Ep 70_CharmedByRie_GLP_final

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Jen Thyrion: [00:00:00] Hey there. Welcome to Goldie Links, a podcast that welds together creativity, connection, and cash flow for permanent jewelers who are ready to do things differently. I'm Jen Therian, mama maker and the spark behind Goldie links around here. We don't gate keep, whether it's handmade hacks, business breakthroughs, or the mindset shifts of fuel real growth.

So if you're building a business that shines as bright as your stacks, you're in the right place. Let's link up and make some magic.

Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to goldie link supplies.com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, Bengals, and more, including our non-permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by a tribe of mama makers.

What is a mama maker? Stay-at-home moms that create on their own time between raising their children, serving as a self-care creative outlet, and supporting their families. Your items come with signage on [00:01:00] how these supplies are made, along with Gemstone property info, as each gemstone has a special meaning.

If you wanna level up your

Rie: business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out@goldielinksupplies.com. Now onto the show,

Jen Thyrion: I had the honor of sitting down with Ree from Charmed by Ree, and this conversation is such a vibe. This multi-passionate entrepreneur shares her journey from lash artist to permanent jewelry, artist, educator and product creator, and how she followed her grit and her gut.

Every step of the way we dive into what fulfillment and business really looks like and why it's different for everyone. The realities of social media, finding balance and building something that actually lights you up, Reese's energy, passion, and authenticity are contagious. And trust me, she's absolutely one to watch.

This episode will leave you feeling inspired to trust yourself, pivot when it feels right, and build a business that feels aligned, not forced. Here we go. Okay. I am so excited to chat today. I feel like I've seen you the last couple years at PJX in person, but I had to chat with you out for the [00:02:00] podcast and get kind of get to know your story.

Do you wanna start us off by telling us who you are and just a little bit of information about you?

Rie: Yeah, of course. Hi everyone. My name is re I'm the owner of Charm by re based in Southern California. I'm, I've been a business owner, I would say since 2020. My journey in this whole per and jewelry industry.

I would say I started as a lash artist in, in 2020 like COVID happened. It was supposed to be a side hustle thing. I just needed like a job that's flexible enough while I go to school. 'cause I was going, uh, I was in school for dental hygiene. Okay. And I remember like at the time, like my school, when they give you like a scheduled per semester, per term, it's very fixed.

And I was dental assistant, but I was like, I can't work an office job, also go to school at the same time. So I need something flexible. Not gonna lie, I really thought I was gonna be a stripper at some point. 'cause I'm like, and TikTok people are like, oh, stripping, you know, when you, when you're a waitress at a strip club, you make good money and then the hours are like perfect for the hours that I need.

Jen Thyrion: There you go.

Rie: But thank God I didn't, uh, I mean, [00:03:00] a lot of people who does that, I'm saying, um, but for me, I saw an ad on Instagram that says I can get certified as a lash artist, but at the time I love getting my lashes done, but I didn't know that I can do it at home. Per se. So I started that journey in 2020 and then next thing you know, it just turned into this whole career that I didn't think that is possible at the time.

So in 2020 I, no, 2020, yeah. 2022. I went full in, like I went full, full-time. Lash artist. I got my studio at the time, which I still have till this day. And then eventually turned into me selling products. I started training into the lash industry, training us as students. And then that's also the same year that I found permanent jewelry.

I feel like permanent jewelry found me in a sense when I was looking at permanent jewelry artists here in Orange County, in my area, there was only one, and I could go to Instagram and I search permanent jewelry, like there's only one account. So I, I'm assuming me and my friend will say like, we're one of the first three in Orange County to start from with jewelry.

Jen Thyrion: Nice.

Rie: But based on that information, 'cause we, we don't really know [00:04:00] when 2022 hit. That was a time when my lash process was really blooming. I was lashing like five to six days a week. I was fully booked. I'll lash like at 8:00 AM till like sundown. Wow. Like at my house, like I have my little own office area and eventually turned into studio.

But then there was a point where my body will start hurting. Like

Jen Thyrion: I was gonna say, I'm like your poor back.

Rie: Yeah. My back hurts till this day, girl. It's so bad. Um, my hand will hurt, like right here. And then I remember like each, like every after client, I had to use the massage gun to just like pound it and I go to chiropractor every single week because it's just so much pain.

