Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in jewelry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Truong, owner of Mimi's Jewelry, located in Fountain Valley, CA, USA.

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

Mimi's jewelry is a vertically integrated, full-service jewelry store. Our customers are our family. We are proud to call our customers family. Cultivating relationships is more rewarding than anything we make.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a proud dad of 3 and husband to my wife for 17 years. My story started when we tried to escape Vietnam. My parents sold everything they had and bought diamonds. My dad carried those diamonds in a tube on our many attempts of escape. One time we were caught and all sent to a makeshift jail on the Mekong Delta. My mom, brother, and I were released after a few weeks. My dad had to serve for months. Before we left, my dad told me to come to say goodbye. As we said our goodbyes, my dad slipped me a tube and told me not to say anything to anyone, even to my mom, that I had that tube. Fast forward a few years, and inside those tubes were diamonds that afforded our first car, our first business, and our first home. So, I guess you could say I was a diamond dealer at the ripe age of 3. My motivation every day is to be the best I can be in my business, to make my family proud, and to contribute to my community.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a community business owner is to see my clients at restaurants, benefit functions, soccer games, football games, etc., happy with how they were treated and the product they received from my shop. I am beyond proud of my staff and the jewelers that work with me.

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

The hardest thing for me is the struggle to find the correct balance between dividing time between family and business. Family always wins, but still, it's a struggle.

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

The biggest ROI in business is to contribute to the community your business is in. Little or big, and do it without the expectation of return. Secondly, the financial bottom line is important. However, more importantly, invest in your team's happiness. We love "family" lunches. Simple things like buying lunch and breaking bread with your teammates change the culture. Thirdly, set goals. Without goals, you are checking in and checking out without a clear vision of the business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mimisjewelryinc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mimisjewelry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimisjewelry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mimisjewelry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-truong-aa27738/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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