Jewellers Academy Podcast

Hosted by Jessica Rose

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300

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Jessica Rose is a serial jewellery business owner and the Founder of multi-award-winning London Jewellery School and Jewellers Academy. Having helped over a million people learn jewellery-making, she passionately believes anyone can have a successful business making and selling things they love. Each week, you'll hear tips, support and practical advice on how to launch your jewellery or handmade business as well as inspiring interviews.

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60 recent

November 9, 202633 min

339. Feeling Stuck in Your Jewellery Business? Here's What Helps

Running a jewellery business can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to do everything yourself. From pricing and websites to marketing, photography, accounting and actually finding time to make jewellery, there's a lot to think about. And when you're working on your own, it can be difficult to know what to focus on next or who to turn to when you need advice. In this episode, Kelly Twigg chats with fellow jeweller Iain Sainsbury about the challenges of starting and growing a jewellery business, and why having support from other jewellers can make such a difference. Kelly and Iain share their own experiences of running jewellery businesses, including the things they wish they'd known when they started. They talk about how easy it is to get overwhelmed by everything you think you need to do, why setting smaller, achievable goals can help you make progress and how having someone to talk things through with can give you a fresh perspective. They also discuss the benefits of being part of a community of jewellers who understand what you're going through. From sharing practical advice about websites, packaging and social media to celebrating successes and helping each other through challenges, having people around you who understand your business can be invaluable. Plus, Kelly and Iain explain how business mentoring works within the Jewellery Business Academy, sharing examples from their own mentoring sessions and why support can be valuable at any stage of your business. You'll also hear about the new year of one-to-one business mentoring option for 2027, which offers six individual sessions across the year with a dedicated mentor who gets to know you and your business. Find out more about the Jewellery Business Academy and the year of mentoring: https://www.jewellersacademy. com/the-jewellery-business- academy

November 2, 202628 min

338. What If Growing Your Jewellery Business Means Doing Less?

You've got your jewellery business up and running, created your collections, built your website and started making sales. Now you're ready to grow. How do you take your jewellery business to the next level without adding even more to your already long to-do list? In this week's episode, join me, Jessica Rose. I'm looking at why growing your jewellery business isn't always about working harder. Sometimes it's about understanding what's already working, deciding where to focus your time and letting go of the things that aren't helping. I'll be talking about how to use your website, email marketing and Instagram analytics to make better decisions, why it might be time to rethink some of your jewellery collections and how getting help with certain tasks can free up your time. We'll also look at why sharing your story and building relationships with customers is so important. This is for you if you've got your jewellery business established and you're ready to grow, but you're not quite sure what to focus on next. Join me for my free masterclass: Your Roadmap to Growing a Jewellery Business If you'd like some help working out your next steps, I'd love you to join me for my free masterclass on Wednesday 4th November 2026 at 8pm UK time . I'll be taking you through a practical roadmap to help you decide what to focus on to grow your jewellery business, increase your sales and build a more profitable, sustainable business. It's free to attend, and if you can't make it live, sign up anyway and I'll send you the replay. Sign up here: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/your-roadmap-for-growing-a-jewellery-business

October 26, 202623 min

337. 3 Reasons Your Jewellery Business Isn't Making a Profit (And How to Fix Them) with Jessica Rose

Are you making sales in your jewellery business but struggling to see any profit? Perhaps you're busy making jewellery, attracting customers and growing your business, but your bank balance isn't reflecting all that hard work. In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose shares three of the most common reasons jewellery businesses struggle to make a profit and what you can do to fix them. Drawing on her own experience of building a jewellery business and supporting hundreds of makers, Jess explains why making more sales isn't always the answer. From pricing your handmade jewellery correctly to creating a marketing strategy that actually generates sales and understanding your cash flow, this episode is full of practical advice to help you build a more profitable and sustainable jewellery business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why making lots of jewellery sales doesn't necessarily mean you're making a profit The difference between paying yourself a maker's wage and generating profit for your business How to price your handmade jewellery to cover your materials, time, marketing costs, overheads and profit Why underpricing your jewellery can actually harm your business What Jess calls the 'post and pray' approach to social media marketing and why it doesn't always lead to sales How to turn Instagram followers into email subscribers and paying customers Why selling in person can be particularly important when you're starting your jewellery business How to create a basic cash flow forecast and plan for seasonal changes in sales How to decide whether new tools, equipment and training are worthwhile business investments The important question to ask yourself: If you sold 50 pieces of jewellery tomorrow, could you afford to replace them? Get a FREE Money Mindset for Jewellers course with Jess's book Want to dive deeper into creating a profitable jewellery business? Jess's book, Start and Grow a Profitable Jewellery Business , covers everything from pricing and marketing to managing your money, with practical worksheets, spreadsheets and resources to help you put what you've learnt into action. For a limited time, when you purchase a printed copy of the book through Amazon UK, you'll also receive free access to our Money Mindset for Jewellers online course. This course will help you explore your beliefs about money, build confidence around earning and develop a healthier relationship with money in your jewellery business. The offer is available for UK purchases made between 26 October and 25 December 2026 . Find out more including full terms and conditions and instructions for claiming your free course are available here: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/book

