In this episode, we sit down with Rachel and Jess, the duo behind ParkerJ based in Huntington Beach, California, to talk about building a successful permanent jewelry business through partnerships, integrity, and strong customer relationships. The ParkerJ team shares how their partnership began, how they’ve grown their brand together, and why having realistic expectations is essential when starting and scaling a business. They’ll also be exhibiting at the Permanent Jewelry Expo (PJX), where they’ll be showcasing both their permanent jewelry and their custom charm bar experience.
Rachel and Jess share how a pop-up event in a Nashville pet shop sparked their interest in expanding their business and how experiences like that helped shape the direction of ParkerJ. Throughout the conversation, we talk about the importance of professionalism at pop-up events, including showing up prepared, staying for the full event, and thinking about the long-term image you want to create for your brand. Events aren’t always just about the sales you make that day—they’re about the connections you build with customers and fellow vendors that can lead to future opportunities.
We also dive into the realities of running a small business, including time management during slower events. Instead of getting discouraged, Rachel and Jess share how they use that time productively by creating content, organizing inventory, and strengthening their marketing strategy. The conversation also touches on giving back and finding meaningful ways to donate a portion of proceeds, reminding us that building a brand can be about more than just selling jewelry—it can also be about making an impact.
One of the biggest growth opportunities for ParkerJ has been adding a charm bar to their business alongside their permanent jewelry services. They share how introducing customizable charm jewelry helped expand their customer base while building trust with clients. We also discuss charm quality, sourcing plated charms that actually last, and how learning from early mistakes helped them refine their product offerings.
The episode also explores pricing strategies, perceived value, and profit margins for permanent jewelry and charm bars. Rachel and Jess explain how the way you market your services plays a major role in how customers value your work, and why it’s essential to price your products in a way that supports the long-term sustainability of your business.
Customer service is another major theme of this conversation. Rachel and Jess talk about learning how to gauge the way a customer communicates and adjusting your communication style to meet them where they are. Your mindset and the way you carry yourself at events and in business interactions can leave a lasting impression. Even if a pop-up event doesn’t bring in huge sales, the connections you make, the business cards you hand out, and the relationships you build can have a much bigger impact over time.
This episode is full of honest insights about growing a permanent jewelry brand, expanding with charm bars, navigating pop-up events, and running a business with faith over fear. Rachel and Jess remind us that success isn’t always about immediate results—it’s about consistency, relationships, and the courage to keep showing up.