September 16, 2023 • 40 mins
In this episode, our guest (ek!) Monique Terry shares SO much valuable information from what it actually looks like to start a jewelry brand, keeping it running, competitors, how success looks different for everyone and so much more. She was so open and honest and we think you guys will really appreciate how authentic she is, on top of her being inspiring.
Shop her jewelry brand with discount code: HGC20
https://bldxmonique.com
https://www.instagram.com/bldxmonique/
Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/shaniahdip/ https://www.instagram.com/valerierocio/ https://www.instagram.com/hotgirlscry_/
Shop her jewelry brand with discount code: HGC20
https://bldxmonique.com
https://www.instagram.com/bldxmonique/
Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/shaniahdip/ https://www.instagram.com/valerierocio/ https://www.instagram.com/hotgirlscry_/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi guys, we're so excited foryou to listen to this episode. Today,
our guest is Monique Terry, thefounder and creator of BLD by Monique.
Monique is one of my first clientsand now friend. Today she's sharing
her story of leaving corporate America andlaunching a successful jewelry brand full of self
designed, edgy statement pieces. Weknow you're going to love this episode,
(00:21):
so we already got y'all a discountcode. You can shop Monique story with
code HGC twenty for twenty percent off. Let's get into it. This week,
a hot new bombshell enters the villa. I'm Shnaya. I'm a content
creator and a manic money spender.I'm Valerie. I'm a serial entrepreneur and
recovering perfectionists. We're here to bringyou life in wellness tips, tricks and
(00:46):
hacks from experts and our personal experiences. This is the Hawk Girl Cry Podcast.
(01:06):
Hi guys, welcome back to theHawt Girls Crib Podcast. Today we
have our second guests, Monique.She is a fellow Dallas resident and she
also has her own jewelry brand andshe's a jewelry designer. So we're so
excited to have her. Thanks guys, I'm excited to be here. Thank
you so much for inviting me.So we're gonna start off with our gratefuls.
(01:30):
So if you just want to sharesomething you're grateful for it, give
me small. I'm grateful for Valerie. Oh yeah, she was like,
so when I first moved to Dallasand I launched my business, like you
were one of our first supporters,you bought she can do all things ring
I think, or maybe she isfearless. I forgot, but I'm grateful
(01:53):
for you, and then you helpingme with my business too, and now
I'm here, so I'm grateful foryou. Thank you. Our guests keep
love bombing me. We were laughingbecause our first guest said that she was
grateful for Valerie too, and Iwas like, yeah, like support like
that it's hard to come by,especially me not being from Texas, so
(02:16):
like these connections I always love.So yeah, she's a special one.
Thank you. And it's so crazytoo, because we were talking the other
day at one of our photo sheetsand I was like, how did we
even mean? She was like,you bought one of my rings and I
was like did I Like, Ijust thought we met at an event or
something and started shooting together. LikeI didn't even realize because like I love
jewelry, and like I loved herstuff, but like I was like I
(02:38):
had no idea because she just likeknew that my ring size off theop her
head. I'm like, how doyou know that? And she was like,
we bought my stuff, and Iwas like, oh, crazy,
Oh cute. It's okay that youremember too. You're like, yeah,
Hollery, I remember all of mylike first buyers, like my first customers.
I never forget any of my firstcustomers. Orders didn't come in you
(02:59):
know, regular literally like every day, so like you see certain names and
you're like okay, and then youjust memorize it and I don't know,
so I just knew she was oneof my first customers. So that is
so sweet. It is so sweet. That's one thing I was going to
say too, like in our lastepisode we just recorded, is you know,
I'm grateful for the women who startedthe business. You know. It's
(03:20):
like they really they're the reason ourbusinesses can become what they are, you
know, Yeah, And it's justamazing that you get to work with women,
do you know, especially in thebusiness area as well. Yes,
that's my grateful as you know,the women who help us get where we
are today. She's grateful for womenlove all women love women. Yes,
(03:40):
I am grateful for my new furniture. That arright, it'd be cute.
It's all finally coming together, likepart I just did a whole apartment revamp
and all of it has finally arrived, So I'm excited to start putting it
to other and just seeing my spacecome to life, which feels very superficial
(04:03):
compared to what you guys said.I mean I work from home, so
yeah, revamping, like sometimes youjust need new energy, new space,
so like I get it. Ijust love home to Court too, like
it just it's a hobby. Yes, And I saw a lot of your
apartment two from your Instagram, whichis so cute. By the way,
(04:25):
a bight of you are doing suchan amazing job on that Instagram, because
I know Valerie does a lot ofyour photo shoots for your drawer brand,
but it is just so chic andclassy and just so pinteresty and beautiful.
It looks so good. I kindof tell Valerie, like what is in
my mind, and then she justruns with it. So yeah, yeah,
I feel like you guys kind ofhave a very similar aesthetics. So
(04:46):
it really worked. Yeah, itdoes work. Yeah, and then I
love her, like when I gointo her apartment, like when we do
the shoots at her apartment, I'mlike, I want this, like this
is my home. But I wasdying the other day one of the reels
that you posted when you put yourboyfriend to work that you guys have to
go look at her Instagram because it'sso cute and funny. James, you
(05:09):
are the best partner. He likedoes not even hesitate to help me.
Oh, I appreciate that. I'mgrateful for him too. Oh that's really
sweet. Thank He's like so willingto jump and be there for you for
your business. Yeah. Mine hasopted for emotional support, not physical.
That's too, I guess, Aidan. I guess we're grateful regardless any support
(05:32):
will take. Okay, So juststarting off, what kind of inspired you
or got you even in the realmof the idea to even think about starting
to design jewelry? My story goesback, Okay, take us Okay.
Yeah, so I was in collegetwo thousand and five. Yeah, two
(05:58):
thousand and five, two thousand andsix was my freshman year. I got
into a car accident. I waswith a boy and he was speeding down
it's like a straight away road andthe speed limit was like thirty miles an
hour and he was going like sixtyfive seventy. He was speeding. A
car pulled out in front of us. He tried to swerve, but the
(06:20):
car like hopped the median and thenlike fish tailed, and then all the
oncoming traffic hit me in my side. So I was in the hospital with
a broken leg in four places,broken collarbone, broken jaw, and in
the They tried to pull me tothe driver's side to get me out of
the car, and I was inso much pain. I was like,
(06:45):
God, I guess I'm going toheaven. Like I was ready to go.
I was, I've never been inthat much pain. Yeah, So
it was like if I die righthere, I'm okay. And sure enough
they pulled me out and I'm fine. But maybe In two thousand and sixteen
seventeen, two eighteen, I wasworking a corporate job where I hated,
(07:10):
like I hated going to work andI was in DC and everyone's so like
ambitious and that's just really not me. I'm a creative. So I was
like, God, you did notsave me from that accident to just like
live this mundane, boring life.And that's what took me on a journey
of like what am I really herefor? And so through that journey,
(07:32):
it was he was like really teachingme how to encourage the women that I
was around. And I will neverforget this. It was clear as day,
and this is not how I'd normallyhear God. I was walking back
to my desk and then I justhear this like loud voice and it said
right. I was like the heck, like, sir? Did that come
(07:53):
from? Like? And I didn'tknow. I'm like write what? So
for like n years, for months, I was like write what, God,
like, write what? So Ididn't get an answer. So I
just kept writing everything I thought youwere saying right as and someone was trying
to tell make like tell you toturn right, no like right like a
w yeah, okay, okay,okay, got it? Yeah no,
(08:15):
you're like I am right? Yeah? I thought I right okay? And
I hate writing, Yeah me too. I don't I'm not a writer.
And so I didn't get an answerso I was like, okay, I'm
just gonna write everything because I don'tknow what that means. So I just
started writing everything. I put outlike this like planner agenda, and I
(08:35):
wrote like little encouraging messages, andthen I launched what was called like a
kickstarter. I'm not sure if youguys have heard of those. That thing
flopped, and I was like,I was mad at God. I was
like, I was like, God, I heard you so clearly, and
you told me to write, andI here I am, and I write
it and I launch it and likelike six people bought into my Kickstarter was
(08:58):
like, so you created planners.I did. Okay, Okay, it
didn't work well. We just dida podcast over how to Start a business
and we were just talking about howno one really talks about their failures and
how you know you can start somethingand it just might not work out.
Yeah, I was I was pissed. God. You told me to write,
(09:20):
and I write and like no onesupports me, Like what is this?
