006: Sunstone Spotlight - Unveiling The PJX Revolution With Andy Jensen

Jen: Hey there, I'm Jen Thyrion, and I'm so glad you're here. I'm a former nine to fiver that dove into entrepreneurship eight years ago with zero business experience. I'm a wife, mama of two young girls, boutique owner, jewelry designer, and now the proud owner and coach leading GoldieLinks Permanent Jewelry.

I have a passion to empower fellow business babes. 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 want to know what has enabled me to shine the brightest coaching plus community here at GoldieLinks

We share openly educate and lift each other up. Expect to get linked with fellow PJ owners that will do just that sprinkled with plenty of fun along the way. Competition is an old school thought and connection is the way get ready to feel inspired. Welcome to the GoldieLynx podcast.

Jen : All right, Andy, I'm excited to be here with you today. Do you want to just let everybody know who you are and tell us anything you want us to know about yourself first?

Andy : I'm Andy Jensen and I'm director of marketing for Sunstone. Sunstone manufactures specialty welders that just so happen to be the exact right fit for those who are going into be into permanent jewelry. It's a beautiful little welder. I've been with the company for about almost four years. And it's been a lot of fun.

We've seen a lot of growth and we have a lot of fun things planned for the coming years.

Jen : Yeah. What I was really impressed with when I, cause I went and went and checked out Sunstone and hung out last month in December or like a couple of months and is that everything is made here, correct? Everything is made in the U S you guys are based out of Utah.

Andy : Yes. Yeah. Everything is made in our shop at Utah. We have we have just under 50 employees. And yeah, if you, Jen, you were there. You walk in and you've got all these different welders in various states of being manufactured. So we're proud to say we're made in the USA. We employ. A number of different people, keep their families fed and we'd love to keep the money in the States.

Jen : That's so cool. So how long have you guys actually been in business making welding machines? Not maybe so much the permanent jewelry micro ones, but how long have you been doing this?

Andy : Almost 18 years we started in a gentleman's basement. He had that, that, that gentleman had a PhD in aerospace and he tried to buy a welder that would help him build a Babbery. And he couldn't find anyone who had that. So he just decided to build a welder by himself and that's where it all sparked.

So it started in his basement. And now it just grew and grew and here we are in a facility that we probably need to move again. You were there and how, oh, we're just packed everywhere. We're just trying to find space for everything. But yeah, it's a typical American dream come true type thing, right?

Jen : Yeah. That's amazing. That's so cool. And so even with the micro welders of permanent jewelry. So tell me a little bit about that. Cause I know we talked about that too. Like you obviously you created a welding machine. I think it was more specific for jewelry. Correct. But then obviously it started becoming really popular with permanent jewelry.

Is that right?

Andy : That's right. What, late, mid summer a couple years ago, One of our dealers called us up and placed an order for one of our welders called the Orion Impulse. And at that time we were showing, I don't know, 15, 15 impulses a month maybe? And it was primarily designed for jewelers who were looking for inexpensive pulled stock welder.

But this dealer calls up and he wants 300 of them. And we thought it was a typo. So we called him up and said, hey this is a mistake. You meant 30? He goes, no, I need 300. And that's when we first heard about permanent jewelry. The Ryan Impulse is the perfect machine for permanent jewelry.

And it just took off and we've been trying to. Keep up ever since.

Jen : Yes. And and I, yeah, cause I always talk about it cause it's obviously, and then you have a newer model that you guys debuted like last year at the PJX, which is, that's the one I have, which I love even more than the other one. But then you Odyssey, you came out with a more, I guess you could say budget friendly option too recently.

And when did that come out? I can't remember.

Andy : The budget friendly, like the zap series, there's two models. There's the zap and the zap plus. The ZAP came out in October of last year, and the ZAP Plus December? November? Somewhere in there.

Jen : Okay. That's awesome. Cause honestly, of course, like they all, have different capabilities, but I have to say of course I think that was maybe somebody's like drawback was not, like not having the budget maybe to start with that one, but that's so great that you guys came out with enough with an option for people, to have like still a quality machine and it might, what's the difference, like what's the difference between zap and the capabilities of maybe the impulse, like what is the biggest difference?