October 19, 202638 min

336. How Mentoring Can Help You Grow Your Jewellery Business

Could business mentoring help you grow your jewellery business? Having someone experienced to talk things through with can make a huge difference, especially when you're making decisions, feeling stuck or trying to work out your next steps. In this week's episode, Jess is joined by Anna Campbell to explore the benefits of business mentoring for jewellers. They share their own experiences of being mentored, how the right mentor can help you see your business from a fresh perspective and why having someone in your corner can be so valuable. We chat about building confidence, recognising your strengths, getting clear on your goals and the importance of accountability. We also explore why working with someone who understands the jewellery industry can help you avoid mistakes, discover new opportunities and make progress towards the business you really want. Plus, we have some exciting news! We're introducing a new year-long mentoring package for the Jewellery Business Academy, with six individual mentoring sessions to give you personalised support throughout 2027. Find out more about the Jewellery Business Academy and our new mentoring opportunities here: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/the-jewellery-business-academy

October 12, 202640 min

335. How I Learnt Jewellery Making While Travelling the World with Alison Powell

Learning jewellery making while travelling the world isn't always straightforward. There are tools and materials to transport, projects to finish and deadlines to meet. And when you're moving between countries, there can be a few unexpected complications! In this episode, Jess is joined by Alison Powell, who started learning jewellery making in 2021 while living in Tanzania. Her husband had bought her a jeweller's toolkit for Christmas, and when she started looking for tutorials online, she discovered Jewellers Academy. Since then, Alison has continued learning while living in Lebanon and Venezuela, including having to leave Lebanon when war broke out and dealing with the aftermath of an earthquake in Venezuela. At one point, she was trying to finish a particularly challenging silver metal clay project in between international flights! Jess and Alison talk about how she's managed to keep learning and making jewellery while moving around the world, how her skills and personal style have developed, and why she's now getting ready to launch her own jewellery business, Avila Jewellery Designs. Listen to this episode to hear about: How Alison first discovered jewellery making and why she decided to keep learning. The practicalities of learning jewellery making while travelling, from transporting tools to working on projects in hotel rooms. What happened when a war and an earthquake disrupted her jewellery-making plans. How Alison went from struggling to use a piercing saw to designing intricate jewellery, including a very special locket inspired by her time in Venezuela. Why she struggled to think of herself as a 'real jeweller', even after several years of learning. How she's using the Jewellery Business Academy to prepare for launching her business, despite not knowing where she'll be living next year. Why the friendships and support she's found through Jewellers Academy have been particularly valuable while living overseas. Alison also shares her advice for anyone thinking about learning jewellery making, particularly if they're wondering how to make it work around everything else going on in their lives. Follow Alison and her journey https://www.instagram.com/avilajewellerydesigns Alison has developed her jewellery-making skills through several Jewellers Academy Diploma courses and is now preparing to launch her own jewellery business. Find out more about the Diploma courses: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diplomas Explore the Jewellery Business Academy: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/the-jewellery-business-academy