Like I just need some sort of relief. At that moment, I knew like looking towards the future of my lash career, like if I keep going to on that rate, it's not feasible for me anymore. Like, it's not physically possible for me.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Well, I thought about it. Should I do brows? Should I do I wanna say in the beauty industry, I don't see myself doing a nine to five.

Yeah. Although I do, I do commend people who does that. Um, I have friends who are in the nine to five realm, but I feel like for [00:05:00] me it's just not, it's not for me. I saw permanent jewelry actually at this lash convention, it's called Lash Con. She was doing it and I'm like, me and my friend were like, I think we can do this.

We can figure it out. At the time no one was training, like there's no train. I mean, maybe there is, we just didn't do research. But I remember we stayed up till like three, 4:00 AM figuring it out. We bought supplies and then next thing you know, we started. Luckily for me, I'm fortunate enough that I have a studio, the Lash studio.

So I had a, it's not a brick and mortar, but I have a place to do it at. But then at that time, I'm basically just giving you my whole, my whole journey. But at this point,

Jen Thyrion: no, I love it. Please.

Rie: So basically what happened was, 'cause I, with the lash industry, with, with my lash career, basically, I'm so used to people booking appointments for me, I'm getting fully booked.

Like I just, I post content. Yeah. But like I, I'll get booked through my booking site, but when I post T jewelry, I was like, huh, I invested so much money in this. I already bought everything. I have the machine, all of that, but like, no one's booking. And then it hit me. I was like, I realized at that time, no one really knows what permanent jewelry is.

Jen Thyrion: [00:06:00] Yeah,

Rie: not everyone does. Only a couple. 'cause every time I tell people what, what it is, they're like, what is that? Is it a piercing? You know, like, no one understand the concept of it. So I realized, well, if I am, if people are not coming to me, I need to go to the people. And that's when I started to do popups.

And then I, my very first one was a flea market.

Jen Thyrion: Wow.

Rie: Yeah, because like, I didn't know where to go, but I have a friend who does thrift, like she buys clothes and then she sells them

Jen Thyrion: love. Yeah. You

Rie: know, and then I, I, and I know she does P so I messaged her like, Hey, where do you go? And then that's my very first one.

I learned a lot from that. My god. That was a whole, that was a whole era girl in my pod. I brought two six feet table, two, six feet table, and a full length mirror. Tell me, tell me if I still need that. I do not need that.

Jen Thyrion: That is hilarious.

Rie: And this is like. Permanent jewelry, like beginning stages, like I don't have a lot.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: I don't have extra other stuff. Just permanent jewelry. I have two six feet table. I'm like yeah, [00:07:00] I need to borrow my parents' SUV 'cause I'm like, oh my god, this is so much work. I feel like it was, it was a good day, but not like the best one. And I was like, uh, I feel like I make more in terms of income when I do lash.

'cause I'm getting fully booked. Like I have five, six clients every day. But then I already prepaid for two other events after that. So I was like, I don't wanna waste that, you know that money, the booth fee. So I was like, let me just see what happens. Lemme just see what happens in the next two because it's already paid for, might as well.

On the third one, I remember it was Super Bowl weekend, same flea market. Okay. So Super Bowl weekend. And for some reason I thought it's gonna be a bad day 'cause so gloomy was very windy at that time, but that was the first time that I hit 1500.

Jen Thyrion: Wow. Amazing.

Rie: One day. And that's when it just clicked. I'm like.

Whoa, wait a minute. I only, I worked the same hours as I worked in my, in my last job, but then this is more, I feel like it's fulfilling because it's new.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: And I love it. I've been doing [00:08:00] lashes for years at that point, so I was like, wait, this is, this is something like, there's something in this. I just need to like keep pushing it though.

I feel like people don't need to understand. I always tell this to all my students too. There's good days and bad days, you know, like it's not always like I've, I've had a $0 day before. It happens even to the best of us. So. It's just how it is. But you just gotta, you just gotta start and then see what happens.

You never really know.

Jen Thyrion: So do you do mobile for quite a while?

Rie: Yeah, I do. Popups.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: I was booking it almost every single weekend at this point. Right now, I'm not gonna lie, it's a little bit harder to get into events, especially here in SoCal. 'cause I feel like a lot of the organizers are trying to recycle, not recycle a lot.

They're trying to, um, rotate. Rotate. There you go.

Jen Thyrion: Rotate.

