Today we’d like to introduce you to Iajhiah Giraud.
Hi Iajhiah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“With Mod Earth, my goal is to inspire people to demonstrate their own uniqueness”. I am originally from Queens, NY and relocated to Los Angeles four years ago with my partner. During my time here in LA, I’ve spent much of my career utilizing my Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice working with victims of crime. I have always been apprehensive about entrepreneurship solely based off the fact that society consistently pushes a 9-5 as the norm. By no means is there anything wrong with a 9-5, I myself am currently working 9-5 while running Mod Earth. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, like many others, I had to transition to working from home. This allowed me to take a second to reevaluate and realign goals that were often pushed aside in order to excel in my career. I’ve always had a love for fashion and jewelry. Anytime I would go out to an event, I would run to the mall and purchase jewelry pieces to match my outfits. Many of them would tarnish or turn my skin colors within two weeks to a month of having them. I cannot tell you how much money I’ve spent on jewelry pieces over the years that did not last. Once I’ve decided to take the entrepreneurial leap, I began conducting market research to find high-quality jewelry pieces at an affordable price tag. From there, Mod Earth was created.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am fortunate enough that I had the opportunity to over prepare prior to launch day in order to minimize operational issues that some small business may face. However, no matter how much effort and time you spend preparing, there will be some challenges along the way. Due to Covid-19, several shipping carriers have experienced delays that have been out of my control. I have done my best to create an open line of communication with customers and maintain full transparency as issues arise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Mod Earth Timeless Jewelry is black woman-owned brand based in Los Angeles, CA. All of our pieces are 18K Gold Plated with a stainless steel base or 14K Gold-Filled. Our pieces are water and tarnish resistant and hypoallergenic. Mod Earth is directly inspired my East Coast roots and my love for the modern aesthetic. Each design is meticulously crafted with my customers in mind. They are a perfect combination of texture and minimalism, making Mod Earth the ultimate wardrobe essential. I pride myself in being able to offer exceptional jewelry at an affordable price tag. While creating Mod Earth, I found that there wasn’t enough representation of BIPOC in both the models used to display the jewelry and in the design of the jewelry themselves. Mod Earth strives to bridge that gap and wants everyone from all backgrounds to feel as if there is something for them. Our pieces embody our vision, Unique As You!
What are your plans for the future?
My long-term goal is uphold the personal experience that the brand provides. I currently pack each order and handwrite every thank you note that is delivered to my customers. Even with expansion, I will always strive to maintain that personal touch. I never want my customers to feel like they are just another sale. They are far from that! They are the foundation of the brand and for that, they should and will always continue to be valued.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.modearth.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mod.earth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modearth/
Image Credits:
Photographer: Claudio.A.Robles, Rebellion Agency
