Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Choi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always wanted to start a jewelry brand one day but never thought that seriously about it until a couple of years ago. I’ve worked within the fashion/e-commerce space most of my career and loved it for a while, but began feeling lost around the pandemic/post-pandemic time. I ended up jumping around different jobs with little direction in where I wanted to go. That’s when I started to seriously consider doing something on my own. I missed feeling passionate and excited about something, so thankfully, with my husband’s support and a lot of back and forth, I finally decided to pull the trigger, quit my job and just go for it.
Jewelry has always been a part of my life and, in some ways, a part of my identity and style. My mom would tell me that even as a toddler, she’d see me in some type of accessory–mostly beaded bracelets, sticker earrings, and plastic rings, haha. My love for jewelry only grew as I got older, with my love for hoop earrings and chains throughout my teens then chandelier earrings in college, to crazy bracelet stacks in my 20s. But now, in my 30s, I’ve grown an appreciation for more understated pieces and items I can wear time and time again for years. I now care more about quality over quantity, which is what inspired my brand, CHESI.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not, haha. Even though I felt like I had all the benefits of working in e-commerce and fashion to start my brand, there are still so many things I didn’t know. Managing and splitting my time into different tasks while figuring out big-picture goals, budgeting, and doing it all alone can feel really overwhelming, which I’m sure a lot of small business owners can relate to. Plus, with me coming from a more creative background, the business sides of things tend to take a lot more effort out of me. But at the end of the day, I am extremely grateful to be able to do what I love. It also helps to have a super supportive husband who’s always encouraging me and excited for CHESI’s potential too.
I also really want to say that finding a community of other small business owners through pop-up markets has been such a blessing. The small business community is so special and unique in that we’re all genuinely supportive of each other and want each other to win. Being a part of these markets has really taught me that there is room for everyone in whatever industry you choose to work in.
I know there will be those moments of self-doubt and second-guessing, especially when sales aren’t smooth sailing all the time, but I’m so thankful to all those who have supported me in the last year and a half and all the customers I’ve met along the way. It gives me encouragement and motivation to keep going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about CHESI?
CHESI is pronounced like “che-shee,” and in Korean, it means Mr. Choi/Ms. Choi/I’m a Choi. It comes from my maiden last name, Choi, and was inspired by my late dad who always believed in me and encouraged me to have my own business one day. He was someone I truly looked up to so I wanted to pay homage to him in some way.
We sell handcrafted, genuine 925 sterling silver jewelry that’s hypoallergenic (nickel and lead-free) and made to be worn all year round. 925 sterling silver just means 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other alloys. Since silver is soft, you need other alloys to make it more durable. The reason we chose to go with silver is because of its high quality, longevity, and affordability.
Our pieces are all ethically sourced from all over Asia, finding high-quality pieces that can stand the test of time with proper care. Everything is thoughtfully curated by me with the intention of our customers feeling confident in wearing their pieces daily, and season after season without the worry of fleeting trends.
How do you define success?
To me, success is a continuous journey of having that growth mindset and willingness to learn. It’s all about the journey and not just the wins. It sounds cliché but probably because it’s true. What I’m learning through CHESI is that sometimes just taking that step and not being afraid to fail is the biggest strength you can have when trying to achieve something while also knowing when to ask others for help. You can’t do anything alone and it’s more fun when you have people around you that support you and vice versa. I’m so thankful for my husband, my family, my friends, the small business community, and all of my customers and supporters who have been a part of CHESI’s growth so far. At the end of the day, if I’m able to make someone happy with a piece of jewelry and add a boost of confidence to their style, I’m grateful. I feel excited about CHESI’s continued growth and can’t wait to see where we’ll be another year from now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chesiofficial.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chesiofficial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chesiofficial
