gold. Western culture tends to like more champagne, gold.

because that's what I found [: 00:25:00

If someone has a stack and they've had some chains on there for two years and they put that fresh chain on, they're like, Ooh, that one's a little bit more like yellow. Or, you know, and I'm like, it's gonna fade. It's gonna fade. And sure enough, they come back and they all look the same.

Tiffany Vincent: Exactly. But it doesn't, the, the color that's underneath isn't bad.

That's just that natural 14 carat color. And if you're comparing it to a, like a yellow toned plated one, then it's gonna look just different.

Jen Thyrion: Right. You know, there there's 12 carat gold fill. Do you feel there, there, is there a difference in quality between those two in your opinion and color? Like do you have some 12 Kara at gold fill or is it all 14

Tiffany Vincent: To be fair, I can't really speak on that.

he whole reason I do that is [: 00:26:00

I'm not gonna just sell every item that I think is fun or cool or cute or whatever. I am going to sell the items that I know are, I hate to say it, but perfect. Like I am so particular, so. I don't want the guess work. I don't want my customers, again, frequently asked questions. Well, what metal is this one?

What metal is this one? Even though it may say it somewhere, you know, I just want people to know that my whole shop is the same boot metal, so you don't have to wonder what they are. They're all the same.

Jen Thyrion: Is there a reason why there's 12 carat gold fill? I mean, I don't know. It's a little less. Gold, right?

12 carat versus 14. But I don't know, is there some chains where maybe it's like, it's not as easy to make in 14 carat gold because if you actually look, 'cause sometimes you just assume it wins gold fill. Everything's 14 Kara Gold fill. But I have noticed some supplier's website, I'm like, oh, that's 12 carat gold fill.

Like I noticed the 12 over. You know? So I think it's not talked about very much, but it's definitely out there.

carrots of gold, less cost. [: 00:27:00

Jen Thyrion: Does that mean it'll wear any differently? No. 'cause it's still,

Tiffany Vincent: I assu, uh, again, don't know it very well, but I assume it's probably still the 5% then it should wear the same.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Okay. Good to know. Do you have anyone who gets a chain and they wanna return it? Do you ever return, do you ever experience that? Uh,

Tiffany Vincent: I mean, I feel like I, not often. There's a, there is a couple where, again, I'm super cl as soon as something becomes a frequent problem, we nip it in the butt real quick.

This super tiny mixed metal ball chain that everyone loves. It is so hard to even get a cage in. Like Sure. That's one where people were like. I can't handle this, I don't want it. I wanna return it. Well, now I literally wrote on the front picture 26 gauge only, expert only, and then it made a video of how you even have to like gently round out the link to get the 26 gauge in, and that pretty much stops that.

k that I make it as clear as [: 00:28:00

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I just feel like, yeah, you make the expectations really clear.

Which again, is something too, even just to translate into your permanent jewelry business of like, you know, what to expect with something or, I mean, do you ever get people that, like they feel certain chain breaks a lot? Like do you ever, or do you have one that you feel is more break, breaks more than others?

Obviously the thinner you go, the more

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah. The thinner you go. I mean, again, something like that. Okay. Here's a perfect example. There was a pearl chain that I carried for maybe, I don't know, three to six months.

Jen Thyrion: Mm-hmm.

Tiffany Vincent: And it was breaking 'cause the pearls on it were not wrapped well enough. I just immediately, I just discontinued it.

ng problems, I just, I don't [: 00:29:00

So I just give rid of that.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Are you always thinking of new ideas for connectors? Like, you know, going from the fact that you were making jewelry for a while, do you miss that creative part of it, or do you kind of get that fulfilled with like doing this.

Tiffany Vincent: I, I mean, I love what I do. Right now I'm more, I'm certainly creative, but I'm more.

Organized. I would say that I'm even creative and the fact like my office is so organized that that brings me joy more than sitting down and like designing a connector.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Tiffany Vincent: Like everything perfectly like aligned is that's where. My joy comes from. But yes, of course we're still designing new connectors and that's fun.

And my sister-in-law actually is now like leading the way of designing things. And if it was up to her, we would have 10,000 connectors. Yes. But again, I am super intentional about what I carry. I just don't wanna carry every single on and end item. It just makes it chaos for everyone working here, and it's just not necessary.

