Success With Jewelry Podcast Episode 133 Summary
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Hosts: Laryssa Wirstiuk and Liz Kantner
In Episode 133 of the Success With Jewelry podcast, hosts Laryssa Wirstiuk and Liz Kantner engage in a heartfelt and insightful conversation, sharing personal updates, discussing brand management, and exploring the evolving landscape of merchandise in the jewelry industry. This episode offers listeners an authentic glimpse into the lives of seasoned jewelry marketing experts while providing valuable advice for jewelry designers and entrepreneurs.
Personal Milestones and Travels
Liz’s 40th Birthday Celebration in Barcelona and Berlin
Liz begins by recounting her milestone 40th birthday, which she celebrated in the vibrant city of Barcelona. Accompanied by her husband, she extended her travels to Berlin to visit her sister-in-law. Liz shares memorable experiences from her trip, including celebrating her birthday amidst the architectural splendor of Parc Güell, a Gaudi-designed park. Despite concerns about returning from the trip more exhausted due to burnout from work, Liz reflects, “it pretty much did happen, but I have no regrets” (01:51).
Finding Vegan Delights Abroad
A significant highlight of Liz’s travels was discovering Berlin’s extensive vegan-friendly scene. She credits thorough research using platforms like TripAdvisor and Happy Cow for finding exceptional vegan restaurants. Liz exclaims, “Berlin has to be the most vegan-friendly place I've ever been” (02:52), emphasizing the availability of substantial vegan meals beyond basic offerings.
Exploring Unique Jewelry Stores
During her trip, Liz searched for unique jewelry but found that Spain lacked a diverse jewelry culture, offering mostly standard pieces like engagement rings and wedding bands. However, she praises a particular store in Berlin named Antique Jewelry, lauding its vast selection of vintage pieces spanning various decades and eras. She shares her enjoyment of the store’s approachable atmosphere, where patrons are encouraged to try on different items, even though she didn’t find her perfect piece on this visit.
Upcoming Events and Brand Refresh
Liz’s Attendance at JCK and Couture in Las Vegas
Liz reveals her plans to attend the prestigious JCK and Couture events in Las Vegas, representing the Success With Jewelry podcast for the first time. She excitedly mentions receiving a personalized gift from her husband Jordan—a delicate, engraved silver band that sparkles beautifully in the sunlight. Reflecting on the thoughtfulness, Liz states, “It looked almost like there were diamonds... sparkling so pretty in the sunlight” (05:43).
Laryssa’s New Headshots and Mini Brand Refresh
Laryssa shares her recent experience of updating her professional image with new headshots taken by Asheville photographer Nicole McConville. She details the process of integrating these new photos into her website, alongside minor tweaks to her website copy and layout. Laryssa emphasizes the importance of regularly refreshing one’s brand to stay current, advising listeners: “If you haven't looked at your website in a while, go and look at it” (09:02).
The Crucial Role of Brand Management
Updating and Aligning Your Brand
Laryssa and Liz delve into the necessity of maintaining and updating a brand to reflect current goals and aesthetics. Laryssa highlights the challenges of detaching from original brand elements that may no longer represent one's current vision, sharing her own emotional journey: “You're kind of walking away from the brand that got you to where you are now” (10:53). She underscores the importance of ensuring consistency across all platforms, including websites and social media, to present an authentic and cohesive brand image.
Emotional Attachment to Brand Elements
The conversation touches on the sentimental value creators often attach to their initial branding efforts. Laryssa articulates the difficulty of letting go of familiar elements that launched their success, emphasizing the need to evolve: “It's really challenging to move forward” (12:48). Both hosts acknowledge that while evolving a brand is essential, it requires balancing respect for the past with a vision for the future.
Navigating Work-Life Balance and Burnout
Compartmentalizing Personal and Professional Life
Laryssa and Liz discuss the pervasive issue of burnout among entrepreneurs, particularly solo business owners. Liz shares her experience of disconnecting from work during her travels, finding solace in moments unrelated to her business: “if I'm not talking about work or if I'm not talking about being a mom, I don't know who I am” (14:19). Laryssa echoes this sentiment, highlighting the constant presence of work in her daily thoughts and the struggle to find mental space away from business concerns.
Creating Spaces Free from Work Discussions
Both hosts express their desire for social interactions that are free from work-related topics. Liz appreciates environments where conversations revolve around personal interests rather than professional endeavors, stating, “No one asks me about my work and I love this” (15:48). Laryssa adds that finding such spaces is invaluable for maintaining mental well-being amidst the demands of running a business.
The Rise of Merchandise in Jewelry Branding
Is This the Year of Merch?
Transitioning to a discussion on merchandise, Laryssa posits, “Is this the year of merch? I think it might be” (17:04), reflecting on the potential trend within the jewelry industry. She shares her own experiences with producing merch for the Stay Gold Collective, offering it as thank-you gifts rather than products for sale. This approach allows her to strengthen community ties without the logistical burdens of selling merchandise.
Designing Meaningful and Aligned Merchandise
Both hosts agree that successful merch should go beyond simple logo placements, incorporating designs that tell a story or align with the brand’s ethos. Laryssa cites examples like East Fork Pottery and Rough Cut, which offer unique and limited-edition items that resonate with their customers. She advises designing merchandise that customers would genuinely want to purchase or gift, rather than items that might end up unused.
Challenges of Merchandising
Liz points out the logistical challenges associated with merchandise, such as inventory management and ensuring product quality. Laryssa adds that predicting demand and managing production requires careful planning. To mitigate these challenges, she discusses utilizing print-on-demand services like Printful, which handle production and shipping, albeit with considerations for quality control.
Collaborations and Community Engagement
Both hosts see value in collaborating with local artists and businesses to create exclusive merchandise. Laryssa mentions a potential collaboration with a local Asheville artist to produce unique items that reflect their community’s spirit. They also encourage listeners to share ideas and collaborate, fostering a supportive network within the jewelry marketing community.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
As the episode wraps up, Laryssa and Liz invite listeners to engage with them by visiting their website, successwithjewelry.com, and sharing feedback through messages or reviews. They express gratitude for their community’s support and encourage ongoing dialogue to continue fostering a thriving community of jewelry entrepreneurs.
Notable Quotes:
- Liz on Berlin’s vegan scene: “Berlin has to be the most vegan-friendly place I've ever been” (02:52)
- Laryssa on brand refresh: “If you haven't looked at your website in a while, go and look at it” (09:02)
- Laryssa on emotional attachment to brand: “You're kind of walking away from the brand that got you to where you are now” (10:53)
- Liz on finding identity beyond work: “if I'm not talking about work or if I'm not talking about being a mom, I don't know who I am” (14:19)
- Laryssa on the potential of merchandising: “Is this the year of merch? I think it might be” (17:04)
Connect with Success With Jewelry:
- Website: successwithjewelry.com
- Instagram: Follow Laryssa (@LaryssaWarstiak) and Liz on their personal Instagram accounts for behind-the-scenes insights and updates.
This episode of Success With Jewelry offers a blend of personal storytelling and professional insights, making it a valuable listen for anyone involved in the jewelry industry seeking to balance personal growth with business development.