We recently connected with Courtney Legenhausen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

We started Lotus back in 2007, on the heals of the mortgage crisis of 2006 and the economy was not strong at that time. Our friends & family feared our decision would not be successful but we were able to prove them wrong. We decided early on that we would focus primarily on being part of the wholesale industry so we took our product line to our first wholesale trade show in 2008. We gained a lot of clientele at that first show, many of whom still order from us today. We were also introduced to our very first sales rep, who we signed on with to cover the state of New Jersey. That single decision to take part in our first tradeshow catapulted our business forward and we have never looked back!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in the small west coast beach town of Encinitas, CA. As a child, I spent my days on the beach, collecting shells and plant life that has fueled my life-long passion as a designer. Throughout our product line you will find earthy textures, beautiful botanicals and beach-life inspired pieces. Each of these designs pulls from my upbringing and comes from a rooted belief that you should wear what makes you feel beautiful.

My husband and I created Lotus Jewelry Studio in 2007 because we wanted to step away from the fine-jewelry world and create a brand that was fun, playful & exciting. Leaning on our refined skills as fine jewelers, we created a jewelry brand that has stood the test of time and has reached all corners of the globe!

Our team of talented jewelry artists spend each day having fun while hand-making beautiful pieces for our customers. High quality jewelry is our middle name and it is important to us that our pieces stand the test of time! Using ethically sourced stones and materials, the Lotus line is bursting with beautiful color pairings, high quality fabrication and stunning designs that have become the hallmark of LJS. We believe in making our high quality pieces affordable so they can be accessible to all!

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

The first situation that comes to mind is our business surviving the Covid crisis. It was by far the most challenging time as a business owner, for many reasons. Our business was forced to shut down for several months, as everyone else experienced. Re-opening was a challenge, due to safety protocols with our staff but also the uncertainty that we would have any business coming in. Once business started to ramp up again we felt the effects of the Great Resignation and many of our staff members left to pursue jobs that worked from home or to secure higher paying jobs with companies who were also experiencing staffing shortages. It took a great deal of resilience to get through that difficult time and make it through to the other side, still standing. Many of our industry friends had to close their businesses due to many of the reasons I mentioned. We were able to prove to ourselves that we can rise to the occasion and due the work that is needed to remain successful.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my husband, and co-business owner, after working together in a jewelry store in San Diego, California. He was the head jeweler of a shop in Pacific Beach and I was hired as his replacement so he could relocate to the East Coast. We worked together during my training for a few months and on the last day of working together he asked me out. We ended up dating long distance and got engaged only 9 months later. We have now been married for almost 18 years, have two amazing children and have been successfully running Lotus together for 17 years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lotusjewelrystudio.com/
• Instagram: @lotusjewelrystudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lotusjewelrystudio

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