Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Hou.
Sonia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my jewelry business as a side hustle in 2011, while having a full-time corporate job at Walt Disney Company. About six months in, I got solicited by a TV agency that would place my jewelry sell on TV on consignment. That is how I started to sell at Wendy Williams show and on other small TV channels.
I also started to place my jewelry on celebrities through stylists I connected with online and at work. I got my jewelry on ABC’s The View co-host Sherri Shepherd, Mayim Bialik from CBS’ Big Bang Theory, and more! Click here for list – https://soniahou.com/pages/celebrities-press-sonia-hou-jewelry-earrings-necklaces.
I decided to dedicate more time to growing my jewelry business and taking care of my 1-year-old child. In Jan 2018, I decided to solicit Olympic athletes (one month before the Winter Olympics ’18) since their Instagram following wasn’t huge yet, and figured they were more approachable. Surprisingly, they all agreed to wear my jewelry at the Olympics.
Celebrity Olympic U.S. Figure Skater Mirai Nagasu became the break-out star of the Olympics, becoming the first American to ever land a triple axel at the Olympics. She was wearing our “good luck” FIRE earrings when she made that jump since they are made of White Quartz. As a result, I got featured on big publications like CNBC, PEOPLE, POPSUGAR, NBC’s TODAY SHOW.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The fashion industry is oversaturated with millions of designers, so the competition is huge in the jewelry industry. There are a lot of talented designers, but few have a strong business, so a lot of designers close down after a few years.
E-commerce is the trend now, so not only important to be creative in your designs, you also have to be tech-savvy. If you don’t have any website skills, you will have a difficult time generating sales to sustain your business.
The biggest struggle was that I had to self teach myself on how websites are created. The second struggle is trying to get retail buyers (online or physical) to believe in your products.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
SONIA HOU Jewelry is where high-end jewelry meets fashion jewelry – think of it as “Tiffany jewelry meets Forever 21.” This American brand grew in popularity in such a short amount of time, and has been worn by many celebrities, featured on CNBC, PEOPLE, POPSUGAR, NEXTSHARK and major TV shows like NBC’s Today Show, Wendy Williams and ABC’s The View.
SONIA, an Los Angeles based designer and fashion enthusiast, always had trouble finding stylish, reasonably priced jewelry that was safe on her skin and long-lasting in the sense that it will not easily tarnish, peel or flake. She would shop at major high-end retailers and overspend on jewelry made out of cheap metals that would tarnish in less than a year, and also cause her allergic skin reactions.
So in 2013, SONIA introduced a new category in the jewelry world, combining the best qualities of Fine Jewelry and Fashion Jewelry together, forming Fine Fashion Jewelry, using the finest materials found in Fine Jewelry, like 14K Gold Filled/14K Gold, Sterling Silver, Semi-Precious Gemstones, Swarovski Crystals, and creating a line that was stylish, modern and affordable like Fashion Jewelry.
Inspired by the everyday Hollywood celebrities and pop culture, every jewelry piece that SONIA creates comes with a unique story, and her creativity, along with her intricate eye for detail, has allowed her to create timeless designs with a modern flair. SONIA proudly discloses the materials in her line, catering to people who have sensitivity issues. Most of our jewelry is proudly made in the USA.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
Besides New York, L.A. is the biggest destination for fashion entrepreneurs. From marketing to celebrities and finding manufacturers, L.A. is the place to be which is why I love being in this city. I got discovered by TV agencies only because I was located in L.A. – so there are more opportunities here.
What do I dislike? How fake some L.A./Hollywood people are. It’s just part of the business. People would kiss up to you, and then spit you out if they don’t find you to be a fit. It can be a cold-hearted, superficial business where people just use each other.
Pricing:
- Everything is under $100
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soniahou.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniahoujewelry/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaHouJewelry/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/soniahoujewelry
Image Credit:
Noelle Freeman
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