I guess.

Andy : Yeah, let's, yeah, let's go back a little bit. The Orion Impulse was designed for jewelers. It's got 30 watts of energy, which is more than a PJ artist will ever need. So we looked at the Impulse and said what can we do to create a better welder for the PJ artist? And the result of that was the Orion PJ.

Which I love. It's a beautiful little machine, half joule increments, only up to 15 joules. Perfect for the PJ artist. But listening to the market, it was still, that's a very, for some people that can be out of their range. We listened to the market, we came out with the ZAT. There was, putting the ZAP together was an engineering feat on our part, because we had a concept, we knew where we wanted to be, and we had to be there really fast.

And that was an amazing experience. We had people staying up all night long trying to figure out how we could make that machine more affordable. So the difference is, the ZAP is budget. There is no digital interface. It's a knob. And, there's a story behind that knob that no one knows about.

The knob on the Zapp, don't tell anyone, but I personally don't like it. I think, I wanted this little knob, I wanted a wider shorter knob. But the cost difference was like, it didn't make any sense. It was like five times the price of the little knob. So no, it's a budget welder, so we're gonna go budget on this thing.

And that's what we did and we're able to get the zap below a thousand dollars, which is remarkable. And I think it's helped a lot of people get into the business.

Jen : Okay. Last question about the ZAP, just in case anyone is confused. What is the difference between ZAP and ZAP Plus?

Andy : The difference between zap and zap plus is two things, energy, three things, energy. So zap only goes up to, is it 10, 10 watt seconds, 10 joules. And the zap plus goes up 30. So that's one difference. The second difference is the zap plus uses an Orion stylus. It is a better stylus than what you'll find on the Zap.

And then the Zap Plus also has the ability to extend the stylus cord. You can buy an extension, and you can get that stylus cord I think up to 9 feet in length. 9 feet's a long, so, it's a long ways to go, and, that's But if you're doing an A clip, that's awesome.

Jen : Yes, for sure. And then I know that's what I love about you guys too. I feel of course you're like listening to what people need, and looking to fulfill that. And I know, I don't know if, are you guys in, is there anything new coming out that maybe you should, we should know about, or is that, is

Andy : Oh, I, I will I'll I will try not to spill the beans, but Yeah, there's a

Jen : Okay.

Andy : Number one is look, Sunstone is about supporting the industry, building the industry. And one of the ways that we're doing that is to bring more customers to the PJ artists themselves. So we built a directory called permanentjewelrydirectory.

com. It's free. If you're a PJ artist, you should go there and sign up and get your name on that list. So what people are looking for permanent jewelry. They're typing in permanent jewelry artist near me. And that site's gonna pop up. They type in their zip code. And every peach artist in 124 miles is gonna pop up.

You wanna be on that list. And that's free. And that's Sunstone trying to build up the industry. That's one thing. I think another thing that other people need to know about Sunstone is that we spend a lot of money on public relations. To put PJRs on television and other talk shows so that we are educating the market that, uh, of what PJ, of what permanent jewelry is, right?

o. We spent a lot of money in: 2023

That just gives a lot of publicity for permanent jewelry. There was an article in, oh, I want to say New York Times, but I don't know if that's right. Wonderful article in New York Times about permanent jewelry and that helps. So all that helps

Jen : Yeah.

Andy : Raise the tide for everyone. Now in terms of what's new I gotta be careful here.

You're tempting me here.

Jen : I know. I know. I'm not trying to get you in trouble. I just want to know maybe if we should keep our eyes peeled or something.

Andy : We got PGX coming in June, right? And

Jen : OkaY.

Andy : we always like to do something new for PGX. That's all I can say.

Jen : There you go. We'll keep it at that. So actually speaking of that, and that's why, what did, what was your thoughts in even creating PJX? Like how did that come about? Because last year was the first one.

Andy : Yeah. In late: 2022

et's go. So I started in late: 2022

It's, that meaning has three different three different pillars to that meaning. There's education, there's networking, and there's supply chain. All three of those are important to every PJ artist out there. You've got to be giving attention to all three, and that's what the, that's what PJX is all about.