So I was so upset, andI feel like he gave me time
to like mourn the idea of likethat business not working. I went on
vacation and then was it that Januarytwo thousand and nineteen, He's like,
okay, you've cried, let's go. You need to write. Write what.
(09:45):
So I saw like a cigar biandlike it wasn't like one of those
because mantra bands were out, butthey had like the small bands. So
I saw a cigar bian. Iwas like, what if I write encouraging
messages on these rings? And soI was like okay. So then I
started finding vendors. Then I startedfiguring out what I was going to put
on the rings. I had afew necklaces too. At the time,
(10:07):
this is twenty nineteen, twenty nineteen, and were you living in Texas.
I was still in Virginia and workingin the DC area, And then SO
sourced vendors. In November, Ilaunched an Instagram. I had four followers,
I had my graphic designer, mysister, and my two cousins.
I launched, I started getting saleslike from random strangers on the internet and
(10:30):
it just worked. That's how youknow it's good. Yeah, And I
was like, oh, I wasjust supposed to. What was your very
first one was she can do allthings? Oh my gosh, she can
do all Uh you are enough shecan do all things. You are enough,
and I hadn't. I didn't haveGod Is with You, which is
actually my best seller right now.She is Fearless. Those were my three
(10:52):
rings that I started with, andbasically it's like messages like for she is
Fearless, like you don't have tobe fearless, but it's a reminder that
you can push past that and actuallybe fearless. So I was like,
these are my like people just startedbuying so and then I just grew,
like I took off after I posted, or actually after I created the Instagram,
(11:16):
and I've just been going ever since. And yeah, it's all from
like hearing right, and I don'tknow why, like it was crazy,
but it's actually been a bussing eversince. So we haven't stopped and so
it's only been four years. That'swild. Yeah, that really is wild.
Yeah, And so I'm so gladthat it wasn't meant for me to
(11:37):
write planners, Like so much morefun, right right, Jewelry playing in
jewlry all day, Like yeah,you know, like being a creative and
actually like getting to you know,put something else fun out, Like I
couldn't write, I couldn't sustain aplanner business. I hate writing like that,
but I can come up with aninspirational quote real quick. So I
(12:00):
think that that's just it was meantfor me to do. Not you know
the other things I'm glad it didn'twork out. Were you always really big
and too wearing jewelry and accessorizing withjewelry and that was always a big part
of your life. Yeah, soI'm I'm that girl. Like so my
frustration and one of the things thatwe make it we used stainless steel is
(12:22):
I was one of the girls inH and M buying jewelry every week because
it was like tarnishing and turning copperClaire. Yeah, so like that was
a big thing. Like I wantedpeople to buy it, but I didn't
want it to just last for liketwo weeks. Yeah. And then my
sister she always sends me pictures ofwhat she's about to wear, so like
(12:45):
people would always come to me inmy skinnier days too. I had like
a blog that had like that wasfashion heavy too, So it just kind
of all worked out. Like Ilike jewelry and I like fashion too,
so that definitely goes hand in hand. I feel like I've because of val
Val has made me realize that emphasisand how much jewelry can really add to
(13:07):
not only your outfit, but Ifeel like it's also this is so deep
for no reason, but it's kindof it's kind of like an extension of
who you are because a lot oftimes it's something you never take off or
you always have on you. It'slike a personality, yeah, for sure,
and it just kind of becomes apart of you, and it can
do so much for your outfit aswell. Like I mean, fashion wise,
(13:30):
I consider myself classic, but likeeven if I am worrying, just
like a monochromatic look, like justadding a few pieces of jewelry definitely like
takes it, you know, toa different level. So no, it
really does. I saw a TikTokof this girl that was showing her outfits
before and after jewelries and accessories andthe difference that it made. And to
(13:52):
think that I was one of thosegirls who just had hoops on and that
was my only accessory. I waslike, wow, on, we gotta
get you some stuff. No,for sure. For sure, when you
walked in here and you like yourjewelry, of course, it's just so
beautiful. So I'm like, yeah, definitely. I think it does take
time though, to like kind offigure out like your vibe, because I
feel like you even said the otherday that you remember me mentioning like a
(14:16):
year or two ago that there wasjust a day where I decided I was
like, I want to build astaple, timeless wardrobe, and I'm just
committed to like building that, andI feel like my jewelry, my clothing,
like I kind of worked towards it. Now I feel like, Okay,
I have my look and it tooktime, but I feel like before
that, it was kind of likefollowing trends and it was like what is
(14:37):
the look that I like? AndI feel like once I finally established it,
I'm like, Okay, now Ialways have something to wear. I
always have like, oh look,and I feel like I always look or
I always feel put together. Yeah, and I get like a lot of
compliments. Now I feel like I'mlike my shoes or my clothes and my
earrings, and I'm like, okay, Like I feel like this really works
for me. And I feel likeonce you kind of find what works for
you, then it's just always worksfor you, guess. I feel like
(15:01):
so Whenever I see you at thelike shoots, You're always like, you
know, it's like, you know, kind of chill, but you have
like your pieces on. And I'mlike, she's so fly. Yeah it's
chill, but fly. I alwaystell her. I'm like when people compliment
me too, I'm like, thankyou, Like I work so hard.
I'm like I want that effortless look. But I'm like, I tried so
(15:22):
hard. I told you my assistantwas gen Z and she would come and
I'm like, how are you socool? I used to be so quick.
No, you're cool hard Now Idon't know. No, like you
see you guys, and I'm like, gen Z is a different kind of
cool though, Yeah, yeah,because they really are effortless. So frustrating.
(15:46):
But yeah, but when you started, when you started making your first
couple rings, like what did it? Like how because where did you even
know to get rings? I don'tknow, like literally, like this was
like one of the divine things inmy life. I don't know. I
(16:07):
honestly I kept trying. I'm like, oh, nope, that vendor doesn't
work. I kept researching. Therewas nothing online. But did you just
literally google like how to start ajewelry business, okay, and like you
just found like it was trial anderror jewelry manufacturers. Okay. I so,
and I believed so much in thisdream, like I knew this was
what I was supposed to do.I knew I was supposed to do something.
(16:30):
I didn't know how I was supposedto get to the you know,
the point of like it actually likeyou know, working, but I knew
that I was supposed to be doingit, so I had. I was
a homeowner in DC, I hada house. I moved out in February.
My sister charged me six hundred dollars. So what I would do with
the money that I was saving isI would reach out to manufacturers, tell
(16:53):
them what I was trying to do, send pictures, send possible measurements.
They would make me a prototype.I would get the prototype back, be
like this is ugly or this isn'tthe color gold that I want. Go
to the next manufacturer, try itagain until I someone want a manufacturer that
like worked and it looked great,quality was great, and then I just
(17:17):
went one from there. And thendo you still work with them? Yeah,
in some aspects they still do mychains, But I found a better
ring vendor, so we've switched allof our rings over to another vendor.
But I will say like when Ilike tested the idea, I gave it
to my sister, I gave itto my two cousins, and I gave
it to my graphic designer and theywere like, money, we love this,
(17:37):
and I was like you do andthen they were like yeah. And
then so that's why I started withfour people on Instagram and then it just
grew so amazing. Kind of testedmy ideas. Yeah, I literally don't
know how I did that, butme moving in with my little sister,
and then that is an ego,like me being the older sister living with
(18:00):
my younger sister so I can startmy business. Like I was like thirty
living in my sister's guest bedroom.But like that allowed me to save enough
money to start my business, andthen it allowed me to save enough money
to move to Texas. Yeah,you're willing to make the sacrifices that it
took an order to make it work. I knew that one was going to
work. The planner, I wasokay, but yeah, the jewelry made
(18:25):
sense for me. Yeah, yeah, it kind of felt it seems like
it kind of just clicked. You'relike, oh, okay, this is
what I'm supposed to read, rightfor sure. So when it comes to
Jewlian this is kind of a superficialquestion. But do you think more is
more or less it's more? Oh, I'm both ways okay either or oh
sometimes, oh you can't tell menothing photo shoots, I'll layer it on.
(18:48):
Yeah. Yeah, And I thinkthat photography wise, more is more,
like more is perfect, yeah,more, you can never have enough
for like photography, you wise,but like if I'm going out sometimes,
like especially like the drop hoops thatare in right now, like if you
just slick back your hair and justwhere they are, like really cute.
