I’m often asked - “what would YOU do if you had to start your jewelry business over again?” In this episode, I answer that question by revealing the 7 things I would do if I were starting over again from scratch. In this episode, I cover: Why I quit my retail job at Nordstrom to start a Jewelry company What I did to go from achieving nothing each day to generating $50k in sales in just 6 months. What to do when you’re sitting down to get work done - but don’t have a deadline to...

In this episode, I chat with Susan George from Mediary Marketing about the incredible opportunities TikTok Shop offers for jewelry businesses.  In this episode you’ll discover: Susan’s journey from a professional musician to a social media brand strategy expert How Susan became a “celebrity” on TikTok from a home studio during the pandemic right after having a baby Why Susan switched from Instagram to TikTok when developing her personal brand Why TikTok is not just for “Dancing...

Welcome to the Thrive by Design podcast! I’m Tracy Matthews, Chief Visionary Officer of Flourish & Thrive Academy. In this episode, we’re diving into the secrets of creating a cohesive jewelry brand strategy. Discover: How to know in a snapshot if your brand is cohesive or not. Why being good at sales doesn’t mean good at branding How customers’ expectations change with where they are - and where you need to put your jewelry to sell. The importance of your Jewelry screaming...

Welcome to the Thrive by Design podcast! I'm Tracy Matthews, and in this episode, we're diving into how to connect with your audience on social media to drive daily sales.  Tune in to discover: Why it’s not enough to know basic facts about your ideal customers - and what else you need to know How to sell to men looking to buy jewelry for their wives The right “vibe” your Instagram needs to attract your dream customers What information to remove from your Instagram Bio that might...

Join me, Tracy Matthews, as I delve into energetics - something that helps me achieve my desires - and what can help you do the same for yours. In this episode, I’ll share: How I got invited to speak right when I was looking to get in front of more people The story of a hummingbird - and how it predicted success in my business. The relationship sickness and disease have with a person’s goals. How letting my friend pay for dinner transformed my mindset. Why I no longer play-down...

Sabrina Nussbaumer is a woman with a hell of a backstory.    In 2011, she was in the depths of an alcohol addiction. She was going to school for fine arts… and blew all her scholarship money at the bar. Today, Sabrina is sober, thriving, and growing a unique silversmithing business.   In this inspiring episode, you’ll hear about…   …How Sabrina’s addiction — and a toxic relationship — led her to metal smithing and eventually to jewelry design…   …Why the pandemic turned out to be a...

It’s my birthday! I know I’m incredibly blessed… and that the abundance I have today is the result of some hard lessons I learned a few birthdays ago.    Today, I want to share the most important gift I ever received — the lesson that took me from struggling artist to thriving business owner.   In this episode, I share the story of how my life and business transformed into the incredible reality I have today. If I could give every jewelry designer a gift, this lesson would be it.    So...

When Lindsey Kirk’s husband came home and told her how much he was struggling at his swing shift factory job, it was clear they were at a crossroads.   She knew that in spite of her feeling of panic, it was time to take her jewelry business to the next level.   After 5 years of running a studio space to sell her pieces in Quincy, Illinois — while working a part-time job to make it work — Lindsey decided it was time to close the store and double down on her website (lucky for her, because...

We’ve got to talk about the state of social media content for jewelry businesses…    Because a lot of jewelry designers are just totally missing the mark here.    It’s boring, pushy, cringe, or some combination of all three.   And I hate having to say that, because it’s not their fault.    Jewelry designers are not trained to be professional marketers! But it’s our job to figure out how to create social media content for our jewelry businesses — just as much as it is to create the...

When you’re healthy as an entrepreneur and business owner, it shows.    Your energy is on point. You’re focused and in flow. You’re happier, more productive, and more creative. But when our health takes a hit, our business suffers too. When you’re feeling sick or sore, your motivation and clarity take a dive too.    That’s why keeping yourself healthy and vibrant is a huge win when you are designing your jewelry and building your business.   Today, my dear friend Tina Anderson is on the...

What are you done with?    To answer this profound question, this week we’ve got a special double-barrel episode release on the Thrive by Design podcast — How to Double Your Sales in Half the Time, and How to Know When You’re Done — And What to Do Next.    Both episodes are intended to shake you up out of the parts of your life where you’re stuck and know it’s time for a change.   Asking what I was done with in my own ‘rock bottom’ moment back in 2008 started me on the journey to the...

Today’s show is all about doubling your online sales, with a few simple strategies that always work.  But before we get to that, a quick message:  If you’re serious about increasing your sales in a short period of time, I’m here to help you do that. Our Train Your Customers to Buy from You Online program (TYC) is going live on April 30th.  TYC is a 12-week sales accelerator. It helps you leverage all of your sales channels and build your revenue by pulling on different aspects of how you...

