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

JEN, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

Here’s a condensed version while keeping the essence and emotions intact:

When I purchased the jewelry store, I felt both exhilarated and overwhelmed. Among my new inventory was a breathtaking $110,000 platinum and diamond ring, featuring a stunning 3 ct chocolate brown diamond. I adored it, but also lost sleep wondering if it would become an albatross around my neck.

Then, a woman walked in, tried it on, and fell in love. She visited the ring often, bringing her family, weighing her options. Should she reset her own 3 ct white diamond or purchase the ring as is? Every time she held it, I could feel its energy. I knew it was meant for her.

Ultimately, she chose both. She bought the ring as an heirloom for her daughter, who was about to welcome a baby girl, and entrusted me with designing a new setting for her diamond. It was my first custom design project, and helping her bring her vision to life remains a career highlight.

JEN, 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?

As a child, I spent hours designing couture gowns for my dolls or arranging my dollhouse—fashion and design have always been part of me. In high school, I worked in fashion retail, then earned a degree in interior design, where I honed my eye for fabrics, textures, and the perfect touch of sparkle.

I put my design career on hold to raise my kids but later apprenticed under Lisa T., the former owner of my jewelry store. Over eight years, I learned that jewelry, like tile and hardware in a home, is a personal accessory—an extension of one’s style. Matching the right pieces to the right person became my specialty.

When my kids became more self-sufficient, I launched **JEN Statement Jewelry** after purchasing Lisa T Fine Jewelry. **JEN—Jewelry Everyone Notices—**embodies my passion for bold, elegant, and eclectic designs that bring personal style to life.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My journey of resilience is deeply tied to how I funded my business. Newly divorced, I had the chance to stand on my own for the first time. Five years earlier, I had wanted to buy the jewelry store, but my then-husband wouldn’t support that decision. Now, as a single mom of three, I knew it was time to bet on myself.

I took a bold leap. Without established credit from my marriage, I couldn’t qualify for a loan—but that didn’t stop me. I invested my savings, tightened my bootstraps, and dove in head first. The anxiety was real—some days, it still is—but the results speak for themselves. We’ve grown the business 30% year-over-year and just had our best February in the store’s history. Looking back, I have nothing but gratitude for trusting myself and taking that risk.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before deciding to buy the jewelry store, I first tried returning to interior design. But as a single mom of three, I quickly realized that giving 125% to someone else’s business wouldn’t provide the flexibility, autonomy, or value for my time that I needed. Owning a small retail shop, however, could give me that freedom while allowing me to stay present for my children, who mean everything to me.

Along the way, I had to unlearn the belief that I had to do everything for them. I had raised resilient kids who were already on their path to independence. By stepping into my own career while still making time for them, I wasn’t just building a business—I was showing them a new side of their mom, one that could inspire them and the people we care about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jenstatementjewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen.statementjewelry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-c-133806253