(19:10):
Yeah yeah, no, I definitelylike it both ways. Sometimes I love
to be a little extra and justput everything on, and then sometimes I
dill it back and it's like lookat my neck. Yeah yeah, Like
I just you want to be regal, yeah, highlight like a certain place
to give that piece. It's momentright right. Okay, So my next
(19:33):
question is what does a day inthe life look like for you? It's
like packing orders or designing or justwhatever goes into it. Start us off
from your morning. Okay, SoI will say my morning's now I am
so grateful for and I do nottake for granted. When I was living
in dc UH in Virginia and commuting, I lived twenty miles away from my
(19:59):
job, but I spent an hourin the car in the morning to get
to work, and then an hourin the car on the way home.
So now I wake up grateful.So now I get up, like maybe
around seven thirty walk my dog,my Golden Retriever, around the around the
Dallas Arts District, and she likessaying hi to everyone going to work,
(20:21):
and then I come back. Ido have a contract with Serious Sex,
so I work for them during theday. Then maybe around four I start
packing orders, then take it tothe post office, and then I just
hang out with James. So mydays now are more so like me focused
and they are chill and less stressful. But that's my typical day. Packing
(20:47):
orders does take a long time.Creating content on top of packing orders takes
a while. So like in themorning, like I'll get up, I'll
start like scrolling on Instagram trying toget inspiration on and how I can like
create reels that are different than theones you know, the few days prior,
and yeah, that's hard. I'mnot a content creator. Being a
(21:08):
business owner makes you be a contentcreator. But I'm not a content creator.
And I'm grateful for Valorie, likeshe took over the like the flat
lays and like the covers and stufflike that, because one thing off my
plate is like amazing, My timeis what I value these days, and
just trying to get the perfect picturelike and then me in perfection. If
(21:33):
I don't feel it's perfect, iwan't post. But then that like hurts
my page too, because you know, Instagram wants you to post all the
time. Can you speak to likein the business, how many hats you
do have to wear? So obviouslyyou're the jewelry creator, like the designer.
You're the content creator, but you'realso packing the orders or fulfilling the
orders, Like what all are youhaving to do in the business, Like
(21:56):
there's I'm sure there's like banking aswell, and then you're you know,
doing all the things, like whatelse is there? So emails, text
message, marketing, content creating.I don't handle customer service. Thankfully.
My assistant Rhonda, she's amazing.She's in from New Orleans. She'll text
(22:19):
me like, hey, so andso needs something like you know what their
order? Do we have this instock? Because she's remote, she doesn't
like come to the office, soit's me like following up and like giving
her answers and stuff like that.Managing social media. I know Valerie does
that, but for me personally,I like being like so close to my
(22:40):
followers, Like I think that kindof makes is what makes our brand special
is that a lot of our followersfeel that they know me, like you
know and so like I do liketo keep that aspect. But the content
creation, the customer interactions, everything, it's it's a lot. Yeah,
there's a few things that I've passedoff to other people that because I always
(23:03):
feel that I should like especially formy business, I say, what's my
zone of genius. My zone ofgenius is marketing, like talking to my
customers through social media. My zoneof genius is creating pieces that I know
my customers would like. And myzone of genius is delegating. YEA,
(23:26):
if I could delegate, That's whatI'm gonna do. And then I gave
you know, like I hire Valerieto do my photography because that's not my
zone of genius. I'm competent.Yeah, that's not my zone of genius.
And you're like the visionary too,like you always come with like the
best concepts and then we can justcapture them. Yeah. Yeah, I'm
I'm competent and I have the visionin my head. I can't execute photography
(23:48):
like yeah, so I like,I don't I'm not going to try.
It takes up so much time andI'm frustrated and so yeah, I try
to always operate in my zone ofgeniuses and then whatever, I'm like competent,
yeah, I give it to somebodyelse. And I think as a
business owner, it's important to recognizebecause it may just be a matter of
putting your ego aside and handing offbecause at the end of the day,
(24:11):
she's more efficient. Like you said, like you could take the photos,
but are you going to spend ninehours doing it when you can just hire
us to do it in an hour. And it's not like there's no harm
in doing that, you know.But I know you've shared with me a
couple of times, just like inour shoots and stuff when we're just like
talking about the journey that as acontent creator, like it is important to
(24:34):
share your journey and like your audiencereally connects with you as a person and
with you being the brand owner.But isn't it a struggle sometimes to share
and to show up as the contentcreator in the face of the brand when
maybe you personally might be having likea rough time. Like she show up
all the time, like she getsit. I told Valerie that if you
(24:56):
ever see my back in too manyreels, I've had a terrible day and
I cannot show my face, likeif I've been crying, if I don't
have the capacity to put makeup oneto be on camera, you're just gonna
give my back. It's a lot. Yeah, I try to like still
post the reel. I can't bein it because I look a hot mess
(25:17):
because I'm dealing with life. Yeah, as as are all my customers,
right, And that's why I feellike they're drawn to me, is because
I have like inspirational messages. Butyeah, it's relatable, it's relatable.
Yeah, Like if you see myback in reels, it's because I've been
through it. Yeah, And it'slike the struggle of like like you said,
like they want to connect with you, so you need to show up
(25:40):
because that's when they connect with youand then you can make sales. But
then it's like you maybe don't wantto show up because you're just going through
it because you're human. But thenif you don't show up, then your
business isn't gonna be thriving. Andit's like, how do we keep the
hamster reel going? Literally it's oneday at a time. It's sometimes it's
one hour at a time. Becauseit's like, so in March, I
(26:03):
lost my full time job and mybusiness is successful, but cash flow when
you're growing and you're successful, like, and that's why I appreciate conversations with
Valerie too. It was like Iknow I'm successful, but shoot, like
we have stuff to buy and likestuff to keep up with. Yeah,
and my full time job was allowingme to just pay these invoices with no
(26:27):
problem because it was a constant flowof cash. Yeah. When I lost
that, it's like uh uh yeah. There was once I was like Valerie,
like she sent me the invoice.I said, girl, I got
you tomorrow. That's what I getpaid from Shopify and so like it like
so that that was so stressful.That was probably like I've never prayed that
(26:48):
hard. I've never like tried tolike talk myself out of going into a
slump because I had dealt with depressionin the past. My mom was like,
don't let your mind go there.Just keep getting up every morning,
do what you gotta do. Yeah. I would write myself messages on my
board just to like remember to likedon't fall into that, because once once
(27:11):
I fall down into that, likedepressive, like it's hard to get back
out. It really is. Yeah, So like trying not to go there
and trying not to let my mindgo there was a very very difficult.
But like me just trying to showup, like just just do the reel.
Just keep showing up and keep showingup, and you know, eventually
it got better. But adjusting.Yeah, And I think no one talks
(27:36):
about what success means and what itreally looks like. Because I own a
six figure agency, Like we hitsix figures in our first year in business,
and like that sounds all fluffy andlovely and like so successful, but
like that doesn't mean I have sixfigures in my pocket. Like that doesn't
mean that I personally make six figures. Like that doesn't account for the taxes,
(28:00):
the team, It doesn't account forso many things and like I just
think like people don't really grasp likeall the things that go into it.
So when you have all these peoplesaying like I have a seven figure blah
blah blah, it's like, okay, but what what do you actually like
netting? You know, and soit's it's just like sales, like it's
just it's all just jargon, youknow. And so it's it's hard when
(28:22):
like you just don't really know whatpeople are talking about. And so success
looks different. And it's not tosay that like neither of us have a
successful business, but like there's somuch that goes into it, and then
it's like you just never know what'sactually going on behind the scenes. So
we both have successful businesses, butthere are so many ebbs and flows and
cash flow is a bit right,no, Like I was, I was
(28:47):
thinking about it because you know,I what, like I was trying to
figure out, like what does successlook look like? To me? So
right now I do have a contractas a full time thing going on,
but I was like, okay,so so that ends in five months.
I was like, so the coolapartment, like that doesn't at the end
of the day. And you're justlike broke in a cool apartment Like,
(29:10):
so I was like, what doesthat look like? So I was like,
I'm actually glad that I had thechance to kind of like go through
that. So like I know now, like we don't need all of it,
Like that doesn't make success. Likefor me, a fulfilled and successful
lifestyle would be you know, evenif I didn't have that other job,
I could still like you know,have like everything paid for, Like the
(29:33):
flow is good, I can stilltake trips in me and my man are
happy. Like that's success to menow. Yeah, And so it took
me like losing that contract in Marchto realize that now. And so when
I talked about moving, like Icould care less at this point. As
long as the apartment has good sunlightfor content, I'm good. That's so
that's such a major thing, Likethat's that really makes an apartment or breaks
(29:57):
it. And at the end ofthe day, you're getting the same experience.