October 5, 202642 min

334: 10 Things I Learnt Launching My Own Jewellery Business with Jessica Rose

What does it really take to launch your own jewellery business? In this episode, Jessica Rose shares the story behind the launch of her new jewellery brand, Jessica Rose Jewellery, and ten of the biggest lessons she has learnt along the way. Jess first ran a jewellery business around 20 years ago, before moving into teaching and eventually building Jewellers Academy. Now she is back at the bench, creating an organic fine jewellery collection using wax, gold, gemstones and stone-setting techniques and experiencing first-hand what it means to build a jewellery business in today's market. Jess talks openly about choosing what to make, investing in materials before you know when the money will come back, creating a cohesive collection, dealing with broken stones and things going wrong at the bench, and the self-doubt that can appear when you finally put your work out into the world. She also shares her approach to photography, branding, building her own website, keeping the first version of the business simple and why launching your website is only the beginning. In this episode: Why Jess decided to start another jewellery business now How she chose the style and techniques for her first collection Why she started with creativity rather than a commercial idea How she built a 28-piece jewellery collection over time The reality of investing in gold, gemstones and professional photography What she learnt when stones broke and settings went wrong Dealing with fears about originality and being judged Why your jewellery does not need to appeal to everyone Keeping your branding, website and launch simple Why a slow start after launching your jewellery business is completely normal If you are starting a jewellery business, preparing to launch your first collection or wondering how to turn your jewellery-making skills into a brand of your own, this episode is full of practical lessons and reassurance from someone going through the process right now. Find Jessica Rose Jewellery: Website: jessicarose.com Instagram: @JessicaRoseJewellery Want support growing your own jewellery business? The Jewellery Business Academy is our year-long programme for jewellers who want to build and grow a successful jewellery business. From branding and pricing to marketing, selling, websites, email marketing and launching, you'll work through the key areas of your business with training, mentoring, planning sessions and support from the Jewellers Academy community. Find out more about the Jewellery Business Academy at https://www.jewellersacademy.com/the-jewellery-business-academy

September 28, 202633 min

333. How to Take Your Stone Setting Skills to the Next Level with Iain Sainsbury

If you already have a grounding in stone setting and you are ready to develop your skills further, this episode is for you. Jess is joined by jeweller and Jewellers Academy mentor Iain Sainsbury to talk about what it really takes to move into more advanced stone setting and jewellery making. Iain has completed all three of the Jewellers Academy advanced stone setting Masterclasses himself and now supports other jewellers going through the programme. In this episode, Jess and Iain discuss the three Masterclasses - Decorative Collets, Fishtail Setting and Tiara Wedding Bands - and how each one develops different technical skills at the bench. They also explore why advanced jewellery making is about much more than mastering one technique, and how learning complex construction, setting and finishing skills can give you more confidence in your own designs and commissions. They also talk about the importance of practice, why you should not expect to get an advanced technique right the first time, and how mistakes are often an essential part of becoming a more skilled jeweller. In this episode: How advanced stone setting differs from learning the basics Why complex projects can improve your overall jewellery-making skills Decorative collets and developing precision, piercing and construction skills Fishtail and pavé setting using traditional hand-pushed gravers Creating tiara-style wedding bands for bridal jewellery Why repetition and practice are essential at an advanced level How detailed tuition can help when projects involve multiple technical stages The value of learning alongside a community of experienced jewellers How advanced techniques can help with future commissions and fine jewellery work The Jewellers Academy advanced stone setting Masterclasses are open for enrolment until 31st October 2026 , with immediate access to all three courses and lifetime access to the training. About Iain Sainsbury Iain Sainsbury is a British fine jewellery designer and goldsmith based in South Cambridgeshire, creating bespoke and one-of-a-kind pieces. His work combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, with a particular focus on precision, ethical sourcing and meaningful jewellery. He is also a Jewellers Academy mentor and tutor. Connect with Iain Instagram: @iains_jewellery Website: iainsainsbury.com

