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

Jaeda, 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.

I worked for a local jewelry designer for eight years where I got to sample many different facets of the jewelry industry. I started off in the office doing customer service and shipping orders all over the country, and eventually learned the line so well I became a trainer for all new accounts that were onboarded. I moved on to become a west coast account rep where I was able to travel to stores and spend the day with them during trunk shows, to trade shows where I got to meet so many talented designers.

I felt like Cleveland had such a gap in the independent designer market, and knew that I’d like to bring something unique to the area one day. The winter before my kids started full day kindergarten, I started searching for an office space. I wanted it to be small and intimate, preferably upstairs from retail locations so I could offer a more catered experience for clients. Every jewelry store I had ever walked into was bright and shiny and somewhat intimidating. I wanted to create something opposite of that where you could browse and shop with ease, and learn all about these incredibly talented artists. Their stories are apart of the jewelry.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I wanted to choose price points for my showroom that fell into a “self purchase” spot. I didn’t want women to feel like they needed an occasion to buy fine jewelry for themselves. The bulk of my pieces fall between the $500-$1,500 price range, while going above and below that. I also wanted to make sure I hit a lot of different aesthetics. Some people are bold, and some are more classic so I wanted to make sure I had pieces that spoke to a wide range of styles. I make it my mission to educate people on how to style each piece in a variety of ways as well. So many people didn’t know they were jewelry people, until they came in and tried something on. It makes me so happy!

I also really strived to find designers that you couldn’t find other places in the area, and I think I’ve done a good job with that. People always tell me that they have never seen such a unique selection of pieces before. Everything is primarily 14k and 18k, so these are pieces that are going to last forever. I don’t generally reorder the same items for the showroom, so you can feel good knowing that everyone else isn’t going to have the same piece as you.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is an ever-changing enigma to me (and most of us I believe). Consistency really is key, but keeping up with the things that are working for YOU is the way to go.

For me personally, I’ve started finding ways to collaborate with other small businesses in order to maximize exposure. Whether that’s by doing reels that incorporate our two brands, pop-ups around town with other businesses for extra sharing opportunities, or tagging other businesses in my own stories and posts, it’s all super helpful in getting your content seen.

In the past year I’ve learned that it’s not only showing jewelry and different ways you can wear it, but it’s showing a bit of me as well. My face has started becoming more prominent with the brand, because I’ve realized it helps people build trust. I know I personally love when brands sprinkle in more everyday, relatable content, so that’s what I’ve started doing and it helps! I get so many more DMS and comments, even when it’s not jewelry related. I’ve been focusing this past year more on authenticity to help people feel more comfortable with investing in fine jewelry.

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

As soon as I secured my business name, I made sure to grab my domain. Spending eight years as a rep servicing various boutiques and jewelry stores, I could see the struggles that would arise for those who did not jump on the e-commerce train. I think the pandemic also created a giant shift for online shopping, so it was a no-brainer to start building a very user-friendly website immediately.

I have my entire inventory on my website as I get it in. It not only helps me secure orders from other parts of the country, but it gives people the ability to window shop before they come in. A lot of times a client will make an appointment to see certain items. It creates a very efficient time in the showroom, and can help people feel less overwhelmed than if they just walked in and saw everything for the first time.

This year I even launched online wishlists so people can easily drop hints around the special moments in life (birthday, anniversary, the holidays). In addition, I also offer the option for local in-store pickups at checkout. It’s just another great way to create a streamlined experience for the customer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.porterfi.com
• Instagram: porterfijewelry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/porterfi

Image Credits

Maggie Newton, Marisa Herman, Jamison Bays