Behind the Scenes of My Handmade Jewelry Business

I heard something recently that made me worry about the future of society.

Forty-two percent of people who like Lay’s Chips didn’t know they were made with potatoes.

PepsiCo had to do a complete rebrand of Lays, the number one potato chip brand in the world, because almost half of their customers didn’t know that potato chips come from…*checks notes*…potatoes.

In other shocking news, water is wet!

I thought for sure the hook had been twisted to increase engagement, but after heading to PepsiCo’s website and verifying the story was real, I decided to give those 42% of people the benefit of the doubt.

We don’t know what we don’t know, and we don’t need an ingredient list to know what snacks taste good.

Still, if the beloved potato chip needs a rebrand, my jewelry deserves at least a plainspoken breakdown, so you understand me, the jewelry I make, and the reasons I do it.

Here’s what I want you to know before you ever click “add to cart.”

My jewelry is handmade. 

The FTC defines “handmade” as work shaped, formed, finished, and decorated by hand methods that allow the maker to control every aspect of the final piece. That’s what I do. The exceptions: most pendant chains are machine-made, and I usually don’t make my own earring wires. I use these premade parts to keep prices reasonable and meet demand.

My gemstone jewelry is one-of-a-kind.

I only make each piece once. You may see variations in different metals or within a collection, but never two of the exact same piece.

The jewelry you buy from me is truly, literally, one-of-a-kind.

The gold, silver, and platinum I use in my handmade jewelry is SCS-Certified 100% Recycled.

SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party certification and standards development in environmental and sustainability claims according to global standards.

The faceted stones I use are ethically sourced.

I buy my faceted gemstones from a globally trusted vendor who engages in practices to ensure ethical gemstone sourcing and fair labor practices are being followed.

The cabochon stones I use are hand-cut by independent lapidary artists in the United States.

I hand-select each cabochon I use in my jewelry, and I buy them from other micro-businesses. These stones have been hand-cut by small business owners, meaning every one of your purchases that includes a cabochon stone has supported not only my business, but another small US-based business.

The mined diamonds I sell are conflict-free.

I source my mined diamonds from a member of the Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America, who is committed to upholding the highest standards for ethics, integrity, and professionalism in the diamond industry.

The lab-grown diamonds I sell are SCS-Certified Sustainable.

These Sustainability Rated Diamonds come from accredited operations that have been evaluated against, and proven to meet, five pillars of sustainability achievement.

The certification means each diamond can be traced directly back to a well-known and highly reputable source.

My packaging is recycled, recyclable, and sustainable.

I present my jewelry in boxes that use recycled paper made out of 100% post-consumer fiber over a 100% recycled cardboard box made with 90% post-consumer fiber.

My engagement ring boxes are each made from a solid piece of timber, sourced from sustainable forests, and harvested to ensure the biodiversity of the surrounding area is maintained. Each one is finished with natural wax.

My shipping materials are recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable.

I protect my jewelry during shipping by wrapping it in a paper alternative to bubble wrap that’s naturally biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable.

I ship my jewelry in 100% recycled corrugated cardboard boxes made from 95% post-consumer waste.

I seal each package with Kraft paper tape made from renewable, plant-derived backing and water-activated cornstarch adhesive.

I am personally responsible for every stage of work at Allie Perry Designs. 

I design and fabricate each piece of jewelry by hand.

I personally polish, clean, and box every single piece, and then prepare, package, and ship each order myself.

I maintain my own studio and every tool inside.

I do my own product photography, write every product listing, and maintain my own website.

I’m my own quality control department and customer satisfaction representative, and I personally reply to every email sent to Allie Perry Designs.

I plan, record, edit, and post every single thing you see from me on every platform online, because I’m my own social media manager.

I manage inventory of finished goods and the raw materials to make them, expenses, affiliate relationships, payroll, and bookkeeping.

I handle my own PR and marketing, so I write every blog post and weekly email myself.

And I do every little thing that pops up in between those other, bigger things.

If there’s a task, I’m the one doing it.

Being a small business owner is hard, and I love it, but it’s important to me that you understand what goes into every piece I make, even the parts you’d never know to ask about.

I don’t just make jewelry.

I wrap skill, experience, values, ethics, research, dedication, and hard work into one shiny package that you can wear to show off exactly who you are.

And now that you know all of this, you can be confident in the fact that every piece you get from Allie Perry Designs matches your style and your values.

If you’re ready to find the perfect piece made with intention, here’s where to start!