PJX is Sunstone's goal with PJX is that PJX pays for itself. Sunstone takes all of the financial risk and there is substantial risk to that. Takes all the risk, and our hope is that all of the registration fees pay for the hotel. None of that comes back to, To Sunstone.

It's, we just want to break even on

Jen : isn't cheap.

Andy : It's not cheap. The only people making money at PJ Hicks is the hotel.

They're the ones that are doing really well. And, but at the same time, you want this to be a memorable event, right? It's, I don't think we want to rent Uncle Bob's backyard and he's grilling hamburgers and stuff.

I don't think we want to do that. I think people want to have a an experience that they're going to remember. And that costs

Jen : And honestly, Vegas is such a great place. It's easy, accessible to everybody. Usually there's direct flights. Like it is a really great place. Like I don't want to say central location, but it's an easy place to go in comparison to other places. So I think it's amazing.

So what, if someone went last year, Cause I've seen this question posed too. And people have asked me, even with doing these interviews or talking to other fellow permanent jewelers, and I'm like, are you going to PGX? Are you going to PGX? They're like I already, first I hear I went last year. Do I need to go again?

And what is your, what would you say to that?

Andy : Plus, the answer is yes. The answer is yes, because as a professional, continuing education, what is incredibly important. Look, you could take a class, you could take an accounting one on one class from one professor one year and take the same class from a different professor the next year and pick up stuff you didn't pick up from the other professor.

So if you go, if you're looking at the courses that are being offered at PJX this year and you go, oh, wasn't that the same course last year? Not necessarily. It might be a different instructor, different curriculum, and different points to be made. If we look at those three pillars, what are we doing different on those three pillars?

On the education side, we've asked every course instructor to be mindful that there are good people. There will be PJRs in the class who are not new, that they've been doing it for at least 12 months. And so that their curriculum needs to address that. The second thing we did is we lengthened the amount of time that people are teaching.

In: 2023

I I doubt that. So the second thing with regards to networking, we are starting the, we started PGX three hours earlier than we did last year. So that gives you three more hours to network and to meet with people. Another thing we're doing is. At the opening reception, we're bringing all the instructors into the PGX marketplace into one spot.

And so you can go there and you can mingle with all the teachers. They're going to be in one spot and just talk to them and get to know them. I think that's key. So networking is always important. I always tell people that, you're going to, two things might happen. You're going to meet somebody who'd be a mentor and will help you change your business forever.

Or you're going to become a mentor to somebody else and help them change their business forever. I think that's important. And then lastly, on, on supply chain, we more than doubled the number of exhibitors that will be at PJX. We had.

Jen : So exciting.

Andy : 14, I think, last year, and we're at

Jen : Yep.

Andy : 26, I think, right now. Someone showed that I've got people still calling me, I don't have space in the marketplace, and they're saying I'll take a hallway.

I'll take a hallway. Okay?

Jen : gosh. Honestly, like I think there's so many things I have to say because I know we talked about this being that I had the previous business and I started going to conferences and retreats and masterminds and things like on so many levels, I can't say how important it is, like you said, but.

I think first, just even talking about supplies first to actually see it in person. Cause as most of us started, we're just buying chain online. We're trying to find places to buy it. We're always asking for suppliers and a, we know that it's legit. The people that are coming are quality. We're not getting, stuff that we don't know we're buying off whatever website.

And. It's like people also going to say Tucson, actually, I think, which is where you're at, right? People, I've been to Tucson, I've been to gem shows many times because again, my permanent or like my previous jewelry experience. But really for specific permanent jewelry, you go to a huge show like Tucson, you'd have to walk like a lot and try to sift those people out.

So it's not, to go to a specific permanent jewelry, like in a conference where you literally have these supplies are what permanent jewelers want and need, it's like priceless, rather than spending hours. Cause I went to Tucson last year and granted I've gone before for my other business, but like I went specific for permanent jewelry last year and I walked around All day, and I maybe found like three suppliers that really could actually like purchase from plus Tucson was crazy busy and you're dealing with a lot more people than you are when you're going to like PJX.

