We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Madison Bush a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Madison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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 have always been a really crafty person. I grew up in 4-H doing fiber arts, sewing projects, and public speaking. As I grew older and entered into college, I pursued a bachelors degree in Biology from Pittsburg state University and my Master’s in Public Health at Oklahoma State. While at Pittsburg State University, I was between taking French as a second language or enroling in a jewelry design course. Needless to say, I took the jewelry course and had the pleasure of studying jewelry design under a world-renowned Jewelry Artist, Marjorie Schick. I took several semesters of jewelry under Ms. Schick and learned how to solder, create jewelry as wearable art and developed my creative and technical knowledge of how fine metals work not only in their beauty but also at a molecular level (which my inner science nerd loved!)

After college, I entered into the work force doing various things in public health, such as my current position; a Public Health Educator in Kansas City, but always had a heart for jewelry and crafts. In June of 2022, I visited a local craft fair with a friend and she asked me to get a permanent bracelet with her. I was very confused – I had been taught how to make jewelry using fine metals and a torch and flux. Permanent Jewlery sounded dangerous! Like everyone, I had no idea what she was talking about. I got the bracelet and in my true entrepreneurial fashion, I got to work figuring out how I could do this. I did research, weighed my options, bounced it off of friends and coworkers, and thought- Oh! This will be a great side hustle to have a creative outlet doing something I love.

When I first started Luna Links Permanent Jewelry Design LLC, I employed the help of a friend to figure out logistics and finances. I watched videos and did research on how the miniature welder, that is used in permanent jewelry, worked. I had lots of experience working with metal and knowing how to manipulate jewelry pieces, so I’d like to think I was ahead of the curve. I was mistaken! Doing Permanent Jewelry is a difficult task. The pieces used are small, there is a lot of work done in the background to make sure you are buying and selling quality chain and not to mention the social media management and design aspect. Through Luna Links, my skills in social media, event coordination, jewelry design, and customer satisfaction, among many other skills, has increased! While I still have my passion for public health my not-so-small “small business” has been wonderful at fulfilling that jeweler and crafter deep down!

Madison, 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?

The name Luna Links came from and idea I had around space. The spark of the welder reminded me of a shooting star or the lights that sparkle in our Galaxy. We also wanted to incorporate scripture into our mission and on much of our marketing you will see a verse: “Psalm 148:3- Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.” Our logo is even made with a moon!

I always tell our customers. I love permanent jewelry because it gives new meaning to “I woke up like this”. It’s so easy to look put together and I never want to sell anything that I wouldn’t get behind or use myself. I love jewelry, I love girl talk and I love lifting up and empowering women. What better way to do that then to make women feel beautiful with a piece of jewelry they can wear daily and not have to worry about!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

When we first started Luna Links, we started an IG and hoped the people would come. Spoiler alert: they did not! We did a couple of events but “back then” people still didn’t know what permanent jewelry was or understand it. Our client base was mostly made by some good ole fashioned ‘boots on the ground’ work. I called, emailed, stopped in with business cards and messaged business on Instagram and Facebook explaining the service we offered and asking if we could pop-up in their space. It was hit and miss but proved effective! As of October of 2023, a little over 1 year after our first event, we have attended over 80 events, pop-ups and private parties! We love going to people’s events, bringing our gear and being the party favor for bridal showers, bachelorette parties or just fun!

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

We carefully outsource our chain and charms because we believe that there are small businesses within the U.S. that create quality products. While we don’t make the chain or wire ourselves, we created the concept of permanent earrings! Our earrings are hoops, hand made by me, that we attach permanently using a chemical welding process! The permanent earrings are great for people (like me) that hate taking their earrings in and out, or lose them easily or like a permanent 2nd or 3rd piercing.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/lunalinks_permjewelry
• Instagram: lunalinks_permjewelry
• Facebook: Luna Links

Image Credits
Kyla Leighanne Photography