Meet Jill Boylan of Soul Journey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Boylan.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started making jewelry back in the 70’s when I was in 5th grade. I took pottery class and started making teardrop shaped beads with faces which I called the “the people beads.” I strung them on leather, made chokers and gave them to friends. I was inspired by my mother’s African Trading Beads, and soon began making wire and seed beaded jewelry and sold my creations at a local record shop.

Years later, while working as an extra on a movie set in Chicago, I met a woman who owned a bead store. It was pure fate! I quickly ended up in her shop, relearning how to make hook and wire earrings and spending all the money I earned from my work, as an extra, on my creations. I started selling my jewelry to friends and little boutiques. Soon enough, I saved up enough money to move to LA to continue perusing my acting career. I packed up my beads and my scotty dog, Louise, and headed west!

My first jewelry line was called Lapis Lois, it was the beginning of the handmade jewelry movement around 1992. At the time, it was much easier to enter the market and approach buyers. I had no fear and marched into Nordstrom (the buyers were in the stores then) and got my first order. I understood the important of branding and creating a story and used it to inspire an emotional attachment to my line. I made it personal which helped me connect with buyers and customers. I also included a personal note inside the hangtag and a childhood photo of my late mother who passed in 1982.

Another big event in my first incarnation was the advent of the Internet. In 1994, I launched my first e-commerce website and called it Jill On Melrose. It didn’t last long, but the idea had been planted.

Lapis Lois had a successful run and sold all over the world, with my biggest customer being Nordstrom. Of course, this was not done alone. I had two great reps, one being Tricia Tirado of Supplements and the other Dale Lindholm of Pure Accessories. I continued running the brand until I had my son in 2000, then stopped for a few years to focus on my family.

On to my next venture, inspired by a rose quartz crystal I was given as a gift, I decided to create a line of healing gemstones. Rose quartz is for love and friendship, this really resonated me and I had an instant connection to the energy. I worked with Spiritual Psychologist, Kris Bliss, to create the positive sayings that would go with each piece of jewelry. Thus, Soul Journey Jewelry was born in 2011. The brand has recently expanded from beaded jewelry to scarves and kimonos and it’s only upward from here!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest struggle, in the beginning, was not having enough capital! A jewelry line requires a lot of money. I had help from my dad and one store that I still buy from. They gave me credit. I also did commercials and worked as a waitress, so this funded my business.

High labor costs were a problem – I hadn’t figured out an inexpensive way to manufacture my products.

3rd biggest obstacle was me! I stopped and started several times. I wish I had just stuck in there and trusted that my creativity would flow and new designs were always just one color, thought or shaped away.

I would say now that the capital is fine, it’s the frustration of having my name, my designs and concepts copied and used by other companies! My name and copy are trademarked but that doesn’t seem to stop some people.

Soul Journey – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in healing gemstones and unique designs, with a personal meaning that connects to customers.

I’m proud that I have a high rate of returning customers, products are made in US, except for Scarves and Kimono’s—these are handcrafted by artisans in India.

We were one of the first brands to bring healing gemstones to market and that makes me very confident in my intuition.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The biggest way I mark success is if I am happy with my work. If I can support my business financially and make a profit, then I would say things are going successfully. I also think it is important to continue growing my business and to try new things. And one last thing, returning customers are definitely a measure of success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.souljourneyjewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souljourneyjewelryofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulJourneyJewelry/

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