243 | Scared To Leave Your "Stable" Job? Start Here! with Heidi Kalafut
Jewelry Business Academy PodcastShow Notes
Are you stuck in a "stable" career while secretly dreaming of going all-in on your jewelry business? In this episode, I sit down with Heidi Kalafut of Heidi Marie Private Jeweler to talk about her courageous leap from an 11-year career in financial services into a six-figure custom fine jewelry business. We unpack how she grew from a few engagement ring referrals to a thriving private studio, how she navigated that messy overlap between her 9–5 and her jewelry business, and what it really looks like to build a business while raising two little ones. Heidi shares the networking strategies that actually move the needle, how she thinks about pricing and markups with gold costs skyrocketing, and why this is exactly the time to raise your prices. If you've been craving proof that it's possible to build a profitable, sustainable jewelry business on your own terms, this conversation will light a fire under you.
What You Will Learn in this Episode: How Heidi transitioned from a "stable" financial services career into a six-figure custom jewelry business in just a few years Practical mindset shifts for taking the leap from hobby to true jewelry business (without waiting to feel "ready") Networking strategies that feel genuine (not salesy) and actually bring in dream jewelry clients How to think about pricing, markups, and price increases when gold and material costs keep going up
Topics Discussed: Heidi's journey from art major to retail jewelry, financial advisor, and finally private jeweler Starting a jewelry business in 2020 while pregnant and parenting a toddler The tipping point of leaving a 9–5 to go full time in your jewelry business Networking vs. social media as a primary growth strategy Pricing, margins, and communicating price increases to clients Balancing (and realistically juggling) motherhood, business growth, and new revenue streams
__________________________ Ready to grow + scale your jewelry business? Work with me → jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/fast-track If you loved today's episode, hit subscribe so you never miss a strategy drop. DM me your biggest takeaway on Instagram → @robynclarkcoaching Grab my free business guides → linktr.ee/robynclarkcoaching Heidi's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/heidimarieprivatejeweler
Heidi's Website | https://heidimarieprivatejeweler.com/
More from Jewelry Business Academy Podcast
Work with me 👉 https://www.jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/
Work with me 👉 https://www.jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/
Work with me 👉 https://www.jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/ Are you working harder and harder in your jewelry business, but still wondering why the results aren't matching the effort you're putting in? In this episode, I'm handing the mic over to JBA member K-Tea Callahan for a hot seat conversation about some of the biggest questions jewelry business owners are navigating right now. We're talking AI-generated jewelry photos, why working harder doesn't necessarily grow your business, the emotional side of entrepreneurship, and the sneaky ways fear can disguise itself as "this strategy just isn't for me." I'm also sharing some of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn while building my own jewelry business, including why doing the right work matters more than doing more work, how mindset impacts your ability to implement a strategy, and why messy action will almost always take you further than consuming more information. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, overworked, or stuck in your jewelry business, this conversation will help you simplify, take action, and focus on what actually moves your business forward.
Work with me 👉 https://www.jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/
Work with me 👉 https://www.jewelrybusinessacademy.ca/