September 21, 202628 min

332. Behind the Diploma Diaries: Learning, Making and Sharing the Real Jewellery Journey with Kelly Twigg

What does learning jewellery making really look like behind the finished pieces? In this episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess is joined by jeweller and content creator Kelly Twigg of Willow and Twigg, the original Diploma Diary creator, to talk about the reality of learning new jewellery-making skills and why sharing the process can be just as valuable as sharing the finished result. Kelly began her Diploma Diaries when she joined the Diploma in Silver Jewellery two years ago, documenting the projects she was making, the things she was learning and the moments when everything did not quite go according to plan. Since then, the Diploma Diaries have grown to include different students, tutors and jewellery-making techniques, giving an honest look at the highs, lows and breakthroughs that are part of learning a craft. Jess and Kelly talk about why seeing other jewellers make mistakes can be so reassuring, how sharing your learning can help build connection and trust with your audience, and why experimenting with techniques outside your usual style can sometimes take your jewellery in a completely unexpected direction. Kelly is also back on a Jewellers Academy Diploma this year, this time on the new Diploma in Wax Jewellery. She shares what it feels like to become a student again, why she missed the structure and community of learning alongside other jewellers, and how working in wax has given her more freedom to experiment and start again. IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: Why the Diploma Diaries were created and how Kelly became the first Diploma Diary creator What it is really like to document your jewellery-making journey while you are still learning Why sharing mistakes and difficult moments can be just as useful as sharing successes How seeing other students learn can make online jewellery courses feel less isolating Why process content can help customers understand the skill behind handmade jewellery How documenting your learning can give you months, or even years, of social media content What Kelly learnt from revisiting her original Silver Diploma Diaries a year later The different perspectives shared by Emma René, Tori Foster and Jane Taylor through their own Diploma Diaries Why trying jewellery-making techniques outside your usual style can help you discover new directions Kelly's experience of starting the Wax Jewellery Diploma and learning to slow down, experiment and work in a completely different way If you're currently on a Jewellers Academy Diploma, we'd love to see your own Diploma Diaries. You don't need to document the whole year. Share a project, a technique you're learning, something that went wrong, something you're proud of or simply a moment from your week at the bench. Tag @jewellersacademy and use #DiplomaDiaries so we can follow your journey too. Follow Kelly's journey on Instagram this year @willowandtwigg and discover other Diploma Diaries at @jewellersacademy Find out more about the Jewellers Academy online jewellery diplomas: https://www.jewellersacademy.com/diplomas

September 14, 202640 min

331. Scared to Show Your Face? How Lauren Gunning Grew to Nearly 30,000 Instagram Followers

Scared to show your face on Instagram? Jewellery designer Lauren Gunning knows the feeling. In this episode, Jess speaks to Lauren about how sharing her personality helped her grow to nearly 30,000 followers, having originally set herself a goal of just 1,500. They explore finding confidence on camera, building connections through honest, imperfect content and the pricing mistake that almost made Lauren give up her jewellery career. Lauren also shares how she transforms found sea glass into gems and builds her business around family life. An encouraging conversation about being yourself, valuing your work and giving your jewellery business a chance to grow. In this episode, we discuss: Lauren's journey from her grandmother's bead collection to starting a jewellery business. How she turns found sea glass into handcrafted jewellery. Moving beyond product photographs and showing the maker behind the jewellery. Overcoming the discomfort of seeing and hearing yourself on camera. Growing an Instagram community through humour and honesty. Learning to price handmade jewellery to support a sustainable business. Returning to jewellery making after having children. Discover Lauren's jewellery and connect with her on Instagram through her website: Lauren Gunning Jewellery Explore jewellery courses, free tutorials and business support: Jewellers Academy

September 7, 202637 min

330: How to Find the Story in Your Jewellery Business: What Journalists Actually Want to Hear

What makes a jewellery business newsworthy and why would a journalist want to write about yours? In this episode, Anna Campbell is joined by PR and visibility expert Amanda FitzGerald, also known as Major Visibility, to explore how jewellers can uncover the compelling stories already hiding inside their businesses. Amanda explains why announcing a new collection is not always enough to attract media attention. Instead, journalists are looking for engaging human stories, unusual details and ideas that matter to their readers right now. In this episode, you'll learn: Why press coverage remains valuable in the age of social media and AI How to turn your personal journey into a compelling PR story Why your materials, provenance and creative process matter How meaningful commissions and customer stories can attract attention Ways to use local heritage, specialist niches and collaborations How to connect your story to a trend, event or awareness day How to identify the right publication and journalist What to include in a short and effective press pitch When and how to follow up with journalists Why local, niche and online coverage can be so valuable Amanda also shares the remarkable story of her mother Janet Coles, whose bead business grew from a hand-drawn A4 mail-order sheet into a million-pound company, with press coverage playing a major part in its success. If you have ever wondered, "Why would anyone be interested in my business?", this episode will help you recognise the stories that make your jewellery brand distinctive—and give you the confidence to share them. About Amanda FitzGerald Amanda FitzGerald is a PR and visibility expert who helps business owners get seen, heard and recognised through press coverage, podcasts and speaking opportunities. She is passionate about helping women become more confident about self-promotion and turn their expertise into meaningful visibility. Find Amanda online: Website: https://amandapr.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandaprexpert