Meet Haja Timbo of Jarīatu Jewels in Lawndale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haja Timbo.

Haja, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Haja Timbo, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. My background is from Africa, both my parents are from Sierra Leone which is located in west Africa. Every since I can remember I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset! Every time someone asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My response was always a business woman or a model. Fresh out of high school I began to manage retail stores. While managing I’ve always thought to myself I need to be doing this for me! I’ve always been very sales driven and have been a top seller in all the companies I’ve worked for.

After five years of being in retail, I gained the courage to start an online jewelry boutique. It was on my mind for about a whole year before I actually began. I love jewelry and accessories so I knew it would be a great product for me to start with. Having my business is one of the biggest reasons I came to LA! Being minutes away from the fashion district gave me such a rush. Because being a buyer for your company, you want to see and feel the products before you sell it. I also wanted to build relationships with different wholesale companies I was buying from. Being in business I’ve learned building genuine relationships is essential. Working in retail allowed me to grow my business because I was always interacting with shoppers, most importantly women; my main customers. I made sure to always have business cards with me and form good relationships with them. Pushing my business in the stores I worked for helped me out a lot!

So now, I have officially been in business for three years now. I love this business and wouldn’t trade it for anything! I know if I’m consistent, my business will go far. I’m always finding ways to grow, so the hustle never ends.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced since I started my business was time. Time management is everything! My life was already busy before I started my business. Full-time student and working full time, managing a store and building my business in the mix. Being an entrepreneur is literally 24/7! I have had some of my customers pick up orders from my job and even on campus. I am always in constant communication with my customers. Another thing is creating a social media presence. This is also a major part in my business because it’s how I connect to new and already existing customers, and to be honest I sometimes lack on that. But the thing is it can be done and it must be done. As I continue my business I am finding better ways to manage my time. After all, you get what you focus on.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
So my business is called Jarīatu, named after me. It’s a unique name just like my pieces. I sell jewelry and accessories. What I love about my business is that it’s very feminine and it speaks to a wide range of women. I believe I have things for every woman. I sell cultural inspired jewelry to trendy jewelry. I also sell handbags/clutches. Personalized jewelry is one of my biggest hits. My business is pretty much known for having custom jewelry options and the gold cultural purses. What sets my business apart is having great customer service. I know how important it is to have that in a business so I make sure to have outstanding service.

One of the things that I do is to make sure I follow up with my customers, by calling them and checking in to see if they have received their package in good standing and I even handwrite thank you notes! What I am most proud of is that I sell good quality jewelry/pieces. I love receiving feedback that their necklaces or other pieces never tarnish in color or break on them. I’m really big on that. So when I shop for my business I want my customers to wear my pieces confidently and have great trust in my company.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Some future plans that I have for my business is to have a storefront! I have always wanted to have my own boutique. I plan on expanding my business in Spring 2020 into something very exciting and I know my girls will love. So all I will say right now is, stay tuned.

Contact Info:

• Website: Jariatujewels.com
• Phone: 6786628665
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @_jariatu_
• Facebook: Jariatu Jewels

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