Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ferko Usta, owner of Ferkos Fine Jewelry, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a made-to-order online jewelry company. All items ordered are made specifically for each customer. 95% of our customers are women between 18 - 65.

Tell us about yourself

It could be said that there's gold in my veins. I was born into a family of jewelers; my father, his brothers, and their fathers were all jewelers. I even married a jeweler myself! Armed with ambition, jeweling family tradition, and a love of aesthetics, I went off to college, where I graduated with a degree in fashion design, with a minor in painting and drawing, but still found myself in the family studio working in the jewelry industry for the past eight years, solely manufacturing jewelry being supplied to retailers across the country.

Ultimately, my son's birth gave me that extra push to carry the family custom-made jewelry business online and start my own business. – he's the main inspiration for everything I do. I combined my passion and training in fashion with my jewelry knowledge and began sketching new styles. Shortly after, I decided to open FerkosFineJewelry.com to bring my designs to life.

Ferko is a family nickname that my father gave me. He passed away when I was ten, but he serves as a constant source of inspiration and love every day. I named my gold jewelry shop after his loving nickname for me as a tribute to him.

From creation to final polishing, I'm very hands-on within the business. I design every piece with 3D CAD software. I handpick every diamond set into the jewelry to ensure that everyone fits our standards. I'm also responsible for all the photography you see. I'm proud to say that my photography skills are steadily improving, and I may just have a new hobby.

Family and art are my passion. You can find me spending time with my husband, son, and other friends and family in my spare time. My main hobby is doing portraits in paint and pencil. I'm a maker by nature, so I'm not happy unless I'm creating something. I really feel that art feeds my soul.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is finding the inner strength to decide to branch out of the family business and start Ferko's on my own. When I started Ferkos, it was just my husband and me. We are now a staff of 10+.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Trying to allocate more quality time for my family and kids.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Dedication - You need to be the first one in the door and the last one out.
  2. Never Give up - There will be a lot of ups and downs. Never lose faith and keep ongoing.
  3. Accounting - I think one of the core things about running a successful business is keeping correct accounts and managing funds correctly.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ferkosfinejewelry.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferkosfinejewelry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferkosfinejewelry/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.