I feel like when I move intosomewhere very flashy and fancy. It's
nice for the first month when you'rein love, but with anything in life,
the more you're in it, youjust it's like anything else. It's
anything else. It has running water, It has a roof over your head,
(30:17):
It has the exact same things,it's just has a little bit more
paint, or it has a certaintype of countertop or something like that.
So I completely get that. AndI feel like once you start to be
more quote unquote successful and you startto make more and more money, everything
else in your life will get raisedto Like you raise your rent, you
(30:37):
raise your groceries, you shop ata more prestigious grocery store. You every
every bill raises with it. Soit's like, are you really making more
money because you're netting the same amount, or you have like the same ability
to spend free money that you didbefore. You see all these celebrities like
they have the money, and yetthey're still like depressed, like it's not
(30:59):
everything. And it did take thissituation for me to find out, Like,
girl, it's not even that serious. Get you a place that has
good sun light and you'll be fine. Yeah, you really will. A
good location. I feel like goodsunlight and you're surrounded by good people.
Right. Material things will never actuallymake you happy. They will give you
(31:22):
dopamine, they will give you someof that, but they will never make
you happy, right, Yeah,yeah. I think we see a lot
of like on social media, thingsthat we like, would like and that
are nice to have. But mytherapist always goes through sessions with me where
she's like, what defines success foryou? Like paint a picture of what
a really successful life looks for you, And I'm like why. I just
want to be able to like comfortablyafford our, rent and be able to
(31:44):
travel and you know, have aschedule that I love and like when I
define it, I'm like, ohI have that, yeah, And I'm
like, oh, what do youknow? It's actually very achievable. And
then it's like everything else is justperks. It is, Yeah, that's
so good. In the jewelry industry, what would you say some of your
pros and your cons are with beingan entrepreneur and just the niche of being
(32:07):
in jewelry specifically as well. Iactually am friends with a lot of like
other small jewelry business owners, andI love that we like I have a
friend in Puerto Rico, Like shetexts me and she's like, hey,
I saw that she use this andthis, Like where'd you get that?
And you know, I'd tell her. But it is very competitive when you
(32:29):
start like selling the same things andnot so much like competitive, like oh
I have to sell more than her. It's like, girl, you know
you stole that from me. Yeah, it's like that. Yeah. But
it is a very the small jewelrybusiness owners on like Instagram. Now when
you get into like these big likeold money type of you know, companies,
(32:52):
I don't know much about them,and I don't really you know interact.
I actually went to a jewelry thoseconferences. I was the only like
black, young black woman there.Wow, I was like because it was
it's a lot of old money injewelry. Yeah. And I was like
I am in the room with them. I didn't feel comfortable in the room,
(33:12):
but I was there. And sothat's like one thing that was really
interesting to me is like I sellon social media and they were like who
are you? What do you do? And then they look like I have
like a okay, you know enoughlike followers on social media and they're like,
you just sell on Instagram And Iwas like yeah, and they were
like oh, because it's like alot of old money yeulers from New York
(33:36):
or LA. And I was inthe room. I was the only one
that looked like me, but itwas that was interesting. Yeah, so
oh my god, Yeah, Icannot. I cannot even imagine showing up
and they're like, yeah, whyare all these old white men here literally
selling jewelry? Yeah what do y'allknow? Me? But yeah, I
mean it's been in there. It'slike jewelry is like a family business.
(33:58):
And I kind of like broke intothat and I was like, oh,
I'm in the room. Like itwas just like it was weird. Yeah,
but I do appreciate the other smallbusinesses. Yeah, I don't on
social media because we're we're a tightknit group. Yeah that's amazing, And
you're really supportive of them too,because you just started consulting and like kind
of coaching, right, Yeah,girl, she's been posting all the pictures
(34:21):
that you guys did. O good. She loves it. Yeah, And
I help with like her email flowsand marketing and stuff and starting out and
so yeah, but yeah, Ilove I love. My name Monique means
advisor. So I really lean intothat and I try to help where I
can, especially like if you wantthe help and you want to listen.
(34:43):
So, like I had a clientin Valerie did the photos for the young
lady and she's been posting all ofit and her feed looks so good.
Oh, I can imagine. AndI love that too, because, like
you said, like it's kind ofa competitive industry, but at the same
time, like there is no competitionbecause everyone's doing it different. Everyone has
(35:04):
a different market. There's enough peopleto go around to wear the jewelry,
and even if somebody does everything thatyou did buy the book, then they
won't catch up to you and theywon't overlap you. Like there's nothing like
that. So it's like there's noharm in helping people if they're willing to
do it, if they want yourhelp, you know. So it's really
I feel like there's not enough peoplein the entrepreneurship space who are willing to
(35:28):
give help like that. Either.I know that there's like a few people
on Instagram that try to copy me, but they never like finish it out.
They can't because one thing about me. And there's some I did a
one on one call and she's like, how do you get sales? And
she's like, I show up andI was like, I share, share
share, then sell, share shareshare and then sell. And when you're
(35:52):
trying to copy me and you're justtrying to sell to people because you see
me like do it. I waslike, you don't have the sauce like
so like they're like, I don'tunderstand, and I'm like, I share,
share share, and I I Idon't know. I don't want to
be too salesy. At the endof the day, I love my community
and I think that's most important tome. Like even if you never buy
(36:13):
a piece for me, like alot of people just share my reels.
So it's okay. I feel likewhen you come from a place of giving
and you come from a place ofa authenticity. Hello, I think it
when you come from a place ofauthenticity, it just whenever you're copying someone,
(36:34):
you can just feel it. Youcan just feel their lack of authenticity.
You can just feel that it's notgenuine and you can just it feels
salesy. It feels like they wantyou to buy something. It doesn't feel
like it has a person behind it, and it's it is frustrating when you
see that. But I also thinkin a way it's the biggest compliment because
they're like, Okay, I wantto be like this person. They're doing
(36:58):
it right, and they're inspiring,but you know it is I don't even
trust me. I've I've I've dealtwith it. Yeah, I've dealt with
like as a content creator, likepeople in my circle copy and pasting exactly
what I do. And it isso frustrating because it's like you're taking my
essence, like that's me, andyou're like trying to capitalize off of it,
(37:21):
like you're trying to make money offof me. It feels like,
you know, yeah, but youknow what, they don't really go far
being somebody else that they're not not. No, no, because there's no
way to do it, like truly, like genuinely no. The guy that
was energy, it was a guyand he does like my all of my
affirmations. If I come out withsomething, he does it. I said
to him, I was like,you cannot sustain being me, so yeah,
(37:44):
I keep trying. It's okay,you can't sustain being me, sure
enough he can't, And like Iwas like, you just wasted all of
your money just trying to like justcopy me. You can't sustain being me.
I'm I'm me, Like do youlike what are you doing? And
that can't feel good to anyone elseeither, Like it can't feel good to
(38:05):
not be showing up as yourself andfrom your own creative like running your business
from your own creation, and notfeeling like you can bring enough to the
plate that it will work right,you know. Yeah, it's like coming
from a place to desperation and it'slike that's just icky. Yeah, definitely.
That's actually one of like the numberone advice like that I give people
(38:28):
that want to start a business.I still do not start from a place
of desperation when I when I Ifeel like me moving in with my sister,
me like putting my ego aside,like starting from the bottom, but
having enough money set aside to likeget my business started. I felt like
that was such a good foundation.Starting a business from desperation and you're trying
(38:51):
to just sell it, sell itbecause you want the money or you want
whatever lifestyle like it, you can'tyou can't do that. Like people can
feel that too. Yeah, nothinggood from like no relationship, no,
Like nothing good comes from desperate energy. Yeah, I completely agree. Whenever
you're just trying to catch up andcatch up and catch up and catch up
right to where you think you're supposedto be, it's just that's a lot
(39:14):
of stress. I don't know whyyou even want to put yourself through that.
