We were lucky to catch up with Joy Taitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joy, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

So during the pandemic, I noticed a lot of people starting businesses and decided to take the leap and become an entrepreneur. I wanted to do something that did not feel like work and something that I knew I would not get tired of doing. I am always stopped in the streets and complimented on my jewelry and accessories. I have always had an eye for fashionable and unique pieces. So initially I said, I can sell ‘gems’. I have a cousin that always called me ‘Joyful’. So I just put them together and that’s how I got Joyful Gemz. I initially jumped in head first, not knowing at all what I was doing. However, It got me excited to be able to shop and also share my findings with others and hopefully they would be excited and happy to know that they would be receiving something that was carefully curated and unique. I like to think that I am sharing pieces that will become a family heirloom of sorts.

Joy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I was a teenager, my mom bought me a 14k gold custom ‘Mother and Child’ ring. It was my very first ‘real’ piece of jewelry. I was so excited and that sparked my interest in unique and one of kind jewelry. I never thought that I would be now selling jewelry of my own. So when I opened JG, I told myself that I would have to find the most unique and beautiful pieces I could find. We carry jewelry and accessories, all curated and sourced by me from all over the world. What sets us apart is the fact that I see what everyone is doing and do the opposite. I never really like to be the same as others. It is a part of my personality to be as unique as possible. Our gemz aren’t just accessories; they are expressions of art. We offer a diverse range of designs, from classic to contemporary, ensuring there’s something to suit every personality, style, and occasion. We take pride in our commitment to providing exquisite, high quality pieces that reflect timeless elegance and creativity.

As an e-commerce jewelry brand we solve several common problems for our customers. Life can be so busy, so being able to shop in the convenience of your own home is plus. Since covid, many people prefer online shopping anyway. Online you can take your time browsing for the perfect piece. We offer many unique styles that you would not find in store as well. We also offer customizable options which are perfect for gift giving. Being online also gives us the advantage of being accessible to everyone all around the world.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

The biggest advantage for me would be the low overhead of selling online. As I said before, people like to shop online anyway, so it’s really convenient and cost effective. Being an online brand makes us accessible to a broader audience that we would otherwise not be able to reach. Also, we are open 24/7, so you can shop our store at any time of the day. We stay open!

Now, on the other hand, the jewelry industry is very competitive. When you are a small business, it takes time to build trust and credibility. People are quick to dismiss you when you are new, so you have to be consistent and believe in your brand to gain a following. For me, it has been a challenge just being able to juggle the many aspects of being a business owner. No one told me all the obstacles I would face such as fraudulent purchases. I have even had someone try to dispute a charge on an order that was delivered. Things like that happened and it can bring you down if you let it.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

I have to say that my favorite sales story is from when I did my first pop up shop. I told myself I was going to get into pop ups as another outlet to reach my customers on a more personable level. Leading up to it, I was very. nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I was questioned if people would like my pieces, would I make any sales, just all these negative thoughts kept coming to mind. Once I was there and set up though, I was excited. I was able to network with other businesses, I even purchased from some the other businesses. When you do popups, you get to see what else is out there in the world of small businesses. I even made some sales, so overall it was a very enjoyable experience for me. So look out for Joyful Gemz to do more pop ups in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: joyfulgemz.com
• Instagram: @joyful_gemz
• Facebook: Joyful Gemz
• Twitter: @joyfulgemz