[: 00:30:00

They're perfect for permanent jewelry. If we offered 7,000 connectors, it would be too overwhelming. So it's better to just know you're gonna be able to sell cats for sure. You're gonna be able to sell paws for sure. Are you gonna sell a flamingo? I don't know. Maybe. I know, right? Like you might sell one, but let's stick to the things I know you're gonna sell, so you don't have to have an overwhelming amount of inventory.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, so true. Are there things that you've come out with that you decided that just didn't do well and you were like, you know, fail, like, okay, this didn't work

Tiffany Vincent: again, so picky, so, but like my sister-in-law really, really, really wanted to do a snowflake for Christmas, and I was like, it's fine. People do love the snow.

t I am, I can tell you right [: 00:31:00

And so that's what I wanna put my energy into is perfecting these designs that I know we're gonna sell tons, tons of you guys are gonna sell tons of.

Jen Thyrion: Can anyone make a custom connector? Or are you not? You're not offering that?

Tiffany Vincent: We did that for a very hot minute. Mostly when we were first launching the laser.

I was like, okay, this is exciting. Let's just put it out there. I had a customer from Guam, or she actually, I believe she lives in Washington, but she's. Big in the Guam community and wanted these Guam seal connectors, and I was like, all right, this will be, we'll do this. It was a huge learning process for us because the difference between us coming up with a design where I'm already super picky, but then now having to work with.

My sister-in-law who's [: 00:32:00

You design this connector, I realized it was taking away so much time of all of us from the business. And that's another thing that where I was like, as much as I want to do these custom connectors, and they turned out beautiful by the way. And I'm that glad we did it 'cause it was a great learning experience, but we're not gonna do it anymore because I have to say no to things like that in order for the rest of our business.

To be as amazing as it's,

Jen Thyrion: I know it reminds me of when I used to make jewelry before I did permanent jewelry. Right. And it was a family friend and, well, even before that it was, it was a lot of different people, but they would send me ideas, they would just see on Pinterest or whatever. I'm like, well, yeah, I can make that.

gh if I'm not used to make a [: 00:33:00

But I don't typically do. So you run into these issues and you're like, oh yeah, I didn't think about that before. You know it. I have spent hours, I'm making this simple necklace that I don't, and I'm like, I definitely didn't charge what I feel like obviously it should be because of how much time I spent, you know?

So yeah, custom. Custom work is a lot.

Tiffany Vincent: That is a hundred percent why I decided to let go of. First jewelry business because even though the items that I was selling were pretty set, it was like, pick your name, pick your letter, pick your birthstone, but it was, pick your chain length and then, then they get it, oh, I want the chain a little bit longer.

Or The baby was born a little bit early, so I need a different person. And then you're work, you're doing this exchange and we're going back and forth and you, I really wasn't making very much money doing that. But the amount of time it was taking away from this business was just wasn't worth it anymore.

is, I will say that is one, [: 00:34:00

Yeah. Everything. But if you put 100% of your focus, I mean, even me giving up my career as a nurse that I didn't, I never thought I would give that up, but it was, my attention was balanced between being a nurse and it was balanced between my business. But now that I have a hundred percent on selling, specifically 14 karat, 14 karat gold filled and sterling silver jewelry, four permanent jewelry artists, I'm so laser focused that it's what makes this business great.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. And I think it's just going to that whole quote of like, going deeper, not wider, but also too, there's a time for everything. You know, I think that again, whenever say never, you did say you would never be on the podcast and here you are. Um, so, but it's like, you know, customization, like whether you even do that two years down the road and you actually have someone designated to actually deal with that, but you know where it makes sense for your business.

at's why. There's no hurt in [: 00:35:00

Are you just kind of like, do you have any goals for the next like year to two years?

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah, I mean. Gosh, the website was a huge,

Jen Thyrion: oh my gosh. That's right. Maybe that's what I wanted to ask you about because I, I remember, did I dunno if I mentioned it to you or if I said it to you? Because I could have sworn like maybe I did.

I think we talked about it. What? I can't remember if it was in person or voice memo, but I was like, why don't you have a website? And you, I remember you telling me, well, Etsy takes care. That's right. I think I asked you at the first pgx and you were like, well, Etsy takes care of all like. The shipping and anything that doesn't get arrives.

at led you to that decision? [: 00:36:00

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah, I mean it was, it was a hard decision.

I mean, I was for sure 100% Etsy, and I will say I'm not, I will not talk bad about Etsy, I think.