So it's a little bit more challenging. And so if you're not shopping for beads and gemstones and all the things that Tucson, it's it makes sense to save your trip and maybe. Honestly, PJX might be the place to be, and honestly, I don't want to speak for you, but I can see in the future that just keep growing, like the vendor lists keep growing and before you know it, it's going to be huge and that's going to be the place to go to buy your supplies and see new suppliers.

Andy : That kind of scares me.

Jen : Okay,

Andy : I don't want to be that guy.

Jen : right? But also just like you said, it's like everyone, cause that's another question I got when I asked somebody recently, they're like I've been doing permanent jewelry for two years, I feel like I'm confident and I'm good in a good place with my business.

What is going to benefit me from going to PJX? And just like you said, it's even if you've been in business for two years and you feel like you're doing well, but honestly, we're always evolving. We're always trying to scale and get better at our business, right? So there might be something, a class you took last year that didn't really apply to at the time you heard it and okay, it planted a seed, but like you weren't really ready to implement that.

So like the next year, whether it is even the same class, but like you said, by a different instructor and something hits different, you're going to leave with different ideas and ways to improve your business. We all want to keep improving. Cause what's the point of being in business? We all want to get better and better, whether it's make more money, whether it's, scale if you want to add employees, these are all things that, you know, if you're in true business.

You're going to want to keep leveling up, right? So every step, it's not okay, I learned it all. I'm done. It's like you're never done. You're never done learning. You're never done trying to implement new ideas. And even just maybe you have some roadblocks like mindset roadblocks or money mindset.

There's so many aspects of running a business. And it's like when you're done learning or you're done, that's when your business is done. That's how I feel, so I'm always wanting to get more information. And also too, like you said, I've been to masterminds and things, and yes, like it's been great to listen to instructors, but sometimes I walk away with the biggest.

Priceless thing is the people I meet, because you never know where that can lead or, a relationship because everything it's, that's so important is to have those relationships that where people can really understand what, to go there and that these people all be permanent jewelry businesses, that's priceless because we really know how it feels, rather if you go to a general business conference yes, you understand how it is to like maybe run a business.

But you don't really understand permanent jewelry. So I just think there's so many aspects of why it almost, for me, it's just something that I want to go to every year because I'm going to get something different from it every year,

Andy : I was just thinking, if you went to the dentist and your hygienist is doing her thing, hygienists have to go, they have to get continuing education every year. How would you feel if your hygienist said, Oh, I don't go to those anymore. I know it all. Oh, I'm going to go find a different hygienist.

Okay. I hear a lot of

Jen : let's even get even more crazy. What if it's a surgeon? Okay.

Andy : Okay. So p. J. 's not, healthcare. But a lot of P. J. artists you hear say, How do I differentiate myself from the competition? This is how you do it. You're sitting there talking to a customer, hey, I just went to a national permanent jewelry conference, And this is what I learned, and this is what I saw.

That's a differentiator. Someone's looking at this guy, Hey, this person is into it. They're into it. The other thing that I like about what you said is we got 26 vendors there and they all have something different to show, especially when it comes to creativity. Charms, chains. All the different styles that you can do.

You're sure you can pick something up and go, That, I need that. And, to make connection with those suppliers is critical. That you can call up a supplier and have a conversation with them, right? I met you at PJX, Tell me more about this chain, Tell me more what's hot, Tell me about this. I think that's invaluable.

There's a lot to learn. Yeah

Jen : truly invaluable. That's also too, like speaking to a permanent jewelry business. That's one of the things that we talked about. Like when, one of the reasons, or one of the first things we were talking about when I got, when I was there at Sunstone was talking about the future permanent jewelry and how we were saying Maybe in the beginning we thought, okay, is this just a trend?

But I truly feel like it's here to stay because it's more than just jewelry. It's really about connection. So even like playing into that is even with your suppliers and everything, honestly, everything's about relationships, and that's really important to be able to grow a business. And that's number one.

