What does it really take to build a full-time jewellery business from scratch?
In this inspiring episode of the Jewellers Academy podcast, Jessica Rose is joined by Alice Catherine to talk about her incredible journey from complete beginner during lockdown to running a successful jewellery business and shop on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
Alice shares how she discovered jewellery making in 2021, enrolled on the Diploma in Silver Jewellery with Jewellers Academy just days later and funded her studies through selling jewellery online while she learned. Since then, she has built a thriving jewellery brand inspired by the Scottish coastline, grown an online audience of over 50,000 followers and now creates ocean-inspired jewellery in silver, gold and gemstones.
She has also achieved something many jewellers dream about: building a successful bricks and mortar jewellery shop with her jeweller's bench in the back, creating and selling her work from the same space, and growing the business to the point where she now employs staff and freelance support.
In this episode, Alice talks honestly about learning jewellery making online, building a sustainable handmade business, growing through social media and balancing creativity, business and motherhood. She also shares what it was really like starting out from a tiny attic workspace with no running water and why you do not need the perfect setup to begin.
Key moments in the episode:
00:00: Introduction
02:00: Introduction to Alice Catherine and her jewellery journey
03:16: Starting jewellery making during lockdown in 2021
04:10: Discovering Jewellers Academy and signing up for the Diploma
07:18: Funding the Diploma through jewellery sales
08:05: Balancing the Diploma alongside full-time work
08:45: Why online jewellery learning worked so well for Alice
11:43: The jewellery making skills Alice still uses every day
13:12: Revisiting Diploma tutorials years later
17:09: Moving to the Isle of Lewis and making jewellery in an attic workshop
19:07: Why you do not need the perfect workshop to start
20:07: Opening her jewellery shop in Stornoway
22:22: Learning about stock, casting and running a jewellery business
24:48: Creating a sustainable handmade jewellery brand
26:35: Growing an audience through Instagram and TikTok
27:45: Going viral on Instagram and growing to 50,000 followers
30:00: Why repeat customers matter more than follower numbers
31:18: Creating jewellery inspired by the ocean and Scottish islands
33:38: Building a team and balancing motherhood with business
35:14: Alice's advice for new jewellery makers considering the Diploma
37:08: Where to find and follow Alice Catherine Jewellery