It doesn't sound nice. Thank youso much for coming on. We
appreciate you so much. Let everyoneknow I love where they can find you
and buy from you and all thatand support you. Yeah. So I'm
primarily on Instagram, hole buy moviegoods, be LBX, MOK, m
O and IQ and yes in theDM or leave me a comment. I
(39:37):
love talking about like our customers andour followers and the DM's songs and we'll
link everything in the show notes sothey can easily click away and shop all
the jewelry. Thank you so much, hasten Us talking to Mary. Thanks,
thank you for having me. Thanksfor listening to the Hot Girls Cry
(39:58):
Podcast. If you've enjoyed this episod, show some love and support with a
rating review, or keep the conversationgoing over on our socials. T T y L
Hi guys, we're so excited foryou to listen to this episode. Today,
our guest is Monique Terry, thefounder and creator of BLD by Monique.
Monique is one of my first clientsand now friend. Today she's sharing
her story of leaving corporate America andlaunching a successful jewelry brand full of self
designed, edgy statement pieces. Weknow you're going to love this episode,
(00:21):
so we already got y'all a discountcode. You can shop Monique story with
code HGC twenty for twenty percent off. Let's get into it. This week,
a hot new bombshell enters the villa. I'm Shnaya. I'm a content
creator and a manic money spender.I'm Valerie. I'm a serial entrepreneur and
recovering perfectionists. We're here to bringyou life in wellness tips, tricks and
(00:46):
hacks from experts and our personal experiences. This is the Hawk Girl Cry Podcast.
(01:06):
Hi guys, welcome back to theHawt Girls Crib Podcast. Today we
have our second guests, Monique.She is a fellow Dallas resident and she
also has her own jewelry brand andshe's a jewelry designer. So we're so
excited to have her. Thanks guys, I'm excited to be here. Thank
you so much for inviting me.So we're gonna start off with our gratefuls.
(01:30):
So if you just want to sharesomething you're grateful for it, give
me small. I'm grateful for Valerie. Oh yeah, she was like,
so when I first moved to Dallasand I launched my business, like you
were one of our first supporters,you bought she can do all things ring
I think, or maybe she isfearless. I forgot, but I'm grateful
(01:53):
for you, and then you helpingme with my business too, and now
I'm here, so I'm grateful foryou. Thank you. Our guests keep
love bombing me. We were laughingbecause our first guest said that she was
grateful for Valerie too, and Iwas like, yeah, like support like
that it's hard to come by,especially me not being from Texas, so
(02:16):
like these connections I always love.So yeah, she's a special one.
Thank you. And it's so crazytoo, because we were talking the other
day at one of our photo sheetsand I was like, how did we
even mean? She was like,you bought one of my rings and I
was like did I Like, Ijust thought we met at an event or
something and started shooting together. LikeI didn't even realize because like I love
jewelry, and like I loved herstuff, but like I was like I
(02:38):
had no idea because she just likeknew that my ring size off theop her
head. I'm like, how doyou know that? And she was like,
we bought my stuff, and Iwas like, oh, crazy,
Oh cute. It's okay that youremember too. You're like, yeah,
Hollery, I remember all of mylike first buyers, like my first customers.
I never forget any of my firstcustomers. Orders didn't come in you
(02:59):
know, regular literally like every day, so like you see certain names and
you're like okay, and then youjust memorize it and I don't know,
so I just knew she was oneof my first customers. So that is
so sweet. It is so sweet. That's one thing I was going to
say too, like in our lastepisode we just recorded, is you know,
I'm grateful for the women who startedthe business. You know. It's
(03:20):
like they really they're the reason ourbusinesses can become what they are, you
know, Yeah, And it's justamazing that you get to work with women,
do you know, especially in thebusiness area as well. Yes,
that's my grateful as you know,the women who help us get where we
are today. She's grateful for womenlove all women love women. Yes,
(03:40):
I am grateful for my new furniture. That arright, it'd be cute.
It's all finally coming together, likepart I just did a whole apartment revamp
and all of it has finally arrived, So I'm excited to start putting it
to other and just seeing my spacecome to life, which feels very superficial
(04:03):
compared to what you guys said.I mean I work from home, so
yeah, revamping, like sometimes youjust need new energy, new space,
so like I get it. Ijust love home to Court too, like
it just it's a hobby. Yes, And I saw a lot of your
apartment two from your Instagram, whichis so cute. By the way,
(04:25):
a bight of you are doing suchan amazing job on that Instagram, because
I know Valerie does a lot ofyour photo shoots for your drawer brand,
but it is just so chic andclassy and just so pinteresty and beautiful.
It looks so good. I kindof tell Valerie, like what is in
my mind, and then she justruns with it. So yeah, yeah,
I feel like you guys kind ofhave a very similar aesthetics. So
(04:46):
it really worked. Yeah, itdoes work. Yeah, and then I
love her, like when I gointo her apartment, like when we do
the shoots at her apartment, I'mlike, I want this, like this
is my home. But I wasdying the other day one of the reels
that you posted when you put yourboyfriend to work that you guys have to
go look at her Instagram because it'sso cute and funny. James, you
(05:09):
are the best partner. He likedoes not even hesitate to help me.
Oh, I appreciate that. I'mgrateful for him too. Oh that's really
sweet. Thank He's like so willingto jump and be there for you for
your business. Yeah. Mine hasopted for emotional support, not physical.
That's too, I guess, Aidan. I guess we're grateful regardless any support
(05:32):
will take. Okay, So juststarting off, what kind of inspired you
or got you even in the realmof the idea to even think about starting
to design jewelry? My story goesback, Okay, take us Okay.
Yeah, so I was in collegetwo thousand and five. Yeah, two
(05:58):
thousand and five, two thousand andsix was my freshman year. I got
into a car accident. I waswith a boy and he was speeding down
it's like a straight away road andthe speed limit was like thirty miles an
hour and he was going like sixtyfive seventy. He was speeding. A
car pulled out in front of us. He tried to swerve, but the
(06:20):
car like hopped the median and thenlike fish tailed, and then all the
oncoming traffic hit me in my side. So I was in the hospital with
a broken leg in four places,broken collarbone, broken jaw, and in
the They tried to pull me tothe driver's side to get me out of
the car, and I was inso much pain. I was like,
(06:45):
God, I guess I'm going toheaven. Like I was ready to go.
I was, I've never been inthat much pain. Yeah, So
it was like if I die righthere, I'm okay. And sure enough
they pulled me out and I'm fine. But maybe In two thousand and sixteen
seventeen, two eighteen, I wasworking a corporate job where I hated,
(07:10):
like I hated going to work andI was in DC and everyone's so like
ambitious and that's just really not me. I'm a creative. So I was
like, God, you did notsave me from that accident to just like
live this mundane, boring life.And that's what took me on a journey
of like what am I really herefor? And so through that journey,
(07:32):
it was he was like really teachingme how to encourage the women that I
was around. And I will neverforget this. It was clear as day,
and this is not how I'd normallyhear God. I was walking back
to my desk and then I justhear this like loud voice and it said
right. I was like the heck, like, sir? Did that come
(07:53):
from? Like? And I didn'tknow. I'm like write what? So
for like n years, for months, I was like write what, God,
like, write what? So Ididn't get an answer. So I
just kept writing everything I thought youwere saying right as and someone was trying
to tell make like tell you toturn right, no like right like a
w yeah, okay, okay,okay, got it? Yeah no,
(08:15):
you're like I am right? Yeah? I thought I right okay? And
I hate writing, Yeah me too. I don't I'm not a writer.
And so I didn't get an answerso I was like, okay, I'm
just gonna write everything because I don'tknow what that means. So I just
started writing everything. I put outlike this like planner agenda, and I
(08:35):
wrote like little encouraging messages, andthen I launched what was called like a
kickstarter. I'm not sure if youguys have heard of those. That thing
flopped, and I was like,I was mad at God. I was
like, I was like, God, I heard you so clearly, and
you told me to write, andI here I am, and I write
it and I launch it and likelike six people bought into my Kickstarter was
(08:58):
like, so you created planners.I did. Okay, Okay, it
didn't work well. We just dida podcast over how to Start a business
and we were just talking about howno one really talks about their failures and
how you know you can start somethingand it just might not work out.
Yeah, I was I was pissed. God. You told me to write,
(09:20):
and I write and like no onesupports me, Like what is this?
So I was so upset, andI feel like he gave me time
to like mourn the idea of likethat business not working. I went on
vacation and then was it that Januarytwo thousand and nineteen, He's like,
okay, you've cried, let's go. You need to write. Write what.