That's a number one reason for our business to grow is honestly. Really pouring into those relationships and customer service with permanent jewelry, because it's an in person experience. So I feel the same way about even suppliers. It's funny. And just, I think I know that just again, because previously being in business I met.

My chain supplier that I work with a lot and I saw him at a Denver gem show and I flew granted I was again visiting a friend in California but I made a point to go see him and meet him talk see all the chains in person because and then we Developed this relationship where that wouldn't have happened if I would have just gave him a phone call I know that you know So and that's that has really served me in my business and being able to get chain on time get it faster Be able to supply my other employees with chain like and he's always telling me what's first, what's in stock.

That's new. Like I'm like on his VIP list, because we have a relationship. So I think that's so important. And and in the online world, we think we don't need to do that, but I think it's it's just. That's what's so great about conferences is trying. It's almost feels old school.

Like, why do I need to go to a conference? Everything's online, right? Like we can go on and watch YouTube videos and we can go, we have these Facebook groups. We feel like we know each other, but we, it's such a different, there's nothing there's to meet to do it in person is priceless.

It's all I got to say. There's nothing that beats in person. So

Andy : whole argument about, why do I need to go someplace, I can do it online. I would bet that there isn't one person listening to this podcast right now that has not had that experience of ordering something online through Etsy that shows up and it's low quality, totally. So even if they get a refund on that, they lost a lot of time on it.

And so that's not going to happen at PJX. You're talking face to face with somebody. going to see and handle that chain and even if you're in, even if you're still not convinced, you can take that chain over and weld it in the welding lab and see how it does, it doesn't really weld well.

So

Jen : Yes,

Andy : you get a full experience.

Jen : And that's what's so cool. It's that was awesome. I don't know why I wasn't expecting that or what I was expecting when I went to PJX, but being able to have the machines out was really cool, to be able to ask questions to, the welders. And, cause again, you think, it you learned it, in the end.

In the end, welding is simple, but it's not easy. I think, depending on, the different jump rings, as we know, people could challenge with a 26 gauge and all the things. So it was really fun to like troubleshoot. And. And I actually ended up bringing my own wire that was like more heavy gauge.

And I was able to like, talk to them and be like, Hey, like, how can I weld this? Bringing all your questions, like any challenges you have, which we're always putting. And even you talk about the Facebook group, like that's what people are doing. And it's so great. You can do that in person and be able to ask questions and get answers,

Andy : yeah I think I should mention, yeah, Sunstone is going to be there and we're going to have people who know welding. I, I was surprised when I walked around the welding lab. I found some people doing some things that I thought, What? Wait a minute, that's not how you do this correctly. And then surprised to learn that these people have been doing PJ for a year already.

And, not that they're not a good PJ artist, It was just, hey, here's some things you probably want to think about when you're welding. That's gonna make you a better welder. I don't know, to think that you know it all, I think is a little bit a little bit. Overconfident, maybe. I don't know.

Jen : Yeah, and you might think you learned a certain way and I've even done this with other jewelry making like where I do it my own way and I, you're so used to doing it your way and it works. But then when you're exposed to the fact that it can be done so much better and faster and. Then you're like, Oh my God, I can't believe I'm just so used to and thinking, Oh, I know it.

So why do I need to like why do I know how to do this. I get the job done when realizing I could have had a tool or something that made my life so much easier.

Andy : Yeah. Or how about just argon? I met a lady who asked me she says how can these wells look so much cleaner than what I'm used to? And I started probing and asking. She'd never used argon. She didn't know what argon was. And she's going, Oh, so when you see the difference, I guess the point is, you're gonna learn something new.

I guarantee it.

Jen : it's so true. Yes. It's so yeah, it's worth it.

Andy : There's going to be an aha moment,

Jen : yeah,

Andy : or many aha moments.

Jen : Yes. I don't know. Is there anything else you want to share about Sunstone and PJX right now? Anything like, again, I guess on the horizon or anything excited about for the next year or? No your view on permanent jewelry here, it's headed to all the things, if there's anything you want to share.