Rie: Okay. Rotate vendors, which is good because you're, it's giving opportunities for other people. But now I just try to apply, I try to apply to like, bigger events, like longer Sunday events. I love those. Yeah. And then did

Jen Thyrion: you do it in your studio though too?

Like since you were doing lashes, were you also doing it in your studio?

Rie: I was doing it in the studio while I was doing popups. I was just, I [00:09:00] have one setup, I just bring it there. If someone wants to book an appointment and then go to popups on the weekends after that, since I was already, I have a reputation in a sense, in the last industry that I do trainings, I sell products.

A lot of the people from that account were asking like, are you, are you starting training? I wanna learn, I wanna learn. So the, it created a demand. So that's how I started the whole training and I started doing travel trainings at the time, and yeah, and then it just, it's just, it blew up from there. And I've always been, I feel like I always say this, that permanent jewelry opened doors, windows, and ceilings for me, which is amazing.

Yeah. And then I got to train, I believe, more than 120, 130. Students at this point, and that like seeing them grow. And then some of them are also teaching now too. They expanded their product line. Some are doing, some of them just do popups because they have a nine to five. Like seeing them do that and like hustle is like, it's really inspiring for me too.

I'm like, damn. Like I have, I'm, yeah. Part of that journey, you know?

Jen Thyrion: Right. It's inspiring too, to see how everyone just fits it in, in their own unique way. So do you feel like, because you [00:10:00] were already in the lash industry, are you training a lot of women that are already doing lashes? Like that's kind of sort of your, I don't wanna say niche, but you know what I mean, like adding to that, that business.

Rie: So the whole identity and now is like, oh, if you have a business already, you know the hustle. You know the grind is an easy add-on, right?

Jen Thyrion: That's true. Yeah.

Rie: But I was so surprised that most of the people, I would say it's half and enough, but leaning towards a lot of people who are moms. A lot of people are doing, he has the nine to five that just wants to break the whole nine to five cycle.

Just won a side hustle. I was surprised about that because I thought like, oh, since you're a lash tech, like, or you're a nail artist, you're gonna add this on. Although I do have those, uh, students, because it's a good, especially if you do nails, you're already doing nails like add on jewelry. It's such a good upsell.

Do lashes, you do lash fills, and then if you get this, you get certain discount and permanent jewelry. It's a, it's an easy upsell, but I was so surprised when more and more people who doesn't have their own business started doing permanent jewelry too. That's when I'm like, oh wait, this is not just for people who's already in the industry.

It's for [00:11:00] literally everyone.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I'm like, how do you feel like speaking to someone who might wanna add their, their business, because there are a few lash artists locally I know that have added permanent jewelry. So Yeah. What are your thoughts on that? Because you're doing lashes and I'm assuming, 'cause I used to get my lashes done actually for years, eight years.

I think I, I stopped a couple years ago, although I do miss 'em sometimes. I look at pictures, I'm like, oh man, my lashes, I miss you. But like, I mean, it would take a. Hour to do a fill and here you are doing a bracelet for like, I don't know,

Rie: like minutes, girl.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: It's crazy. So,

Jen Thyrion: so yeah, speak to that. If someone is in the industry of maybe skincare even, or you already have the studio room where you have, you know, a table, you're doing lashes, you're doing skincare, like what would it be to add permanent jewelry to that?

Rie: It's really easy. And I tell my students who are, who are lash sex, nail tech, brow artists, tattoo artists, all you need is a table and two chairs,

Jen Thyrion: right?

Rie: Literally, that's all you need. Table two chairs. And I tell them like, 'cause some of them they have as. They don't have a studio. 'cause I have a 400 square feet studio.

It's still in a smaller [00:12:00] scale, but for one person it's plenty of space. Yes. But some of them, they're just renting a room. So like if you're renting a room, it's really small, right? So they already, half of their room is already their lash bed. And then they ask me like, oh, how do I put up my sper jewelry setup?

Girl, all you need is a, even if you have a folding table, that's good enough, you know? Yeah. Put it on if you don't need it. And then use the vertical space. I tell them Your displaced put it in the wall.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Because that's what my, one of my friends did. She bought this like shelf thingy from Ikea, put it in the wall, and then all of her, like this, their chains are all in the wall.