(09:45):
So I saw like a cigar biandlike it wasn't like one of those
because mantra bands were out, butthey had like the small bands. So
I saw a cigar bian. Iwas like, what if I write encouraging
messages on these rings? And soI was like okay. So then I
started finding vendors. Then I startedfiguring out what I was going to put
on the rings. I had afew necklaces too. At the time,
(10:07):
this is twenty nineteen, twenty nineteen, and were you living in Texas.
I was still in Virginia and workingin the DC area, And then SO
sourced vendors. In November, Ilaunched an Instagram. I had four followers,
I had my graphic designer, mysister, and my two cousins.
I launched, I started getting saleslike from random strangers on the internet and
(10:30):
it just worked. That's how youknow it's good. Yeah, And I
was like, oh, I wasjust supposed to. What was your very
first one was she can do allthings? Oh my gosh, she can
do all Uh you are enough shecan do all things. You are enough,
and I hadn't. I didn't haveGod Is with You, which is
actually my best seller right now.She is Fearless. Those were my three
(10:52):
rings that I started with, andbasically it's like messages like for she is
Fearless, like you don't have tobe fearless, but it's a reminder that
you can push past that and actuallybe fearless. So I was like,
these are my like people just startedbuying so and then I just grew,
like I took off after I posted, or actually after I created the Instagram,
(11:16):
and I've just been going ever since. And yeah, it's all from
like hearing right, and I don'tknow why, like it was crazy,
but it's actually been a bussing eversince. So we haven't stopped and so
it's only been four years. That'swild. Yeah, that really is wild.
Yeah, And so I'm so gladthat it wasn't meant for me to
(11:37):
write planners, Like so much morefun, right right, Jewelry playing in
jewlry all day, Like yeah,you know, like being a creative and
actually like getting to you know,put something else fun out, Like I
couldn't write, I couldn't sustain aplanner business. I hate writing like that,
but I can come up with aninspirational quote real quick. So I
(12:00):
think that that's just it was meantfor me to do. Not you know
the other things I'm glad it didn'twork out. Were you always really big
and too wearing jewelry and accessorizing withjewelry and that was always a big part
of your life. Yeah, soI'm I'm that girl. Like so my
frustration and one of the things thatwe make it we used stainless steel is
(12:22):
I was one of the girls inH and M buying jewelry every week because
it was like tarnishing and turning copperClaire. Yeah, so like that was
a big thing. Like I wantedpeople to buy it, but I didn't
want it to just last for liketwo weeks. Yeah. And then my
sister she always sends me pictures ofwhat she's about to wear, so like
(12:45):
people would always come to me inmy skinnier days too. I had like
a blog that had like that wasfashion heavy too, So it just kind
of all worked out. Like Ilike jewelry and I like fashion too,
so that definitely goes hand in hand. I feel like I've because of val
Val has made me realize that emphasisand how much jewelry can really add to
(13:07):
not only your outfit, but Ifeel like it's also this is so deep
for no reason, but it's kindof it's kind of like an extension of
who you are because a lot oftimes it's something you never take off or
you always have on you. It'slike a personality, yeah, for sure,
and it just kind of becomes apart of you, and it can
do so much for your outfit aswell. Like I mean, fashion wise,
(13:30):
I consider myself classic, but likeeven if I am worrying, just
like a monochromatic look, like justadding a few pieces of jewelry definitely like
takes it, you know, toa different level. So no, it
really does. I saw a TikTokof this girl that was showing her outfits
before and after jewelries and accessories andthe difference that it made. And to
(13:52):
think that I was one of thosegirls who just had hoops on and that
was my only accessory. I waslike, wow, on, we gotta
get you some stuff. No,for sure. For sure, when you
walked in here and you like yourjewelry, of course, it's just so
beautiful. So I'm like, yeah, definitely. I think it does take
time though, to like kind offigure out like your vibe, because I
feel like you even said the otherday that you remember me mentioning like a
(14:16):
year or two ago that there wasjust a day where I decided I was
like, I want to build astaple, timeless wardrobe, and I'm just
committed to like building that, andI feel like my jewelry, my clothing,
like I kind of worked towards it. Now I feel like, Okay,
I have my look and it tooktime, but I feel like before
that, it was kind of likefollowing trends and it was like what is
(14:37):
the look that I like? AndI feel like once I finally established it,
I'm like, Okay, now Ialways have something to wear. I
always have like, oh look,and I feel like I always look or
I always feel put together. Yeah, and I get like a lot of
compliments. Now I feel like I'mlike my shoes or my clothes and my
earrings, and I'm like, okay, Like I feel like this really works
for me. And I feel likeonce you kind of find what works for
you, then it's just always worksfor you, guess. I feel like
(15:01):
so Whenever I see you at thelike shoots, You're always like, you
know, it's like, you know, kind of chill, but you have
like your pieces on. And I'mlike, she's so fly. Yeah it's
chill, but fly. I alwaystell her. I'm like when people compliment
me too, I'm like, thankyou, Like I work so hard.
I'm like I want that effortless look. But I'm like, I tried so
(15:22):
hard. I told you my assistantwas gen Z and she would come and
I'm like, how are you socool? I used to be so quick.
No, you're cool hard Now Idon't know. No, like you
see you guys, and I'm like, gen Z is a different kind of
cool though, Yeah, yeah,because they really are effortless. So frustrating.
(15:46):
But yeah, but when you started, when you started making your first
couple rings, like what did it? Like how because where did you even
know to get rings? I don'tknow, like literally, like this was
like one of the divine things inmy life. I don't know. I
(16:07):
honestly I kept trying. I'm like, oh, nope, that vendor doesn't
work. I kept researching. Therewas nothing online. But did you just
literally google like how to start ajewelry business, okay, and like you
just found like it was trial anderror jewelry manufacturers. Okay. I so,
and I believed so much in thisdream, like I knew this was
what I was supposed to do.I knew I was supposed to do something.
(16:30):
I didn't know how I was supposedto get to the you know,
the point of like it actually likeyou know, working, but I knew
that I was supposed to be doingit, so I had. I was
a homeowner in DC, I hada house. I moved out in February.
My sister charged me six hundred dollars. So what I would do with
the money that I was saving isI would reach out to manufacturers, tell
(16:53):
them what I was trying to do, send pictures, send possible measurements.
They would make me a prototype.I would get the prototype back, be
like this is ugly or this isn'tthe color gold that I want. Go
to the next manufacturer, try itagain until I someone want a manufacturer that
like worked and it looked great,quality was great, and then I just
(17:17):
went one from there. And thendo you still work with them? Yeah,
in some aspects they still do mychains, But I found a better
ring vendor, so we've switched allof our rings over to another vendor.
But I will say like when Ilike tested the idea, I gave it
to my sister, I gave itto my two cousins, and I gave
it to my graphic designer and theywere like, money, we love this,
(17:37):
and I was like you do andthen they were like yeah. And
then so that's why I started withfour people on Instagram and then it just
grew so amazing. Kind of testedmy ideas. Yeah, I literally don't
know how I did that, butme moving in with my little sister,
and then that is an ego,like me being the older sister living with
(18:00):
my younger sister so I can startmy business. Like I was like thirty
living in my sister's guest bedroom.But like that allowed me to save enough
money to start my business, andthen it allowed me to save enough money
to move to Texas. Yeah,you're willing to make the sacrifices that it
took an order to make it work. I knew that one was going to
work. The planner, I wasokay, but yeah, the jewelry made
(18:25):
sense for me. Yeah, yeah, it kind of felt it seems like
it kind of just clicked. You'relike, oh, okay, this is
what I'm supposed to read, rightfor sure. So when it comes to
Jewlian this is kind of a superficialquestion. But do you think more is
more or less it's more? Oh, I'm both ways okay either or oh
sometimes, oh you can't tell menothing photo shoots, I'll layer it on.
(18:48):
Yeah. Yeah, And I thinkthat photography wise, more is more,
like more is perfect, yeah,more, you can never have enough
for like photography, you wise,but like if I'm going out sometimes,
like especially like the drop hoops thatare in right now, like if you
just slick back your hair and justwhere they are, like really cute.
(19:10):
Yeah yeah, no, I definitelylike it both ways. Sometimes I love
to be a little extra and justput everything on, and then sometimes I
dill it back and it's like lookat my neck. Yeah yeah, Like
I just you want to be regal, yeah, highlight like a certain place
to give that piece. It's momentright right. Okay, So my next
(19:33):
question is what does a day inthe life look like for you? It's
like packing orders or designing or justwhatever goes into it. Start us off
from your morning. Okay, SoI will say my morning's now I am
so grateful for and I do nottake for granted. When I was living
in dc UH in Virginia and commuting, I lived twenty miles away from my
(19:59):
job, but I spent an hourin the car in the morning to get
to work, and then an hourin the car on the way home.