Andy : We were having a discussion the other day and one of the things that came up was, what was, I don't want to make this salesy so bear with me for a second, but the question that came up, What is the difference between Sunstone, as a manufacturer of permanent jewelry welders, and someone else?

And the answer was, we got 10 engineers downstairs who, their employees, their team members, 10 of them. We got mechanical engineers, we got electrical engineers. where we have firmware engineers. That's the biggest difference between SunStorm and anywhere else is we're making our stuff, and because we have 100 percent control over our machines, we can make quick changes.

The PJ, the ZAP is a great example of our being able to quickly take a different course. I think that's something people, that's something that I'm proud of. One word for sunscreen was like, we got guys here who stay up late thinking about how do I make this better? How do I do this?

How do I do that?

Again, for PJ X: 2024

Jen : wait. Oh my gosh. That's another reason to go because now I'm like so anxious to see what's coming up. Like I want to see.

Andy : Yeah. We got engineers staying up late, like right now. And my team in charge of marketing, we're thinking like, okay, how are we going to do this on all the things that need to be done? It's exciting. Launching new products. It's going to be fun. There's a lot of neat stuff coming down the line.

Some of that will actually debut before PJX I think there's a couple things that might come out early spring March, April time, so you'll keep your eyes open for that and while we're talking about it, Jen, uh, remember that if you're going to PJX, you gotta get that hotel room done before, I think it's

Jen : Okay.

Andy : 13th, says, We're done.

We don't have to, we don't have to hold back anymore these rooms for PGX attendees and so they release everything and those rooms go really fast to the general public. If you're gonna go, get a room now because you can cancel it 72 hours in advance if something happens.

Jen : Oh, yeah. Oh, if that's the case for sure.

Andy : Yeah, just get it, go, but Make sure you book within the block.

You gotta get that 1. 29 a night. That's, no, and there's no resort fee. That's the big thing. You may see some cheaper prices out there. I know that one lady sent me something. She says, hey, I saw an ad for 99 a night at Planet Hollywood. But when you tack on the 40 a night resort fee, it's not such a great price anymore.

So our price is 1. 29 a night. No resort fee. It's 1. 29 a night. You still have to pay the governor whatever he wants, but no resort.

Jen : No, that's amazing. Yeah I can just see it. I think it's going to be awesome. I can't wait to be there. I can't wait to meet everybody. And honestly, just the last thing I want to say, because we were talking about just being proud of Sunstone and all that that's the thing. I think that it's so great to show also to your, just the intentions behind your company.

Cause not only are, yes, you could just be making welders and call it a day and you'd still be successful selling your welders. But the fact that you're really investing in the community and really, wanting to educate and feed into permanent jewelry. And make it better and, and make, people's businesses better.

It really says something about Sunstone, which I think is, again, something again to be proud of. I think so.

Andy : We're committed to the industry. We're going to do whatever it takes to better the industry. Another thing Jen, I think when you visited us last month, I think you had the opportunity to visit with Adam Carlson, who is our customer service manager.

I've talked to people here at this show who said, Hey, I have a question and I've asked them just call our customer service line.

They'll help you. It's not going to cost you anything to call and say. Hey, I'm welding this and that. I'm not getting a good I'm not getting a good result. Help me. We'll help you. That's what we're here for.

Jen : And that's what's so crazy because it's so funny when I thought to go see, I wanted to visit and when I called, I didn't even know who to ask to talk to, so of course who I explained on the phone, who I'm like thinking about coming out and they're like, Oh yeah, that's Andy. And I was like, and you just answer right away.

And it was such a cool conversation. I'm like, and I was like, so nervous thinking like you think. Yeah, no one's going to want to talk to you. It's just, but you guys are like, so down to earth. You're so approachable. You guys are so helpful. Even walking around the shop and seeing, everyone, it just seems so great.

It's like literally just, you feel like you're at home. So that says something too, because if you're buying a welder and say something does happen, you can really trust that they're going to try to make it right and help you. Whereas if you may be purchasing from an unbranded, let's just like use example of Amazon, you're not going to get the same.