So now. Everything is cute and like properly organized. And then what I love about it too is like when I started doing popups, I, because like I do popups in my area, so like I always cross promote. I have a banner that says like, I'm a lash artist. So not only am I getting firm injury clients, I'm also getting lash clients and vice versa.

That's what I told my client, my students to like, it's, it's such a good cross promotion because now your lash clients will be your permanency clients and then next thing you know, it's just growing from there.

Jen Thyrion: Well, yeah, I could see someone coming in for their lashes and being like, oh my gosh, I've been like, meaning to look at this permanent jewelry and I'm, because I'm here, I [00:13:00] might as well get a quick bracelet.

Right? Like

Rie: they know you, so,

Jen Thyrion: yes. That's amazing. And so how, can you, can you speak to like the, what do you feel like the profit margin like from Lash is comparable to permanent jewelry? I'm assuming there's a big markup. It's a service, so any service right. Has a decent markup. Yes.

Rie: Yeah. So this is, I actually made a post about it, but I feel like it's been, you need to like deep dive in my Instagram, but just lash artists.

Okay. So based on my. If you're gonna based on mine. So my full sets are one 50 and it takes me two hours to do it. And then my lash fills are a hundred and it takes me an hour to do them. Sometimes 45 minutes, really, really depends, but mostly an hour. But like for permanent jewelry, abrasive is 65 that I can do in less than five minutes.

Yeah,

Jen Thyrion: I was gonna say in seconds

Rie: when I was starting, because like sometimes we'll, we'll I'll do pop ups, right? Like four to six hour days, I guess. I mean, I'm not including the breakup, the breakdown, and the setting up part. Sure. But like you'll make like what, 700, 800, [00:14:00] but not, okay. So I feel like the way I see it too is not just the money wise and the income wise.

It's mostly my body because I realize like now, 'cause in lashing, like, yeah, I can make that same amount of money, but I was working consistently and my body is, you know, tied to it. And that's the, the main pain point for me was like, now I can in a sense substitute it because now I'm making almost the same income, but like not less work in a sense, but less physical load.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: And that, that gave me a sense of relief because my body doesn't hurt as much anymore. And my chiropractor will say like, oh, you're not complaining as much. When he said that it clicked. I was like, wait, because I'm, I'm making changes, you know, and I'm still lashing, but I can't do three full sets in a day anymore.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, no, it speaks to it like I was a massage therapist for like 10 years. So I mean, I think about that too. Like, I mean, I, I didn't really think about it when I, of course, was going into school. You don't really think too long term, you know, when you're, but then when I started and I was a few years in, I was like, gosh, like, and I was living in Vegas, so I was [00:15:00] like, there was a period where I was, I worked at a hotel and which it was a really busy spa.

It was nonstop. It was a few years in. I'm like, I can't imagine doing this for like, ever. I mean, my body will not be able to handle this, you know? But don't be wrong. There's sometimes I miss it. And I think that if you're a person too that likes variety, it's so nice to be able to be able, like if I, if I chose to, I could take on a couple clients a week if I wanted.

Do you know what I mean? Like it just gives you options, I guess.

Rie: Yeah. I think that's why I haven't really like let go of my. Also, I love my clients like, not, don't get me wrong, like yes, I love the lash industry. It's just that my body was just hurting a lot. This is something that literally feeds me, like puts money in my, puts money puts food in my table like little for my rent.

So like I needed something that is more feasible for my body in a sense, but I couldn't let it go because first of all, I love the industry. And second, I love my client. And this is a client that I've literally known since like 20, 20, 20, 21. I witnessed their kids go from high school graduation. Now they're in college.

Almost [00:16:00] graduating.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Like,

Rie: yes, I'm not gonna leave it in a sense, but it was a really good alternative. Time. So that's why I said I feel like privilege jewelry chose me because it just literally showed up in my doorstep and I just embraced it with open arms and then I didn't think it's gonna grow. So this, now we're doing a part like I'm, I'm in

Jen Thyrion: a podcast.

Yes, yes. No, it's amazing because I know when I say I miss it too, it's like so funny. I don't actually think I miss doing the action of massage therapy. But it's funny you say that because Yes, I, it was really sad for me once I especially moved out of Vegas and lived here in Colorado and was actually like getting regulars, right.

