Entrepreneur Friday

Entrepreneur Friday: Judith Bright

Posted by Jean

WHO: Judith Bright

WHAT: Judith Bright Designs — Chic, Affordable Handmade Designer Jewelry

WHERE: Nashville, TN

WHEN: 2007

HOW: A wife, mother of three boys, and full-time employee to boot, Judith Bright had the busy lifestyle of many mothers today. However, after 11 years in a job she loved, Bright felt it was time to move on to something bigger and better – pursuing her lifelong dream of designing affordable, high-quality jewelry.

Based in LA, but with family in Nashville, Bright knew that, within a few years, they would relocate to Tennessee. Bright had taken some jewelry-making classes close to home, but she and her family didn’t feel they were quite ready to move to Nashville – but were more than ready to leave LA. “We decided to take a gap year,” says Bright. “We sold our house and packed up our stuff,” she explains, and the family of five moved to Florence, Italy – one of the world’s most historic, artistic cities. There, Bright brushed up on her jewelry designing skills at the Arti Orafe school – so, upon her family’s return to the states, she was prepared to launch her business, and be in it for the long haul.

“I made a budget, bought QuickBooks, designed a logo, hired an assistant and began finding my voice as a designer,” Bright explains. After investing $20,000, promoting her line and launching her website, Bright was in business. “It sounds simple,” she adds, “but there were many hours of research and development involved.”

Her hard work has paid off in the long run, as the business has already become profitable, having sold more than $500,000 in merchandise. She credits the price of gold as a reason she’s been able to maintain affordability of each piece in her collection. Using gold-filled metal, rather than 14K or 18K gold, allows her to keep her costs low (it’s an eighth of the price!) – and still keeps her allergy to nickel and other base metals at bay! She also says location has helped. “Nashville is a great place for entrepreneurs,” she says. “My timing into the market was very fortunate.”

Currently, the business is based primarily in online sales, trunk shows, and private events – but that won’t be the case for long. “We’re looking for retail space to open our first store,” says Bright, “and we’re also using online videos to answer questions and demonstrate how the jewelry looks and providing ideas for complimentary coordinates.” All in all, Bright hopes women will purchase jewelry for themselves: “New pieces always make women feel and look good.”

HER ADVICE: “Approach everything you do as if you were the customer,” Bright advises. “Don’t let anything out the door that is less-than-perfect, provide excellent customer service, no hassle returns and free shipping if you have a website.”