Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxy Gonzales.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Roxy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
If you would have asked me four years ago, if I saw myself doing what I’m doing now, I wouldn’t have believed it. See, I never really pictured that business would end up being my thing. My initial desire to open up an online business surfaced in the spring of 2018. However, at the time, in addition to school, I had a very demanding job that produced a great deal of stress for me. The thought of bringing in more responsibilities with the online business was almost unimaginable to me. So, I quickly talked myself out of the idea a couple of times because I doubted my ability to operate an online store while also being a full-time, college student, and worker. Fast forward to April of 2019, my stress and anxiety reached an all-time high. I was beyond unhappy with my job, and I knew I could not allow it to continue to significantly impact my mental health any further. I was finally able to come to the conclusion that no job was worth me putting my happiness or mental health at risk. It literally took me more than a year to finally act on the decision to leave, but I did it. Exactly one year ago, in May of 2019, I finally took a leap of faith, quit my job, and dedicated myself full-time to starting up what is now—Luna Custom Jewelry.
Now, I can’t go on with my story without mentioning the one person who helped paved the way for my vision. My mother has been the biggest inspiration for me. She has been in the gold jewelry business industry for over 20+ years now. I grew up around it my entire life—literally—since I was in her womb! I watched her hustle hard to build what she has now. From a young age, jewelry and fashion quickly became something I kept very close to my heart. And I knew that if I was going to open up an online business, I wanted it to be within the industries of accessories or apparel. After much deliberation and lots of research, I decided to create an alternative, more economical option for personalized jewelry. Specifically, with the young adults in mind who love following the latest trends while still staying on a budget. I couldn’t think of a better unique product to start selling than custom name necklaces and anklets. I had seen the increasing popularity of it on social media; however, it was something that had not yet been done before within my local community. My goal was to create a quality brand as credible and as professional as possible. So, I decided to work diligently on this idea, day and night, over the span of 3 months. Everything down to the business name, logo, website, you name it—I carefully crafted it.
After many long nights, I finally launched my website on July 19th, 2019. As of today, Luna Custom Jewelry is officially nine months strong thanks to the overwhelming support and love I have received from my local community, friends, and family! I am at a much better place now mentally and could not be any happier with the decisions I’ve made that have led me to this point. I have absolutely no regrets! Hard work pays off, consistency is key, and patience is everything. It’s amazing where you can go when you choose to believe in yourself. I continue committed to building my brand and providing an even wider selection of quality custom and non-custom jewelry products for as long as this journey is destined to last.
Has it been a smooth road?
As most business owners and entrepreneurs can tell you—absolutely not! Running an online business has definitely come with a variety of challenges. Although I knew a handful of things about the jewelry industry, there were still plenty of things about having an e-commerce business I had no freaking clue about! As a result, I had to dedicate an extensive amount of time to researching and educating myself on all the ins and outs. However, one of the most important things I realized throughout my business journey is that you aren’t going to have it all figured out; there will be things that you will be forced to learn along the way. Don’t let that frustrate you. It’s part of the process.
The biggest struggle I’ve had is having to run this business entirely by myself while also being a full-time college student at Georgia State University. Juggling the responsibilities that come with maintaining my own business while pursuing my education can get overwhelming at times. There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes. It’s much harder than what the internet typically portrays it to be. I follow a strict schedule in order to stay on top of preparing my orders, shipments, customer service emails, and advertising. It has taken effort, hard work, and consistency. However, I would not change this experience for anything in the world. It has taught me so much about myself in such a short period of time. And the best feeling is being able to look back at something you busted your ass for and be genuinely proud of how far you’ve come.
Tell us more about the business.
Luna Custom Jewelry is an online jewelry store that specializes in quality, personalized Sterling Silver and 14k Gold Plated jewelry pieces. We are most known for our Custom Name Necklaces and Anklets. However, we also offer a variety of other customizable jewelry products such as initials, monograms, birthyear, and engravable bar necklaces. And we are actively working on expanding our collection even further! What I’m most proud of as a company, would definitely be how much we’ve grown in the amount of time we’ve been open. I honestly did not expect it to gain as much momentum as it has. Luna Custom Jewelry started in my city of Lawrenceville, Georgia, so to see it grow not only within my local community but also gradually receive business from other states all across the U.S., has been super rewarding. What sets my business apart from other jewelry companies would definitely be the importance I place on providing high-quality products, while also making sure to maintain an affordable and competitive price. From day one, my priority has always been the satisfaction of my customers. As a consumer who understands the importance of customer service, I go above and beyond to make sure every single one of my customers is 100% happy with their custom jewelry purchases.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Due to changing consumer habits, I definitely see the jewelry industry having a much stronger online presence in the near future. In this digital age, establishing your company online is almost necessary, especially if you want to market younger consumers. What used to be seen as a “luxury” for independent jewelry stores is now becoming a necessity. And, if jewelry stores fail to adapt to this change, they may face the risk of falling behind in this increasingly competitive market!
Pricing:
- 14k Gold Plated Name Necklaces & Anklets starting from $50
- Sterling Silver Name Necklaces & Anklets starting from $40
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lunacustomjewelry.com
- Phone: (678) 900-6272
- Email: lunacustomjewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunacustomjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lunacustomjewelry
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShopLunaCustom
Image Credit:
Norma Rodriguez Photography (Personal photo)
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