I miss those relationships. So it's funny you say that because they're on your table for an hour and you're like, you really are having conversations where. We're having connections, permanent jewelry. There's no doubt. I mean, I've, I've truly feel like I've met friends and great connections, but it's, it's very short, comparable to like, when you're doing an hour service on someone, you know, you really, you really go deep, you know,

Rie: you build a connection.

They literally trauma dumped on you. They tell you that problems with their boyfriends and next thing you know, like, [00:17:00] so what's the tea with your best friend? Are you still friends still? You know, permanent jewelry is very, like, it's a quick session, but I try my best, like whenever I meet a client to actually like, talk to them.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Although it depends. It depends on where I'm at and how busy it is.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: That's the only thing. So if it's busy, obviously it's like, hi, hello. Yeah, how are you, what's your day? And then, you know, but I try to my best to like actually talk to them, to like

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Build a connection in a sense.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. I mean, so actually we spoke about this a little bit before we started recording.

So now you do have a kiosk. Correct. So how does that work and where is this kiosk? I'm so interested. Mm-hmm.

Rie: Yeah. So the kiosk is actually, a lot of people ask me this, like, how did I even get it and stuff. Honestly, I just shoot them an email,

Jen Thyrion: really?

Rie: I shoot them an email. I'm like, okay. So there's this, um, have you been to SoCal before?

Jen Thyrion: I have,

Rie: yeah. So I'm literally, um, near Disney. I always say I, I'm close to Disneyland, so there's this place in Soho called Irvine. So that's where my kiosk is at. Um, there's a plaza called Diamond Jamboree. So even before the [00:18:00] kiosk, I always go to this plaza, like to eat. It's like very known for Asian food.

Like, it's always busy at night. Like if you need like late night snack, like it's seven leaves. The boba shop there close at midnight. So like, you know, like people hang out and. It's a busy area, high traffic area, and then I just knew that there's a kiosk there and I'm like. Huh? What if I just email them and see like, I mean, worst thing that can happen is like, they don't reach out, they don't respond.

And at least I shoot my shot. I just said, I just found their email online somehow. I don't know. And then I emailed them and next thing you know, they're like, Hey, we've never really had a pro a jewelry stand there. We wanna try it out and see. And then I started that in September, 2024.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, wow.

Rie: Yeah. So it's been over a year now.

It's like two years. This coming, uh, September.

Jen Thyrion: How does it work? Like, is a kiosk, are you opera only have certain operating hours that you're there? Is it only you? Like how does it work?

Rie: So the kiosk is, it's basically a, a little, it's a cart.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Like, uh, [00:19:00] if, and then delete, it'll literally say cart c uh, on my lease thing, it has a cart, it has wheels.

So you can literally wheel it, but it's really heavy. And then we have the little blinds, like close it up and down. It's be, it's very outdoors. 'cause the pause is like outdoors. So the way it works is. We are only open at nighttime. That's of the moment because that's the busy time at the plaza. So technically we're supposed to be open all day from 11, but honestly, it's so dead that I, I don't wanna go there at that time.

Our customers, in a sense, like the people already know that we're open at nighttimes, so we usually open like six to 10 on the weekdays, five to 10:00 PM on weekends, and then. I asked at the moment. I only have one assistant. Um, her name is Cheryl. She's amazing. She's my little Filipino. I call her my sister.

Jen Thyrion: Aww. Has she been with you at PJX?

Rie: No, that's a different friend. That's, uh, her name's.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, okay.

Rie: So Cheryl like helps me. We have like certain hours we split the day. She also, also in school, so I work around her schedule and then go from there. Yeah. Trained her and then now we added charm bar last [00:20:00] year. Yeah, summer of last year we added the charm bar and then it's been amazing.

Jen Thyrion: That's awesome. So, so you have the charm bar at the kiosk.

Rie: Yeah. So we have, if I can expand my line, I would, it's just like I don't have enough space for it. That's the only downside. Like it's, it's nice. I would say because it's very portable, it's, it's really small. There's not much maintenance to it because you just plug in the kiosk and that's it.

Just wipe everything down. I don't have to sweep floors or anything like that. No electricity in a sense, you know, no water bills or anything like that. I would say the only thing that's a downside that people don't really, uh, know about is like when it rains rain, it does get wet. So when it rains, automatically we're closed because e everything gets wet.