Jen Thyrion: Not at all. I'm on Etsy too, guys. Like, so

Tiffany Vincent: yeah, you're a small business. The amount of work Etsy does, I mean it's worth that. It ends up being about 10% overall. Like it's 6.5% what they take. But then there's also credit card fees that are higher than should be.

There's different Google ad fees. There's different things, so adds up the amount of work they do for you. If you are truly a small business, it is 100% worth it and they bring you your audience. Once I got very established in this business, I, what kind of bothered me was that I was now bringing my audience.

not realize how like little [: 00:37:00

It's so cool. So I love it. But man, there was a lot of tears That was so, so hard because I didn't, this was the other thing. I didn't start a website. With one item and no customers, and then two items, and then three items, and maybe one customer, and then 10 items and two customers. I started a website with a few hundred items and several thousand customers that I knew that the moment that I said Go that.

It was not going to be an order, two orders, three orders. It was gonna be hundreds of orders, so it had to be perfect before we launched. And there were a few bumps, but it was very scary.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, I know. So tell us about the website. If not, if there people aren't aware because, I mean, it's so funny. I know that you have a website, but I'm not gonna lie, my last order to you was on Etsy.

e I think, like, I'm just so [: 00:38:00

But do you need a resell tax license to shop you online?

Tiffany Vincent: You do not. Okay. The reason I say you do not, and I know that is a, not everyone agrees with that. The reason is you guys have to understand that I've been doing this business for 11 years on Etsy, where you didn't have that option. To require that?

Jen Thyrion: Yes, for sure.

Tiffany Vincent: So the website has two parts. It has a forward facing page that is still cheaper than Etsy.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Tiffany Vincent: And then it has a wholesale portal where if you do have your wholesale account, then you qualify for volume discounts and sales tax exemptions.

Jen Thyrion: Awesome.

not have an account you can [: 00:39:00

That may not be that way forever, but we're in a transitional period from moving all of these customers on Etsy over and I really need to just like learn my audience where I didn't have the analytics before to do that. It is definitely 100% better to have a resale license. You should get one in general, but if you don't, you can still shop there.

Jen Thyrion: So do you have like a percentage wise how much cheaper it is versus Etsy?

Tiffany Vincent: Yeah, it ranges. Um, but up to 20%. Oh, sorry, Etsy. Um, no, uh, it's cheaper than Etsy for sure. But you had told me about the shuttle app, which is so awesome.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Tiffany Vincent: Oh, it links, you need that, for those that don't know, it links your Etsy listings to your website listings, so that.

he website with or without a [: 00:40:00

If you have a wholesale account,

Jen Thyrion: Ooh, okay, I'm a whatever and next time I'm going on the website. That's crazy. Yeah. The shuttle app. It's so funny. I have to tell, I dunno if I told you this story because Tiffany was. I think, again, I can never can remember how I messaged you. I think you just maybe said you were launching a website and I was like, you maybe we're having issues with inventory.

I don't know. It took me a while to figure out there's an app for that and if you have Shopify, there's an app for everything. Do you know how I had a website? I have Etsy, which I still do, and if something sold on Shopify, I literally would have a, a piece of paper in front of me and I would mark down what sold and then what sold on Etsy.

So knowing I what I had to edit on Shopify and edit on Etsy. Oh my God, what a nightmare. I can't like believe that I did that for probably, I'm not kidding. Almost a year. And then I was like, oh my God, there's an app for that.

Tiffany Vincent: I mean, I was so thankful when you told me about it because, and I had to change everything on Etsy.

feet. [: 00:41:00

Jen Thyrion: Oh.

Tiffany Vincent: So on the website, if you sell 50 feet, the website knows 50 feet is 50 feet.

So now on Etsy, if you go to buy 50 feet, what you need to do is you need to select one and then quantity 50.

Jen Thyrion: Ah,

Tiffany Vincent: okay. A lot of people that were, that are still shopping on Etsy had asked, how come I can only buy one foot of everything? Well, that's because I need to be able to track inventory. So you select one foot, and then you tell me you want 51 feet.

Of course it's gonna come as a spool of 50. It's not gonna come as. 15 one foot pieces, but that's the only way we can track inventory. And so I had zero inventory control when I was on Etsy and our business is freaking big for that. Like it's crazy. I was doing the same thing as you essentially, like not necessarily writing it down, but I had different things where it's like if we got to less than 300 feet of a chain, I needed someone to.

y business grew so fast that [: 00:42:00

Jen Thyrion: I know exactly. You don't know what you don't know. And it's just all about learning.

