Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittany Bostany. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I learned about permanent jewelry 6 years ago when I saw a New York jewelry brand doing it. I thought it was an amazing idea and wanted one for myself. I would look to see if anyone in the area was doing it locally and could never find anything.

One of the times I was looking I came across a video showing the process of how a permanent bracelet is attached. Being a jewelry maker in the past, the process intrigued me. So I researched everything I could; the machine, the chain, who my clients would be, and how I would start getting business. I could not stop thinking about it. After talking with my mother-in-law who is a fellow jewelry business owner about it I decided to go for it. I bought the machine, ordered a couple styles of gold filled chain, came up with my name (Gold & Eight) and started practicing on friends and family.

Then I started reaching out to local businesses to do pop-ups offering permanent jewelry, invested in branding, and photoshoots for social media content. I didn’t know where this was going to take me or if it would even work out but after 6 months, things started to pick up steam. I was building relationships with fellow small business owners, booking private parties, and even being able to rent out a small corner of a shop to have semi permanent hours.

Flash forward another 6 months, March 2023, I was asked if I wanted to expand into downtown Stillwater, MN with the Locale Makers Market & Boutique that had a room available for rent. I knew this was the next step for my business. Since then, the space has found its groove, I’m still booking private parties and events, and I’m hoping to add my team in 2024.

Brittany, 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?

My name is Brittany. I live in Hudson, WI with my husband and two boys. I have always been a maker/crafter type person as a passion so when I saw the idea of permanent jewelry, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. With not being able to find it in my area, I decided I would help start bringing the concept of permanent jewelry here.

Gold & Eight was created to provide permanent jewelry to clients as a way to mark a special moment or connection and for those who like to keep their jewelry on. We offer quality gold filled and sterling silver chain that are durable as they are beautiful with over 25 chain style options to choose from. Gold & Eight prides themselves on experience, quality, and atmosphere.

I’m most proud of the connections I have made. I love hearing why people are getting permanent jewelry. Mothers, daughters, sisters, couples, and best friends getting permanent jewelry to mark a special occasion or their connection with each other or just because. I’ve met some amazing people.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started I knew social media was going to my form of advertising, getting my name out, and staying connected with clients. I quickly realized that that is a lot harder then it may seem. How was I able to share what I did in a professional and consistent way? Branding.

I invested in branding, website, and photoshoots. This has been a huge key to my success. It has kept my business streamlined and given me the ability to put quality content on my socials.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

My social medias and website work hard for me but I will say word of mouth has been huge for business.

A lot of my clients are through making connections at pop-ups. Then booking private parties which roll into more private parties. And then the clients that come into my space and tell me someone referred them to me. It’s my favorite compliment as a business owner. You made someone happy so they decided to go out of their way to tell others about you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.goldandeight.com
• Instagram: @goldandeight
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/goldandeight

Image Credits
Zea Corrinne Photography