Help when it comes to this. And if you really want to grow a legit permanent jewelry business, you're, you're going to want that assistance and want that backing and that trust to be behind you with, when it comes to a machine like that. I think that's so great.

Andy : I think one of the one of the most, my office is not, we have a welding lab. You saw our welding lab. We have a welding lab that we got people in there who are doing things and welding things and trying to figure stuff out, and my office is close to that. I can hear PJ artists will come into the office without an appointment.

And they'll say, Hey, I have some questions. Can you help me? Absolutely! You don't need to, we'll take anyone. If you call me, say, Hey, can we come visit? We'd love to have you come visit. Come visit. Come check us out. Yeah we love our customers.

Jen : That's so awesome. Thank you so much for your time, Andy. I didn't even realize when I asked you about this, that you were in Tucson. I honestly didn't know that.

Andy : Tucson is, it's an incredible experience. Okay as I understand it, there are more than 40 shows in the town. So there's 40 gem and gem shows going out through the entire town. Sunstone is at four of those shows represented by either dealers or ourselves this is our book here at Casino Del Sol and we meet so many interesting people they are all fascinated by welding.

It's a fun, it's a fun, there's a lot of stuff going on here. I don't know if you can see, there's just a lot of stuff going on. If you've never gone to Tucson, you should go to Tucson and experience it.

Jen : Oh, my gosh. I know. It was great last year. I definitely want to go again. It was quite an experience. You feel like you need two weeks to cover,

Andy : I don't know how long I've been here, Jan. I don't know. Somebody asked me what day it is. I really don't know what it is. I'm hoping somebody will tap me on the shoulder and say, okay, you can go home now. I think I've been here a month. I really don't know.

Jen : oh my gosh. Hopefully you're getting good weather at least,

Andy : Oh, yes. Yep. Coming from Utah. Yeah, it was 75 yesterday and I'm thinking we should be at the football match. City inside, but we're here. We're here. We got a job to do and we'll do it.

Jen : That's awesome. Thank you so much for your time. And I'm sure we'll be checking in with you again. And everyone will be hopefully being able to shake your hand in Vegas. And

Andy : Yeah, I was in the hotel got in the hotel elevator and these two ladies get in and they go we know you and So that's weird but

Jen : I know people asking for your autograph. I don't know if it's going to get there or not, but definitely probably want selfies with you though. I

Andy : PJX. We'll take a lot of selfies. It'll be fun

Jen : it. Photo booth. We definitely need a photo. We had a photo booth last time. Yeah.

Andy : yes we had a good meeting about, one last thing. P3X has an advisory committee that are all PJ artists. They're the ones that are telling us what, how do we make this event, good. And they're the ones that are guiding us. And that's one of the things that they talked about was more of a, more of an experience.

We're definitely working on that whole, remember I, I had what, six months to put that thing together and it was a miracle.

Jen : that was amazing. Oh my gosh. Yes. I know how much work that takes. Like I said, I put on a small event here and there's nothing, no, like a small, very percentage of what you do. And that, and even that alone, any type of event takes so much work and time. And but honestly, I think everyone does appreciate you doing that work.

So

Andy : Oh, it's, it's a lot of work, but I think it's one of my most enjoyable things that I do for Sunstone is, it's creating that experience, that opportunity, um, that platform for people to come and meet and better their lives, become better at what they do. I, that's where I get a lot of enjoyment is seeing that.

People come up and go, this has been phenomenal. I'm gonna go home and kill it now. That's what we're looking for.

Jen : Yep. I know. Like I said, so many reasons, networking, you're going to get inspired, you're going to be educated. Who knows, pick up a new skill, brush up on your welding, like all the things that are important for your PJ business. Again, we appreciate you. Thank you so much for your time.

And I'm sure we'll talk to you soon.

Andy : so much.

Jen : Thank you. Bye.

Andy : See ya.

Jen Well, how do you feel? I hope this episode inspired you in some way. I would love to hear from you. So visit me on Instagram at GoldieLinksJewelry or at my website at Goldie Links.

com. I'm always down to chat. Have a golden day and I'll see you next time.