Corporate career to thriving jewellery designer with Karen Young (podcast episode)
This week on the podcast we’re joined by the jeweller Karen Young. Karen had a successful corporate career and has made the transition to following the thing she loves - jewellery - and now has two thriving businesses. Learn about her fascinating journey and hear her advice for jewellers.
006: CORPORATE CAREER TO THRIVING JEWELLERY DESIGNER
This week on the podcast we’re joined by the jeweller Karen Young. Karen had a successful corporate career and has made the transition to following the thing she loves - jewellery - and now has two thriving businesses. If you are considering making a transition from your job to a handmade business then I know you will find hearing Karen’s story fascinating.
EPISODE RECAP
Welcome (2:14)
Tell us a bit about being in a corporate career and transitioning to being a jewellery designer? (3:11)
We often have a lot going on - do you think the first step is to stop and realize it’s a lot? (6:36)
Did you feel any guilt about leaving your job? What kind of feelings came up for you? (7:44)
How did the idea of being a jewellery designer come about? (10:22)
How did you train to grow a business while you were working? (13:52)
Sometimes people who come from a corporate job think they don’t have skills to run a business. But you have so many skills! (17:15)
Were you concerned about how your friends and family would judge your decision to leave your corporate career to start a business? (18:41)
When I first said I wanted to start a jewellery business, people thought it was a hobby. Did you experience any of that? (22:05)
What lessons did you learn in the first year of your business? (24:45)
Take the time to look how far you’ve come (29:07)
What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about starting a handmade business? (31:00)
You have two businesses - can you tell us a little bit about them and what’s next for you? (33:39)
Any final advice? (39:41)
ABOUT KAREN YOUNG
Karen is a handmade jeweller based in London, who handcrafts silver and gemstone jewellery with meaning, heart and soul (and a little bit of sparkle)! Her designs are heavily inspired by texture and form in the natural world.
Karen also recently started offering remote styled product photography for other handmade business owners. Karen passionately believes that all handmade artists deserve sharp, well-lit photos of their beautiful handmade designs to capture the hearts and minds of your ideal customers so they stand out and sell more online.
Karen Young Jewellery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenyoungjewellery
Karen Young Photography
www.karenyoungphotography.co.uk
hello@karenyoungphotography.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenyoungphotographyuk
Thanks so much for listening.
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Thank you so much,
With love
Jess x