And, but it's, that's why it's so great to have community. If someone to help you out and be like, oh my God, been there, done that. Don't, don't do what I did. Don't spend hours trying to write down on a piece of paper and keep track of inventory. I'm like, there's an app for that, you know? So, yeah. And it's great because that app too, you can, like, you can have different prices on both those, but they just sink the inventory.

So yeah, there's just, and like tools are just so important. I even, even with jewelry making, I don't know if you encountered that too and you used to make jewelry. It's like sometimes the way I did things, I look back, I'm like, there was a tool that would've made that so much easier. And I'm like, it took me so long to even know about it.

'cause you just kinda get used to the way you do things and you're like, man, the amount of time I could have saved and if I had the right tools,

Tiffany Vincent: oh, we have those moments all the time. But PJX for sure was a dream for me last year because that was when we had just, we had the website was going but, or we were working on it, but we hadn't launched it yet.

ors that are using their own [: 00:43:00

Dream like I would never imagine the friendships that we have all formed while essentially being competitors. Like PJX is like the greatest girl weekend ever. I mean, boys are invited too. My husband will be there. But you know, it's so fun to just like bond with everyone and everyone is so supportive and I love our community.

Jen Thyrion: I know last thing we can talk about actually and touch on is PJX, because were you there the first year?

Tiffany Vincent: No, my brother's wedding was literally that week and it was in what a jerk. What? Oh my gosh. So I was so upset because I even had this plan where I'm like, oh my God, I'm gonna take all of my jewelry.

To Cabo, and then I'm [: 00:44:00

I did miss the first year, but then I went the second year and the third year, and. They're just, it's so great.

Jen Thyrion: I know. It's so great. And actually one of the highlights, I feel like I hear a lot 'cause you know, just even asking people who've been on the podcast and my members and whoever, right? Is like, what?

erchandise online, there was [: 00:45:00

I mean, I went to Magic twice a year in Vegas, and I would go, you know, there's, there's a lot, you know, even if you're not, you know, Vegas or some in Dallas or some Georgia, like, there's, they're everywhere. So you have reps, like, there's so many people and places to go see and buy. When it comes to permanent jewelry, okay, you can go to gem shows, which I always talk about and I do go to them, but in some chain suppliers will be there, but not at the extent of permanent jewelry expo.

I mean like literally it's like everyone is there for permanent jewelry. There's nothing like it. And I think shopping in person, yes. I don't wanna admit how much, I think I might have said it one time on the podcast how much I spent last time, but. It's a good amount. But, um, but yeah, it was, I was set for a while and I just felt like just the connections you make, like getting to know your suppliers, like meeting you in person and asking questions in person and being able, able to see it, see the size and see, you know, how it goes.

iews? I hate them. I have to [: 00:46:00

It's pretty, but it's bigger than I thought. I'm like, well, there is measurements and you know, that's, that's not my fault. Um, but I do it all the time myself, you know, I'm like, oh, this is, you know, different size. And even though I had a measurement, so it's so nice to see it in person because especially chains in those dainty stuff, it just doesn't hit the same like online versus in person.

You know?

Tiffany Vincent: And I'll say like a lot of vendors do. Like, I personally, not, not everyone, but I personally do a discount. For people at PGX.

Jen Thyrion: Totally. Yeah.

Tiffany Vincent: You shop with me regularly. The amount that you can save by buying in person at PGX will pay for your ticket. Like it's, people get scared off by that ticket price you what you take home.

Not only in just like savings, but also just networking. Et cetera. I mean, there's no ticket is priceless.

ng groups in person, gone to [: 00:47:00

You know, I've gained the most from conferences, in person retreats, like going and actually seeing and talking to people. It's not even about the actual education classes. Yes, of course you'll gain a bunch from that. Sometimes it's just the people you meet and the conversations you have and the ideas that will spur from that.

And just seeing possibilities like it really is just an inspirational like atmosphere to kind of like, you know, just stretch you too and like dream and think what's possible and you know, just being around, you know, people that maybe you aspire to as well and kind of be in person with these people. So, yeah, I'm sure it's cool because I'm sure you see a lot of regular names coming through, so it's kind of cool to see people in person.

Tiffany Vincent: I will say that is another thing about the website that is amazing is that the customer's name is linked to their business name, which is generally the same as their Instagram name. And that is a dream because on, on Etsy, people would use their, their actual name to buy things. And then on Instagram, they're talking to me on their business name, so I never knew who anybody was.

ike, oh, that's, that's that [: 00:48:00

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, it's the best. And it's in Vegas. It's back in Vegas, which I think is, it's just such a, it's such a vibe. Like I feel like that's been the best place.