So now I wake up grateful.So now I get up, like maybe
around seven thirty walk my dog,my Golden Retriever, around the around the
Dallas Arts District, and she likessaying hi to everyone going to work,
(20:21):
and then I come back. Ido have a contract with Serious Sex,
so I work for them during theday. Then maybe around four I start
packing orders, then take it tothe post office, and then I just
hang out with James. So mydays now are more so like me focused
and they are chill and less stressful. But that's my typical day. Packing
(20:47):
orders does take a long time.Creating content on top of packing orders takes
a while. So like in themorning, like I'll get up, I'll
start like scrolling on Instagram trying toget inspiration on and how I can like
create reels that are different than theones you know, the few days prior,
and yeah, that's hard. I'mnot a content creator. Being a
(21:08):
business owner makes you be a contentcreator. But I'm not a content creator.
And I'm grateful for Valorie, likeshe took over the like the flat
lays and like the covers and stufflike that, because one thing off my
plate is like amazing, My timeis what I value these days, and
just trying to get the perfect picturelike and then me in perfection. If
(21:33):
I don't feel it's perfect, iwan't post. But then that like hurts
my page too, because you know, Instagram wants you to post all the
time. Can you speak to likein the business, how many hats you
do have to wear? So obviouslyyou're the jewelry creator, like the designer.
You're the content creator, but you'realso packing the orders or fulfilling the
orders, Like what all are youhaving to do in the business, Like
(21:56):
there's I'm sure there's like banking aswell, and then you're you know,
doing all the things, like whatelse is there? So emails, text
message, marketing, content creating.I don't handle customer service. Thankfully.
My assistant Rhonda, she's amazing.She's in from New Orleans. She'll text
(22:19):
me like, hey, so andso needs something like you know what their
order? Do we have this instock? Because she's remote, she doesn't
like come to the office, soit's me like following up and like giving
her answers and stuff like that.Managing social media. I know Valerie does
that, but for me personally,I like being like so close to my
(22:40):
followers, Like I think that kindof makes is what makes our brand special
is that a lot of our followersfeel that they know me, like you
know and so like I do liketo keep that aspect. But the content
creation, the customer interactions, everything, it's it's a lot. Yeah,
there's a few things that I've passedoff to other people that because I always
(23:03):
feel that I should like especially formy business, I say, what's my
zone of genius. My zone ofgenius is marketing, like talking to my
customers through social media. My zoneof genius is creating pieces that I know
my customers would like. And myzone of genius is delegating. YEA,
(23:26):
if I could delegate, That's whatI'm gonna do. And then I gave
you know, like I hire Valerieto do my photography because that's not my
zone of genius. I'm competent.Yeah, that's not my zone of genius.
And you're like the visionary too,like you always come with like the
best concepts and then we can justcapture them. Yeah. Yeah, I'm
I'm competent and I have the visionin my head. I can't execute photography
(23:48):
like yeah, so I like,I don't I'm not going to try.
It takes up so much time andI'm frustrated and so yeah, I try
to always operate in my zone ofgeniuses and then whatever, I'm like competent,
yeah, I give it to somebodyelse. And I think as a
business owner, it's important to recognizebecause it may just be a matter of
putting your ego aside and handing offbecause at the end of the day,
(24:11):
she's more efficient. Like you said, like you could take the photos,
but are you going to spend ninehours doing it when you can just hire
us to do it in an hour. And it's not like there's no harm
in doing that, you know.But I know you've shared with me a
couple of times, just like inour shoots and stuff when we're just like
talking about the journey that as acontent creator, like it is important to
(24:34):
share your journey and like your audiencereally connects with you as a person and
with you being the brand owner.But isn't it a struggle sometimes to share
and to show up as the contentcreator in the face of the brand when
maybe you personally might be having likea rough time. Like she show up
all the time, like she getsit. I told Valerie that if you
(24:56):
ever see my back in too manyreels, I've had a terrible day and
I cannot show my face, likeif I've been crying, if I don't
have the capacity to put makeup oneto be on camera, you're just gonna
give my back. It's a lot. Yeah, I try to like still
post the reel. I can't bein it because I look a hot mess
(25:17):
because I'm dealing with life. Yeah, as as are all my customers,
right, And that's why I feellike they're drawn to me, is because
I have like inspirational messages. Butyeah, it's relatable, it's relatable.
Yeah, Like if you see myback in reels, it's because I've been
through it. Yeah, And it'slike the struggle of like like you said,
like they want to connect with you, so you need to show up
(25:40):
because that's when they connect with youand then you can make sales. But
then it's like you maybe don't wantto show up because you're just going through
it because you're human. But thenif you don't show up, then your
business isn't gonna be thriving. Andit's like, how do we keep the
hamster reel going? Literally it's oneday at a time. It's sometimes it's
one hour at a time. Becauseit's like, so in March, I
(26:03):
lost my full time job and mybusiness is successful, but cash flow when
you're growing and you're successful, like, and that's why I appreciate conversations with
Valerie too. It was like Iknow I'm successful, but shoot, like
we have stuff to buy and likestuff to keep up with. Yeah,
and my full time job was allowingme to just pay these invoices with no
(26:27):
problem because it was a constant flowof cash. Yeah. When I lost
that, it's like uh uh yeah. There was once I was like Valerie,
like she sent me the invoice.I said, girl, I got
you tomorrow. That's what I getpaid from Shopify and so like it like
so that that was so stressful.That was probably like I've never prayed that
(26:48):
hard. I've never like tried tolike talk myself out of going into a
slump because I had dealt with depressionin the past. My mom was like,
don't let your mind go there.Just keep getting up every morning,
do what you gotta do. Yeah. I would write myself messages on my
board just to like remember to likedon't fall into that, because once once
(27:11):
I fall down into that, likedepressive, like it's hard to get back
out. It really is. Yeah, So like trying not to go there
and trying not to let my mindgo there was a very very difficult.
But like me just trying to showup, like just just do the reel.
Just keep showing up and keep showingup, and you know, eventually
it got better. But adjusting.Yeah, And I think no one talks
(27:36):
about what success means and what itreally looks like. Because I own a
six figure agency, Like we hitsix figures in our first year in business,
and like that sounds all fluffy andlovely and like so successful, but
like that doesn't mean I have sixfigures in my pocket. Like that doesn't
mean that I personally make six figures. Like that doesn't account for the taxes,
(28:00):
the team, It doesn't account forso many things and like I just
think like people don't really grasp likeall the things that go into it.
So when you have all these peoplesaying like I have a seven figure blah
blah blah, it's like, okay, but what what do you actually like
netting? You know, and soit's it's just like sales, like it's
just it's all just jargon, youknow. And so it's it's hard when
(28:22):
like you just don't really know whatpeople are talking about. And so success
looks different. And it's not tosay that like neither of us have a
successful business, but like there's somuch that goes into it, and then
it's like you just never know what'sactually going on behind the scenes. So
we both have successful businesses, butthere are so many ebbs and flows and
cash flow is a bit right,no, Like I was, I was
(28:47):
thinking about it because you know,I what, like I was trying to
figure out, like what does successlook look like? To me? So
right now I do have a contractas a full time thing going on,
but I was like, okay,so so that ends in five months.
I was like, so the coolapartment, like that doesn't at the end
of the day. And you're justlike broke in a cool apartment Like,
(29:10):
so I was like, what doesthat look like? So I was like,
I'm actually glad that I had thechance to kind of like go through
that. So like I know now, like we don't need all of it,
Like that doesn't make success. Likefor me, a fulfilled and successful
lifestyle would be you know, evenif I didn't have that other job,
I could still like you know,have like everything paid for, Like the
(29:33):
flow is good, I can stilltake trips in me and my man are
happy. Like that's success to menow. Yeah, And so it took
me like losing that contract in Marchto realize that now. And so when
I talked about moving, like Icould care less at this point. As
long as the apartment has good sunlightfor content, I'm good. That's so
that's such a major thing, Likethat's that really makes an apartment or breaks
(29:57):
it. And at the end ofthe day, you're getting the same experience.
