Meet Nia Lipka of SHOP851: an online jewelry shop

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been making and designing jewelry since I was about 13 years old.  By the time I was 15, I was visiting gem shows and using my allowance money to buy gold, silver and precious gemstones. From there, I took a jewelry making course at UCLA  that taught me how to melt down metals. By 16, I was working at a jewelry shop in Santa Monica.

Making jewelry is something I have always loved to do but it wasn’t until four years ago that I started looking at it as a business. When I started seriously making jewelry in college, it was always for myself. I couldn’t find affordable jewelry that wouldn’t tarnish, so I decided to make it. As a consumer, I didn’t want to spent $15 on a piece of jewelry that was going to change color, but I also wasn’t in a position to spend $600 on a gold bracelet. So I made quality pieces for myself that I could live in. I would get complimented on the pieces constantly, and all of my friends would ask if they could wear it, buy it, etc. I continued creating pieces after I graduated college while working my  9-5 job in marketing and communications. I spent my nights and weekends developing SHOP851. Every weekend I would do pop up shows and different events, take meetings with shop owners, and tried to develop my line. After about one year of this juggle, I decided to quit my job and devote 100% of my time to the business. It has truly been the best business decision I’ve ever made.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think every small business has hurdles. For me, that has been understanding that I simply cannot do everything. It’s a lesson I am still learning, but getting better at. I am also a new mom, and the business has truly grown more than I could have imagined since giving birth to him a year ago.

I am learning to understand the areas that aren’t my strong suit, and delegating and hiring out those positions or tasks. This is so important, especially as a new mom and business owner! Things like hiring a full-time accountant, and realizing that people can actually do things better than you, is empowering and frees up your time as a business owner.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SHOP 851 – what should we know?
SHOP851 is a jewelry company that specializes in high-quality jewelry, all under $100. All of our pieces are made with high-quality metals such as 14k gold, 14k gold fill and sterling silver, but I make everything in house, so we are able to bring our consumers an elevated and beautiful product for a reasonable everyday price point. Our jewelry is meant to live in, which means that our jewelry will never tarnish or turn, no matter what you do. My customers are always asking if they can shower, work out, or wear perfume with the jewelry and the answer is yes! Especially as a new mom, and most women these days, we don’t have time to constantly change our jewelry. So that’s why it’s so important to me to create quality pieces that last.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the quality of our product is what brings so much success. Our customers are so loyal, and for that I am so grateful. I think a large contributor to this loyalty is that they see how well their pieces hold up.

Contact Info:

• Want to shop our line in person? Visit us every saturday at Artist and Fleas in Venice on Abbott Kinney! We are always in the front booth right when you enter. Address: 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 9029
• Instagram: @shop851
• Website: shop851.com
• Email: info@shop851.com