So it's gonna be so cool. Okay. Well, anything last minute thoughts or anything you wanna share when it comes to, you know, imprinted supplies and what you want anyone to know? About you and the business.

Tiffany Vincent: I don't know. I'm always here. I love chatting. Not on a video, but anybody who ever wants to just like send me a message on Instagram, like I am happy to chat, answer your questions, gimme your feedback on what you guys want, what you guys don't want, what you love, what you don't,

Jen Thyrion: what's your best selling items like top three,

Tiffany Vincent: heart chain 24 gauge, 2.8 millimeter jump rings, and then 22 gauge 3.2 millimeter jump rings.

Jen Thyrion: 20. What gauge? What was the last

Tiffany Vincent: one? 22 gauge. 3.2 millimeter jumper.

gauge. That's the one [: 00:49:00

Tiffany Vincent: we also have 2.3.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. I love the two point threes.

Tiffany Vincent: No, those are two. I mean,

Jen Thyrion: yeah.

Tiffany Vincent: Then when people, okay, so when people ask me for three millimeter jump rings, guys we're talking about 0.2 millimeters,

Jen Thyrion: right?

Tiffany Vincent: But I, I was told I made three millimeter jump rings. Alright, well I'm gonna tell you 2.8 is the exact same thing. I mean, sure. You, they're not, they're 0.2 millimeter. It, I know my jump rings are odd sizes and numbers. That's because I'm telling you, these are the jump rings I have been using for the last 11 years, making jewelry.

And I didn't see any reason to change them so that I could have a round number. Because trainers particularly like to say, you need round numbers. You don't need round numbers. They're exactly the same thing. And our jump rings are, they're the best because,

Jen Thyrion: well, doesn't it matter too if it's the outer diameter versus the inner?

ed, but generally in perman, [: 00:50:00

Jen Thyrion: outer. Okay.

Tiffany Vincent: And you're gonna get the outer diameter measurement of the chain as well, generally. So if you're trying to match a jump ring to a chain, that's the number you're looking at.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. Do you sell oval jump rings?

Tiffany Vincent: I don't. It is. It is on the list.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. I was gonna say, when you do, I've been meaning to buy, I mean, mean to purchase 'em for a long time. I just haven't. So, um, I'll usually weld mine really well and then smash it down to an oval. There you

Tiffany Vincent: go. So

Jen Thyrion: it works, but I have to say yes, I love it because, and I have so many, I, I, I mean, I have so many different chains and Bengals and all the things, so it's like I have every size of jump ring I feel.

But I, I use them all because I just feel like depends on the purpose. Like I sell, we make wrs, which is like a Bengal ring and sometimes, you know how ring, it's like you need the slightest bit bigger. I just use a slightly bigger jump ring for the connector that they want from this wrangle and it's like, boom, it's done.

limeter. Now I look back and [: 00:51:00

Tiffany Vincent: my God.

It's

Jen Thyrion: little obvious. I can't handle it. I'm like, I need a smaller jump ring and I'll replace it if I see that. 'cause I'm like, I, this bothers me. Of course they, they're like, what? I don't even notice. I'm like, I can't handle that. You want jump rings that are so like in line with the chain. It looks seamless, right?

Tiffany Vincent: We will often put, like on certain chains, you 24 gauge 2.3 is gonna look the most seamless, but it's also okay to use 24 gauge 2.8 if that's too low because. Certainly as a beginner, like the 22 gauge, 3.2 millimeter is our number one seller for beginners. 'cause they're just. Easiest to use. And of course they're good for certain chains that are bigger, but once you've perfected that, definitely you can go smaller for sure.

So that you don't see it anymore.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. I love it. Yeah, I love you said that, of course, you have a starting point and then, you know, go, because again, that's why I mean, had three millimeter all the way through, and then I just started adding and, and perfecting things and, and you'll notice things over time too.

ack and you're like, oh God, [: 00:52:00

Tiffany Vincent: Ooh, barf. Um, I think that it's showing truly what the value of these metals are. Like Tiffany's can sell a silver necklace for 400 bucks. And they were doing it when silver was cheap. Now silver is expensive and still sell that for 400 bucks. It's just, it's perceived value. I think it makes us scared because we're like, we're used to it being less, but our customers are not looking at the middle market, so they don't, they don't know they, they pay what you tell them it costs if they want it.

