Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Sharifi.
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?
My story begins years before I started my company. Growing up, I always had bad luck buying jewelry because my sensitive skin would immediately react to any cheap costume jewelry I purchased. I’d break out in hives, my skin would turn green, and my jewelry would tarnish. Tired of spending money on cheap jewelry I’d eventually end up tossing out, I began making my own jewelry in college. I utilized water-friendly materials such as gold vermeil and gold-filled metals because I lived an active lifestyle and didn’t want to worry about removing my jewelry every time I exercised or showered.
Fast forward to August 2019, I was a few years out of college, working towards a healthcare career as a nurse or Physician Assistant while working as a medical assistant at the time. In order to save towards graduate school, I began selling beaded bracelets I’d made for myself to family and friends. Shortly after, I posted about my work in a few Facebook groups I was in and received an overwhelming amount of interest from other women who were interested in buying my bracelets. Some of them, aspiring content creators, had asked to tag my business to share with their followers. I didn’t want people tagging my personal account, so I made an account and called it “Beads by tara” – a straightforward yet amateur name for a side business I never imagined would lead to anything.
As I continued to create pieces, I reached out to content creators I followed on Instagram, shared my journey of raising money toward an education in healthcare, and asked if they were interested in trying out my jewelry to potentially share with their followers. I was met with a lot of unanswered DM’s, a few “no’s”, but surprisingly, many “yes’s” from a few of my favorite creators. This truly was the shifting point in my business. After a few notable creators share my brand with their followers, my account quickly gained traction. From there, I harnessed the power of influencer marketing to organically grow our brand. Since 2o19, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to host pop-ups, work at craft markets, collaborate on capsule collections with notable influencers, and most recently, launch our permanent jewelry service in August of 2022. For the first few years, I singlehandedly ran every aspect of the business, from production, fulfillment, content creation, marketing, and everything in between. Wearing all the different hats allowed me to understand the intricacies of every role, but also made me realize I needed to outsource in my weaker fields in order to grow. As of 2023, we proudly now have a team of 4 employees, along with a handful of contracted creatives who allow me to continue creating a brand that prides itself on offering timeless, high-quality jewelry designs with superior customer service and a dedication to altruistic contributions.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As cliché as it sounds, the biggest obstacle in my way was truly myself. As someone with no prior experience or background in business, I was met with doubt and criticism, not only from myself but also from others in my life. In all fairness, I don’t think anyone, including myself, realized where this business would be three years from its inception. Throw in a pandemic a few months after I launched my business, and I was left with a lot of questions and concerns from those around me. “Is this a stable job? Nobody will be buying jewelry in a pandemic. Healthcare is a stable field, why would you ever consider anything else?”
Naturally, the thoughts of others became my own, and I was met with a severe case of imposter syndrome. The pandemic, in a weird way, gave me the momentum and push to continue my business, as I saw many friends and family in highly esteemed roles furloughed while I was fortunate to be able to continue running my business from my home. Even today, the road is not always smooth – as a generally anxious person, the self-doubt and imposter syndrome unfortunately still persist. There are times where I genuinely question if what I’m doing is sustainable in the long term, but I’ve had to remind myself that the journey of growing this business is far more fulfilling than the fear that holds me back.
We’ve been impressed with BEADS by tara, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an online, women-owned + operated jewelry brand that specializes in high-quality, timeless jewelry that’s safe for sensitive skin. Our slogan, “Designed to Layer, Made to Last” perfectly encapsulates our vision for offering minimal and dainty pieces that effortlessly pair well together and is made to withstand the various activities of daily life. Most recently, we launched a new service in August 2022 called “ZAPPED by BBT”, also known as permanent jewelry, where we offer custom-fit jewelry that is hand-welded onto clients in our San Francisco studio.
Our brand ethos emphasizes commitment to quality, customer service, and altruism. We are so proud and humbled by our customer retention rate, with many customers who have continued to purchase from us since our inception. We believe that offering high-quality jewelry is just the tip of the iceberg in running a successful business – our dedication to superior customer service, personal relationships with clients, and dedication to giving back to the charitable causes in the community and world are just a few of the reasons I believe my brand has remained successful thus far. BEADS by tara truly would not be where it is if it weren’t for our loyal following of customers-turned-friends who support us in more ways than one.
When visitors view our website or Instagram, me and my team want readers to know they are not just shopping from an online brand but joining a community instead. I believe jewelry has many facets. For one, jewelry is truly a form of self-expression, one that is size-inclusive and looks good on everyone. A piece of jewelry doesn’t just adorn the body, it oftentimes holds significant meaning as well – from honoring the memory of a loved one to representing a milestone in one’s life to celebrating a new accomplishment. I want readers to know that our jewelry is made intentionally and made to last so that these memories are able to be worn and appreciated for years to come.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memory is spending summers in Toronto my cousins. Unfortunately, I didn’t grow up with my extended family near me, so I looked forward to every summer when my big family would all gather together and talk in the living room for hours. It’s difficult getting everyone together these days, but we’re fortunate to have the means to plan a big trip every few years!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beadsbytara.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beadsbytara
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beadsbytaraa
Image Credits
Sarah Sherman
