Success With Jewelry – Episode 157
Title: Laryssa and Liz Talk 2026 Planning: A Realistic Rhythm That Prevents Burnout
Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Laryssa Wirstiuk & Liz Kantner
Episode Overview
In this episode, Laryssa and Liz dig into how jewelry business owners can realistically plan for 2026 without falling into the all-too-common trap of burnout. They share why most year-ahead planning systems fail for jewelry designers and break down how to create a sustainable, adaptable annual rhythm. The conversation is candid and rooted in real-life business ups and downs. Listeners get practical steps for mapping out launches, production, and marketing on a calendar that actually fits their lifestyle, energy, and buyer behaviors.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Importance of Realistic, Sustainable Planning
- Many designers enter a new year overloaded with big, exciting ideas, only to feel exhausted and burned out by year-end. (01:40)
- Overcommitting and vague planning are common causes of burnout and missed goals.
- Planning should be tailored to fit your actual business realities (sales cycles, production, personal life) rather than an idealized version of yourself or your brand.
- Quote:
"You have to be able to, like, adapt it to your lifestyle… that applies to marketing as well."
— Liz (02:28)
- Quote:
Why Consistency Outperforms Over-Ambition
- Both hosts stress that consistency, not intensity or perfection, is what drives long-term growth.
- Quote:
"What kind of marketing plan can you stay consistent with, where you're not going to take on so much that you can't do it anymore?"
— Laryssa (03:03)
- Quote:
- Small, sustainable routines are better than unsustainable, all-in sprints.
The Anatomy of a Jewelry Business Year
- January: Often quieter. Great for planning and building a custom list, preparing for custom projects, and reviewing the previous year. (05:25)
- Leverage this time to organize, analyze data, and set up the year if not participating in early trade shows like Tucson or ACC.
- Spring: Bustling with weddings, gifting (Mother’s Day), and a rise in buyer energy post-winter. Good time for both sales and wholesale outreach. (06:19)
- Summer: Traditionally slow for direct-to-consumer sales—ideal for vacation, revisiting creativity, or prepping holiday inventory. (07:16)
- Keep a recurring reminder or calendar notes so you don’t repeat past mistakes.
- Quote:
"We forget what happened in the previous year. You should make a reminder kind of calendar for yourself."
— Liz (07:16)
- Fall: Peak sales prep season. Don’t wait until fall to plan your holiday campaigns or inventory—start as early as July. (08:49)
- Quote:
"Fall is not a good time to start planning your holiday… We were very behind and we still made it all happen, but I would not recommend."
— Liz (08:49)
- Quote:
Aligning Marketing and Production Calendars
- Fusing marketing and production plans is crucial; they must “talk to each other.” (10:34)
- Many brands lack a solid production calendar—this is a mistake.
- Know your real production timelines and communicate them clearly to wholesale buyers and end customers.
- Quote:
"A store isn't going to necessarily want to buy from a designer who doesn't have all their operations in line."
— Laryssa (11:02)
- Quote:
- Build in buffer time for orders (e.g., 4–6 weeks standard).
Data-Driven and Strategic Product Planning
- Review last year's sales, phase out underperforming pieces, and schedule “sunset sales” to clear inventory. (14:17)
- Carve out and calendar creative time—treat personal studio/bench time with the same importance as other business tasks. (15:28)
- Quote:
"You can do that, just block it off on a calendar."
— Laryssa (15:28)
- Quote:
- Marketing plans should be reverse-engineered from key launch dates, accommodating needed time for tasks such as photography, product writing, and website setup. (15:43–16:44)
Reframing Launch Expectations and Giving Products Time
- Don’t judge a launch by immediate sell-out success.
- Quote:
"Just because when you launch something, it doesn't sell out immediately doesn't mean that it's a flop... It takes a long time for things to catch on."
— Laryssa (16:44)
- Quote:
- Stay visible and keep telling the product’s story—customers likely need multiple exposures before committing.
Creating Structure for Creativity
- It’s okay to leave room for spontaneous launches if that fits your energy, but even loose guardrails help you stay on track. (18:26)
- Quote:
"We can set our businesses up any way we want… Getting clear about what would feel good to you is most important."
— Laryssa (18:38)
- Quote:
- Even if being playful/experimental, set gentle sales or output goals and be honest about what outcomes to realistically expect.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- "Consistency again. That is just what we always come back to."
— Laryssa (03:00) - "Start somewhere to be able to accommodate how things will unfold throughout the year."
— Liz (04:19) - "January is a good time to plan… July is not too early to start thinking about the end of the year."
— Laryssa (07:56) - "You just need to write it down and define it and put that schedule and that plan together."
— Laryssa (11:02) - "Having a sale, getting rid of stuff like that I think is considered production too and should be worked into the calendar."
— Liz (14:17) - "The more you lean into operations… it probably is harder to carve out the time for creativity. Plotting that in is a great idea."
— Liz (15:28) - "Just because you started planning doesn't mean that's set in stone… you can make changes and tweaks along the way."
— Laryssa (09:15)
Notable Timestamps
- 01:40: Why big plans can lead to year-end burnout
- 03:00–03:22: The universal necessity of consistency in both fitness and business
- 05:25–06:19: Walkthrough of a typical jewelry business annual calendar
- 07:16: Importance of keeping historical performance reminders
- 08:49: The risks of late holiday planning
- 10:34–11:02: The need for production and marketing schedules to align
- 14:17–15:28: Using sales data to plan and making space for creativity
- 16:44–17:39: Mindset shift for launches that don’t immediately sell out
- 18:26–19:52: Balancing structure and creativity in planning
Conclusion & Action Steps
Laryssa and Liz urge listeners to:
- Look at their whole year or at least the next six months and draft a REALISTIC plan—one that honors both business needs and personal bandwidth.
- Decide what you want to create, what capacity you can manage, and when launches should happen.
- Use hard data and self-reflection to clarify what should stay, go, and be prioritized in the year ahead.
- Make “making time for creativity” as non-negotiable as any sales or production deadline.
Final advice: You have permission to do things your way, but set at least a loose structure and be real about what it means for your results.
For more:
Visit successwithjori.com to connect, share your plan, or leave feedback for the hosts.
Summary by [Your Podcast Summarizer]