We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chesson Becker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chesson below.

Chesson, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

The numerous layers of owning a small business often are forgotten, especially when social media is known to display a facade of happiness and success. For me, especially, I have to balance my multiple identities along with being a small business owner. I am a full time high school student, a sibling, a soccer player, a friend, and, of course, a teenage entrepreneur. I started my business over four years ago when I was 12, playing around with some beads. I used the jewelry as a creative outlet, making use of different colors and distinct design choices; I, being the determined girl I am, thought it might be cool to make some money out of it. Here I am, four years later, with a successful business, hundreds of happy customers, and thousands of unique jewelry pieces dispersed throughout 47 states in the United States. I want my business and story to be seen as a story of hard work and possibility; who are we to know what will happen if we do not try? Balancing AP courses, difficult customers, sleepless nights, and social media management has not been easy, but the end goal of becoming a role model for young females throughout the world always keeps me going. It is SO important that females are exposed to the business world from an early age; whether it is simply understanding tax policies or owning your own business, this exposure allows for us to understand the ins and outs of the economy. I hope that my legacy is one that encourages girls to step out of their comfort zone and understand the potential that they are capable of.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Blitz Beads is my jewelry business which focuses on handmaking eccentric and durable pieces that bring confidence and joy for each of my customers. My goal is for my customers to be excited to wear their jewelry for the way that it makes them feel! I handmake earrings, bracelets, and necklaces with chains, beads, wire, stones, clasps, charms, etc. The way people display themselves is a huge portion of how people perceive them at first glance, a nice piece of jewelry can go a long way. If you know me, you understand that I am the type of person who needs to be far from basic. My jewelry is unique and distinctive, always popping the question “Where is that from?” The aesthetic and vibe of my business sets me apart; I find a way to intersect “trendy” and “unique” in every one of my pieces. Yet, along with my business display, I think that my persona as a business owner also plays a huge part in my customer pull. Since I am only 16, people are always skeptical of the reliability of my pieces and jewelry. Yet, my young age and mind put together with my determination and work ethic allow for my work to not only be sustainable, timeless, and prompt (post purchase), but also allows for a connection between my customers and me. I have been a part of trunk shows in boutiques around North Carolina, held collaborations with influential females, and created jewels that will become my customers’ statement piece.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am a strong believer that motivation is like a wave. It ebbs and flows, coming and going at an unstable rate. Motivation is something that we simply can not control, the only thing we can control is our perseverance and resilience through those times where we are at loss for motivation. Getting caught up in the obstacles of life can trigger these setbacks in motivation and shift around your priority list. Small business owners universally are all driven by their goals and aspirations, but when these goals seem distant we are blind to our successes and past achievements. In early 2022, I launched a new collection where the feedback I received was far from what I anticipated, and not in a good way. I was distraught and taken aback as I felt that my months of preparation were a waste and my faith in myself and my brand were lost. It is times like these that are where we learn the most, and understand where we need to grow. Basing your worth on your small business is one of the worst things someone can do. Your successes do not define you, it is your passions and dedication that set you apart. Working through the times of trouble and finding a way to grow from them instead of sitting on your failures for months are the way we can overcome a loss of motivation; every success story sees failure.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Content creation can often be seen as a burden, therefore you have to find a way to make posting on social media fun. Display your vibe, personality, and what you love on your social media! You will attract the consumers who you aspire to have by being yourself on your social media and portraying an ambiance specific to you. Social media is not only about creating an Instagram post or reel, but it also is about connections. Supporting other small businesses and creating friendships with people who are going through similar things to you allows for an outlet of encouragement and support in people who you would have never met otherwise. My favorite thing about social media is that it is the one place where you can support a small business at no cost to you. Simply commenting, sharing, liking, or reposting something allows for your following to gain exposure to new ideas and business plans. At the beginning of my social media presence, I always felt awkward and consumed by others’ thoughts and judgements. Starting a business is a weird time, as it feels like you do not have enough influence to post what you want yet. To be quite honest, judgement is a sign that you are doing something right! In order to have success and draw in an audience, you need to step out of your comfort zone and display what you want your business to look like.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blitzbeads.com
• Instagram: @blitzbeads

Image Credits
Emily Bautista