Meet Chelsea Mead

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Mead. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Chelsea, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

From an early age I always felt like I was different than others and never felt like I “fit in” with the norm ways of doing things. I’ve also always been creative in various forms and loved artistic creativity from the get go. When I started my custom jewelry business, from growing up in the industry in a family owned jewelry store, I was aware that the engagement side was not catered to the way it should be from the relational perspective and unfortunately seemed very transactional for most jewelry businesses. In the beginning of my business I started assisting with the proposal design and planning for my clients and truly focusing on the engagement ring customization and as a business acted more from a service industry heart vs jewelry/retail industry mindset. I just continually focused on having the best customer service possible for my clients, which differentiated my business from others and no one else touched the proposal planning side of the experience or seemed to desire that, which has made my business different for so long now. This process has taught me to simply just stick with what you know is different about your business and keep going, even if you evolve with what that looks like years later. In my eighth year of business I found that clients were wanting to have a little more control with their proposals, yet still not as confident in the process, so I developed a great digital guide that all of my clients receive so they can be empowered to carry it out themselves if desired, and then I have optional services for from semi to full service proposal planning with me and my team.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the owner and creative behind Honey Designs Jewelry, where I curate a tailored engagement experience for custom jewelry design, and believe in a client focused retail experience. Being born and raised in the jewelry industry with a Graduate Gemologist dad and family jewelry store, I’m not afraid to test boundaries in the industry and push creativity in the world of engagement rings. In the spring of 2024 with 9 years of business, I opened my first retail location in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I’ve loved continuing to collaborate with local wedding industry friends and local businesses for hosting creative events that have included partnering with tattoo artists, coffee shops, photographers, bakeries, other jewelry brands, local influencers, and more.

My educational background includes a Bachelor in Fine Arts from The Cleveland Institute of Art in Enamel & Metalsmithing, as well as Graduate Diamonds and Colored Stones with GIA. I identify as multi-passionate with creative endeavors and at any point in time could be managing anywhere from 2-5 Instagram accounts for said passions. Other facets of my life include being married to my prom date and amazing partner, mom to two wild boys, an addiction to iced coffee and supporting local businesses that serve exclusive food delicacies. You can find me at @honeydesignsjewelry or [email protected].

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think that it’s extremely important to be humble in whatever industry you’re in, and have an open mind about continuing to learn new skills and/or educational information related to your industry. Coming from a place of integrity and being caring, yet extremely transparent and honest in all relationships, whether it’s clients or industry friends is priceless for your journey and highly valued and respected. There are no magic tricks to developing endurance but that is a skill that is so important, especially as an entrepreneur, and to just keep going. That doesn’t mean you should keep going if a business situation is costing your mental health and finances deeper, but adapting and not letting the little things allow you to throw in the towel.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal clients are couples that I can have a friendly relationship with. They’re individuals that value quality over quantity and to go a little deeper; the clients who are giving engagement rings to their significant other are story-teller individuals that value honesty and genuine experiences. The couples I love working with are patient (since it’s still just me running the show) and want a more personalized buying experience. They also love supporting local businesses and see the value in that experience. They’re equally appreciative of me and my services as I am to have the honor of serving them as clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://honeydesignsjewelry.com
• Instagram: @honeydesignsjewelry
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/honeydesignsjewelry
• Other: Tiktok: @thediamondhoney

Image Credits

Shelby, Odessa James Photo
Kati Best, Kati Best Photos
Christina Humphries, Function & Flourish Photography