I feel like when I move intosomewhere very flashy and fancy. It's
nice for the first month when you'rein love, but with anything in life,
the more you're in it, youjust it's like anything else. It's
anything else. It has running water, It has a roof over your head,
(30:17):
It has the exact same things,it's just has a little bit more
paint, or it has a certaintype of countertop or something like that.
So I completely get that. AndI feel like once you start to be
more quote unquote successful and you startto make more and more money, everything
else in your life will get raisedto Like you raise your rent, you
(30:37):
raise your groceries, you shop ata more prestigious grocery store. You every
every bill raises with it. Soit's like, are you really making more
money because you're netting the same amount, or you have like the same ability
to spend free money that you didbefore. You see all these celebrities like
they have the money, and yetthey're still like depressed, like it's not
(30:59):
everything. And it did take thissituation for me to find out, Like,
girl, it's not even that serious. Get you a place that has
good sun light and you'll be fine. Yeah, you really will. A
good location. I feel like goodsunlight and you're surrounded by good people.
Right. Material things will never actuallymake you happy. They will give you
(31:22):
dopamine, they will give you someof that, but they will never make
you happy, right, Yeah,yeah. I think we see a lot
of like on social media, thingsthat we like, would like and that
are nice to have. But mytherapist always goes through sessions with me where
she's like, what defines success foryou? Like paint a picture of what
a really successful life looks for you, And I'm like why. I just
want to be able to like comfortablyafford our, rent and be able to
(31:44):
travel and you know, have aschedule that I love and like when I
define it, I'm like, ohI have that, yeah, And I'm
like, oh, what do youknow? It's actually very achievable. And
then it's like everything else is justperks. It is, Yeah, that's
so good. In the jewelry industry, what would you say some of your
pros and your cons are with beingan entrepreneur and just the niche of being
(32:07):
in jewelry specifically as well. Iactually am friends with a lot of like
other small jewelry business owners, andI love that we like I have a
friend in Puerto Rico, Like shetexts me and she's like, hey,
I saw that she use this andthis, Like where'd you get that?
And you know, I'd tell her. But it is very competitive when you
(32:29):
start like selling the same things andnot so much like competitive, like oh
I have to sell more than her. It's like, girl, you know
you stole that from me. Yeah, it's like that. Yeah. But
it is a very the small jewelrybusiness owners on like Instagram. Now when
you get into like these big likeold money type of you know, companies,
(32:52):
I don't know much about them,and I don't really you know interact.
I actually went to a jewelry thoseconferences. I was the only like
black, young black woman there.Wow, I was like because it was
it's a lot of old money injewelry. Yeah. And I was like
I am in the room with them. I didn't feel comfortable in the room,
(33:12):
but I was there. And sothat's like one thing that was really
interesting to me is like I sellon social media and they were like who
are you? What do you do? And then they look like I have
like a okay, you know enoughlike followers on social media and they're like,
you just sell on Instagram And Iwas like yeah, and they were
like oh, because it's like alot of old money yeulers from New York
(33:36):
or LA. And I was inthe room. I was the only one
that looked like me, but itwas that was interesting. Yeah, so
oh my god, Yeah, Icannot. I cannot even imagine showing up
and they're like, yeah, whyare all these old white men here literally
selling jewelry? Yeah what do y'allknow? Me? But yeah, I
mean it's been in there. It'slike jewelry is like a family business.
(33:58):
And I kind of like broke intothat and I was like, oh,
I'm in the room. Like itwas just like it was weird. Yeah,
but I do appreciate the other smallbusinesses. Yeah, I don't on
social media because we're we're a tightknit group. Yeah that's amazing, And
you're really supportive of them too,because you just started consulting and like kind
of coaching, right, Yeah,girl, she's been posting all the pictures
(34:21):
that you guys did. O good. She loves it. Yeah, And
I help with like her email flowsand marketing and stuff and starting out and
so yeah, but yeah, Ilove I love. My name Monique means
advisor. So I really lean intothat and I try to help where I
can, especially like if you wantthe help and you want to listen.
(34:43):
So, like I had a clientin Valerie did the photos for the young
lady and she's been posting all ofit and her feed looks so good.
Oh, I can imagine. AndI love that too, because, like
you said, like it's kind ofa competitive industry, but at the same
time, like there is no competitionbecause everyone's doing it different. Everyone has
(35:04):
a different market. There's enough peopleto go around to wear the jewelry,
and even if somebody does everything thatyou did buy the book, then they
won't catch up to you and theywon't overlap you. Like there's nothing like
that. So it's like there's noharm in helping people if they're willing to
do it, if they want yourhelp, you know. So it's really
I feel like there's not enough peoplein the entrepreneurship space who are willing to
(35:28):
give help like that. Either.I know that there's like a few people
on Instagram that try to copy me, but they never like finish it out.
They can't because one thing about me. And there's some I did a
one on one call and she's like, how do you get sales? And
she's like, I show up andI was like, I share, share
share, then sell, share shareshare and then sell. And when you're
(35:52):
trying to copy me and you're justtrying to sell to people because you see
me like do it. I waslike, you don't have the sauce like
so like they're like, I don'tunderstand, and I'm like, I share,
share share, and I I Idon't know. I don't want to
be too salesy. At the endof the day, I love my community
and I think that's most important tome. Like even if you never buy
(36:13):
a piece for me, like alot of people just share my reels.
So it's okay. I feel likewhen you come from a place of giving
and you come from a place ofa authenticity. Hello, I think it
when you come from a place ofauthenticity, it just whenever you're copying someone,
(36:34):
you can just feel it. Youcan just feel their lack of authenticity.
You can just feel that it's notgenuine and you can just it feels
salesy. It feels like they wantyou to buy something. It doesn't feel
like it has a person behind it, and it's it is frustrating when you
see that. But I also thinkin a way it's the biggest compliment because
they're like, Okay, I wantto be like this person. They're doing
(36:58):
it right, and they're inspiring,but you know it is I don't even
trust me. I've I've I've dealtwith it. Yeah, I've dealt with
like as a content creator, likepeople in my circle copy and pasting exactly
what I do. And it isso frustrating because it's like you're taking my
essence, like that's me, andyou're like trying to capitalize off of it,
(37:21):
like you're trying to make money offof me. It feels like,
you know, yeah, but youknow what, they don't really go far
being somebody else that they're not not. No, no, because there's no
way to do it, like truly, like genuinely no. The guy that
was energy, it was a guyand he does like my all of my
affirmations. If I come out withsomething, he does it. I said
to him, I was like,you cannot sustain being me, so yeah,
(37:44):
I keep trying. It's okay,you can't sustain being me, sure
enough he can't, And like Iwas like, you just wasted all of
your money just trying to like justcopy me. You can't sustain being me.
I'm I'm me, Like do youlike what are you doing? And
that can't feel good to anyone elseeither, Like it can't feel good to
(38:05):
not be showing up as yourself andfrom your own creative like running your business
from your own creation, and notfeeling like you can bring enough to the
plate that it will work right,you know. Yeah, it's like coming
from a place to desperation and it'slike that's just icky. Yeah, definitely.
That's actually one of like the numberone advice like that I give people
(38:28):
that want to start a business.I still do not start from a place
of desperation when I when I Ifeel like me moving in with my sister,
me like putting my ego aside,like starting from the bottom, but
having enough money set aside to likeget my business started. I felt like
that was such a good foundation.Starting a business from desperation and you're trying
(38:51):
to just sell it, sell itbecause you want the money or you want
whatever lifestyle like it, you can'tyou can't do that. Like people can
feel that too. Yeah, nothinggood from like no relationship, no,
Like nothing good comes from desperate energy. Yeah, I completely agree. Whenever
you're just trying to catch up andcatch up and catch up and catch up
right to where you think you're supposedto be, it's just that's a lot
(39:14):
of stress. I don't know whyyou even want to put yourself through that.
It doesn't sound nice. Thank youso much for coming on. We
appreciate you so much. Let everyoneknow I love where they can find you
and buy from you and all thatand support you. Yeah. So I'm
primarily on Instagram, hole buy moviegoods, be LBX, MOK, m
O and IQ and yes in theDM or leave me a comment. I
(39:37):
love talking about like our customers andour followers and the DM's songs and we'll
link everything in the show notes sothey can easily click away and shop all
the jewelry. Thank you so much, hasten Us talking to Mary. Thanks,
thank you for having me. Thanksfor listening to the Hot Girls Cry
(39:58):
Podcast. If you've enjoyed this episod, show some love and support with a
rating review, or keep the conversationgoing over on our socials. T T y L
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.