Is your jewelry business really just an expensive hobby right now?  If you have to make jewelry, but you also have to make it a viable business, today’s episode of the Thrive by Design podcast is for you. Erin Kandoll quit her jewelry business just as the pandemic was starting, because she didn’t think it would ever be able to support her family.  She sold all her equipment, got rid of her old inventory… and then stumbled upon Thrive by Design. She listened to a bunch of episodes and...

There are times in your jewelry business where you might have to take a hard pivot to get what you really want.    That’s where Antoinette Elizabeth found herself last year, and today on Episode #469 of the Thrive by Design podcast, she shares how she navigated that incredibly tough crossroads in her business.    When a huge storm cut off tourism to Antoinette’s location, she knew she had to make a change if her business was going to survive. In this unique episode, Antoinette shares:   ...

When was the last time you added 50, 100 or 200 new subscribers to your email list? It might not be intuitive, but every festival, trunk show and trade show you sell at is a goldmine for growing your online sales. And if you have no idea how you would pull those kinds of numbers at a live event, buckle up.  Alex Boxall, from Alex Kathlyn Accessories, is a graduate from our last Train Your Customers to Buy From You Online program https://www.flourishthriveacademy.com/tyc/. In this episode...

What would life be like if 80% of your customers came back to buy from your website again… and again… and again? It might sound crazy, but it’s possible! This week on the show we have our Head Coach, the fabulous Chelsea Farmer of HorseFeathers Gifts, here to teach you exactly how she does it. Here’s a sneak peek of what we cover: Why return customer rate is a key number in your jewelry business, and why focusing on this area can create a huge community of ‘true fans’ desperate to buy...

Want the best 2024 strategies to drive more traffic to your website and sell more online? I’m sharing a bunch of super valuable data and statistics with you that prove how powerful online sales still are when growing your jewelry company (and that show you where to focus your efforts).  I also walk you through how to holistically think about all of the different online sales channels available today and how to uplevel your marketing and visibility with some crazy-effective tactics! I talk...

How do you life-proof, recession-proof, and algorithm-proof your jewelry business? Raise your hand if you’re overly reliant on Instagram or Facebook to make sales, and you notice anytime the algorithm shifts or something changes that you see a dip in sales.  If that’s the case, it’s time to think a little bit differently about these platforms. We don’t own our followers on Instagram or Facebook, and at any given moment we could lose access to all of those people.  I tell you how to use...

Do you know how to use packaging to increase your product’s perceived value and bring customers back again and again? To make more money and attract more customers, you need a strong brand - and a strong brand is centered around strong packaging design!  I interview Kelley Kempe who is the branding and packaging genius behind Hidden Path Creative - a graphic design studio supporting product-based businesses with packaging designs that genuinely represent their brand identity. We talk...

How do you know that you’re using your strengths and challenges and those of the people you bring into your company to support your business’ growth and success? If you’ve ever wondered how the people you surround yourself with can optimize your growth instead of hinder it, then you need to use this assessment! I interview Enneagram expert Hillarie Kay - a results-driven trainer, entrepreneur, and speaker who uses the Enneagram to support business owners in building teams that thrive. We...

What if you’re not attracting the right customers? If the people walking up to you or meeting you online aren’t your ideal customers, it’s important to understand how to reel those dream ones in.  Because if you’re in a sea of the wrong customers and trying to sell to those people, your messaging and everything you’re doing won’t land with them.  In the latest episode of the Thrive by Design Podcast, I tell you how to create connections with the right people and ignite a spark that turns...

Today we’re talking about the power of live events and how impactful they are for growing your small business!  For years, one of my favorite things to do was host events at Flourish and Thrive Academy because of the life-long relationships I made!  That’s how some of my best connections and friendships were formed! I haven’t been so excited about a podcast interview in so long because these incredible ladies are going to dive into how powerful events are for your life and business. In...

We’re diving into some incredibly important topics about ethical and sustainable jewelry production, making, and sourcing!   This is a hot topic that everyone wants to talk about and learn about, so we’re also going to explore the Ethical Metalsmiths Organization.    I’ve been on their advisory board for a couple of years, and I just love what they’re doing to mentor designers and create community in a very different way than we do over here at Flourish and Thrive Academy.    In the...

Are you thinking about starting a jewelry business in retirement or have been making jewelry but haven’t gotten serious about selling it to your dream customers? Then today is for you! If you’re interested in learning about how you can make traction in your sixties, seventies, and beyond, you’re going to love this episode. Prepare to meet total badass, Estelle Vernon - a long-time member of the Flourish and Thrive Academy community and breast cancer survivor who shares how she’s navigated...

What if you could just drop a jewelry collection and make $10k in 2 days because you followed a step-by-step roadmap? If that’s a goal of yours, listen to this episode where I interview one of my students, Nicole Burch, who shares her strategy and how she started crafting $10k days for her jewelry business! The mother of a special needs son, a Reiki healer, and an energy worker, she built this jewelry business as a passion and is a graduate of our Laying The Foundation Program. We talk...