So I don't think that it's as scary as it feels because we're selling quality products. And so you put the price on it of what it's worth, and people will pay it if they want quality products.

ry time I've raised a price, [: 00:53:00

I've never had a customer come and be like, oh, just kidding. What? This is up $5 from what you had buy? You know, no

Tiffany Vincent: one's paying attention to that.

Jen Thyrion: In the end, it's like, you know, you grow your customer base. They know and trust you, so they trust that you're doing what you need to do. I mean, and I will tell my customer, I'm like, you know, we talk about it.

I'm like, yeah, I don't know if you guys are aware, but the metal prices. But gold has just like shot up and so it's actually, it's even more special than it used to be. It's how I kind of, I like phrase it, which kind of like, it's like, oh, okay, wow. Like, you know, because it is, I mean it's like it is not cheap and

Tiffany Vincent: it holds its value.

People literally go invest in silver and gold. Well just put on this for a little while.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Tiffany Vincent: Hold onto it.

Jen Thyrion: Well, that's how I translate. You know, I do have stainless steel chain. Do you offer stainless steel? No. You said you offer only. So because I have a small selection and I always, the way I translate it, I don't even have it on my price list.

it's stainless steel. So not [: 00:54:00

This is not a precious metal and it has different tone and it's just gonna be a little bit slightly weird differently, to be honest.

Tiffany Vincent: Do you want the Louis Vuitton bag that's real, or do you want the one that's fake that has the red paint on the leather? That is. A different tone that right. People can sell.

It's fake.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Tiffany Vincent: I mean, not either is fine, one is a knockoff, one is not. So, not either is fine, but there is a person who's buying the real Louis Vuitton bag for a reason because they, they want that designer item and I mean, people still sell. There's a lot of people that do permanent jewelry with solid gold.

They're still doing great. So,

Jen Thyrion: exactly. I know. All, I think, I think in the end, 'cause I know it does, it does play into a lot of, I think fear. And when someone puts it out there, it's so easy. It like spreads like wildfire because our businesses are so precious and we're so passionate about it and we're, you know, so it's anything that threatens it, we're like, oh my God.

t. That's business. You have [: 00:55:00

Like, what are your options here? Um, you can close up shop if you choose to. If it's too expensive for you, that's your choice, but, or you can roll with it. Try to trans or like educate your customer of why the prices are increasing and how much more precious these precious metals are.

Tiffany Vincent: I think that we worry about it a lot more than our customers even think about it.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. I love that you said that. Do you have any insider info if the, it's gonna continue going up.

Tiffany Vincent: I, I mean, I think when I started, uh, selling jewelry, it was like $24 for silver and now we're at like 97 today I think, and I heard it's going up to like 150. So I mean, silver is insane right now.

I don't know anything about this, but I was told that it has something to do with like ai. They're using it for that. So that's why it's getting like used. Okay. I have no facts on that, but that's what I was told.

Jen Thyrion: Wow. Okay. Now I'm gonna, now I'm gonna deep dive. Well, thank you so much. This was amazing. I knew it would be awesome to chat.

See? See, this was not [: 00:56:00

Tiffany Vincent: I'll just go throw it later.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. Where can we find you? I'm sure people know where to find you at this point, because if you don't know in printed supplies, that's weird. But where can we find you?

Tiffany Vincent: Well, the website is just in printed supplies.com. But you can find me personally at on Instagram, at instagram.com/imprinted supplies, and that is where I love to chat with you.

I go on Facebook in the groups, but I don't use Facebook as. A business page because Facebook, the amount of spam is out of control. So, but Instagram, love chatting, love getting to know you. So yeah, come find us on

Jen Thyrion: Instagram. Perfect. And come see her at PJs. Hopefully we'll be by each other this time. Again, we'll see

Tiffany Vincent: you and your gorgeous booth.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, and I'll see you at Unchanged, right? Are you gonna be there again? Like, okay. Yeah, we'll see you there. But anyway, yeah, go check her out at pjx Online. Thank you for chatting so much today. It was great,

ell, how do you feel? I hope [: 00:57:00

Jen Thyrion: I would love to hear from you. Let's link up. You can find me on Instagram at Goldie Link Society. You can find out more about our permanent jewelry membership@goldielinksociety.com, our handmade permanent jewelry, supplies of connectors, chain, and more@goldielinksupplies.com. Okay, I will see you next time.

Have a golden day.