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

Hi Eliza, thanks for joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

From making keyrings and playing shop in my bedroom when I was little, to designing and making jewellery as a full-time job, I suppose I’ve always wanted to run a business – and a creative one at that.

As a creative, the thought of setting up a business and selling work can be overwhelming, especially when coupled with the imposter syndrome that many of us are inclined to feel. Starting a business had always been a pipe dream, but mine began completely organically. As soon as I took part in my first jewellery workshop and bought my first tools, I posted some images of my first jewellery projects on social media and people liked them enough to want to buy them. I then moved onto Etsy as a sales platform, using Instagram for marketing and community building, and taking part in as many markets as possible, which allowed me to reach a more diverse audience as well as connect with other creatives.

As I finished my language degree and moved towards running my business full-time, I relaunched it with a completely new brand and dedicated website. This rebranding process was a really important step in the growth of my business, and in myself as a business owner. I took time to really think about who my ideal clients would be, how they would dress, even the food they’d like to aeat and the jobs they would have. Understanding this was really key to understanding the direction of growth for my business.

But it doesn’t have to be clear-cut from the outset: feeling your way, trusting your instincts as you go, and following your creative impulse is the best way to create a truly authentic, soulful, creative brand. Then, when you find those moments of clarity in terms of audience or goals, keep them and build them into what you do.

If in doubt, remember why you started the business, and remember what you love about it. That will always help you find your way.

Eliza, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a graduate in Classics and French, and self-taught silversmith. I began making and selling jewellery during a foundation year in fine art,, and relaunched my business as Studio Sōl Jewellery over the past year. My work is inspired by my degree in classics, background in sculpture and South East Asian heritage, featuring design-led, historically inspired jewellery, both as bespoke and ready to wear.

Sustainability is central to my work, so every piece is handcrafted from recycled sterling silver, recycled gold and reclaimed freshwater pearls. I also run silversmithing workshops from my jewellery studio in central Leeds, sharing a passion and craft, to make prices that will last lifetimes.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Social media is a great way to keep in touch with clients. Letting people get to know who’s behind the brand – you as a real person with a real passion for what they do – is so important for building up that connection. With every order, I send out a little personalised message on a branded card, and make sure to keep repeat customers in the loop with exclusive offers, discounts or early access to new collection launches.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s still a topic of debate, but I tend always use ‘I’ in emails, rather than trying to make out that my business is run by a big team. I always used to use ‘we’ in communications and emails, but that led to me getting overwhelmed with work and customers not realising that I had a finite capacity as the sole business owner. This shift has helped in justifying lead times for clients, and can actually make it more relatable and personal for clients, as they know that their jewellery is, and can, only be made by one person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://studiosoljewellery.com/
• Instagram: @studiosoljewellery

Image Credits
Tom Hill