We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Perez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
There are definitely times when I think about what it might be like to have a regular job instead of running my own business. I remember a rough day in particular when everything seemed to go wrong—a supplier missed an important deadline, a customer was unhappy with an order, and I was juggling way too many tasks at once. Sitting at my desk, completely overwhelmed, I started imagining the stability and consistency of a 9-to-5 job.
I pictured being able to clock out at 5 PM and leave work behind, not having to think about it until the next day. The idea of a steady paycheck and fewer responsibilities felt really tempting in that moment. But then, I reminded myself why I chose this path. The freedom to create and name my own jewelry pieces—especially the delicate, serene ones with beachy elements that I love—is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
The passion I have for my work, the joy of bringing my designs to life, and the pride in making my customers feel as special as the unique pieces they get to unwrap all remind me of why I do this. While running a business on my own is undeniably challenging, it’s also incredibly rewarding, and I know it’s where I’m meant to be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got into making bracelets when I was only 7. I’ve always loved the idea of having my personalized jewels and letting others choose what they desire. Since I was young, I’ve always liked the thought of owning a business with my name on it. Even if people didn’t like what I made, I would work harder and try to do my best. Even when business is slow, I try my best to keep my head up and continue working hard to chase my dreams of owning a business that reflects what I love. Growing up, I always chose jewelry over clothes when I went to stores. My biggest support in all of this is my mom. She has been with me throughout the whole business process since the beginning and has never stopped supporting me. This year, I started posting on YouTube a lot, and it’s been growing very fast, all thanks to my mom for her incredible video ideas. As I continue striving to create better jewelry for my audience, I continue to work as hard as possible.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
I personally use Square because it is free and easy to use, and I’ve never had a problem with it. I use the app at events and also have my own website with them, which is very nice and cute.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I built my audience with just one video. One day, when I first started my business, I posted some bracelets on my TikTok and it surprisingly went viral. I was getting constant orders that day and for the rest of the month. Also, on YouTube, one of my videos went insanely viral, and to this day, it gets hundreds of views daily. Staying consistent is the key to success!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kellyjewellss.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly.jewellss/profilecard/?igsh=Zndid2RweWRoNTI1
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kelly.jewellss?si=m2TqNnkrnLfGdPbV
- Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kelly.jewellss?_t=8rulXRFG7Ti&_r=1