Also, people don't really come out, like in California when there's rain, people are just so scared to go out, I swear. Well, so like when there's rain, how to drive. So I'm like, okay, let's not open the I, why I grew up in the Philippines, girl and rain like here. They're like, oh, there's a hurricane. I'm like, it's just rain.

Like, you don't [00:21:00] understand. Like, I grew up with like typhoons and stuff.

Jen Thyrion: Oh my gosh. Do you grew up in Philippines? When did you

Rie: move here? Yeah, actually, yeah, a little back story. Like I, I'm actually born and raised in the Philippines. I moved here in 2018.

Jen Thyrion: Wow.

Rie: Yeah, so my whole, well my dad has been here since I was in fifth grade, but me, my mom and my brother moved here in 2018 and then, yeah, and I've been here ever since.

Jen Thyrion: That's amazing. I mean, it's honestly, I mean, an amazing, just for the spirit of entrepreneurship in you for also too, moving to a brand new country. I can only speak to like, I mean, I've been here obviously my whole life, but I'm just imagining me moving to another country and getting to like, have the confidence and the wherewithal to start my own thing.

Rie: I feel like looking, like, saying 2018, people are like, oh my God, that's so, like, it's not that long. It's not

Jen Thyrion: long ago.

Rie: Looking back, I don't know how I did it. I feel like I've always had the entrepreneur mindset in me ever since I was a kid. I'm always exposed to the business real. 'cause my family, if you grew up in the Philippines, I feel like you need to have some sort of like buy and [00:22:00] sell business because whatever you make is not enough, if that makes sense.

So growing up too, like my, my family, like my mom's side of the family, they're very business-minded. Like some of my cousins have their own businesses too. Like, it's small, but like it works, you know? So, yeah. So I feel like I've always been exposed to that. And for me, that's like my k kind of, kind of like a norm in a sense.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, that's true. Okay. So it's like your, it's like in your nature For sure.

Rie: Yeah. So it's been, I've been doing, well, not been doing, I've, I've had a couple businesses grow. Like baby businesses going up, like I make profit, but it's not really like crazy profit.

Jen Thyrion: Sure. Before we started recording, I was like looking, you know, obviously I met you at PJX chatted with you.

I told you I think that I got a, we got a mug from you in 2024 and then last year I bought a T-shirt. So I thought of you, 'cause I was wondering if you're gonna be back at PJX and part of that. And then I was like, oh, you should be on the podcast. And, and just seeing all these different facets of things you have going on, I didn't realize.

I'm like, oh wow. Lashes training, permanent jewelry, kiosk, studio, uh, swag. I'm like, oh wow. Like you have, you do have a [00:23:00] lot of things like going on. Like do you sell the, I thought you said you sold lash products too. Yes. Or,

Rie: okay. Uh, maybe online. So I have my, since I have the studio, so I basically hold all of my inventory there.

So I sell online and then, I mean, I have my own Shopify store and then people just buy from there.

Jen Thyrion: So with the lash products?

Rie: Yes. So the studio is basically my, my lash studio slash training studio and also storage unit.

Jen Thyrion: Wow, that's amazing. With the kiosk, obviously it's just like a monthly, like you would rent anywhere, right?

I'm assuming it's not cheap in California. I'm just gonna say that aloud. I don't

Rie: know. No, depending on where you're at too. In my plaza, I would say it's not that bad of a rent.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Based on my perspective, but I do know kiosk in certain malls are like below the price.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. I was gonna say, 'cause even the mall over here, I think I checked into it like years ago for not even a permanent jewelry reason, and it was insane.

So I can only imagine what it's like now.

Rie: The overhead is crazy, but in that plaza, um, [00:24:00] I almost almost signed for a, a, a spot, like in like an actual brick and mortar.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, wow.

Rie: Um, but like looking into the numbers, I don't know if it'll make sense. Yeah. Because it's, I'll be paying like seven, 8,000 a month. I feel like for me, like if, if you have a business, you need to have a profitable business in a sense.

And I feel like the overhead was just. Too much, or maybe, I don't know if it's a limiting belief at that point, like, oh, maybe I can't do that. Maybe I could. But like at this moment, I feel like I love my kiosk. Um, it's very flexible. It's really easy to maintain. There's not nothing crazy. I just have like, half of its like pearl and jewelry have it charm bar, and then it does go from there.

So

Jen Thyrion: yeah, I mean, who knows what the future holds, but I think there is something to be said about timing of things too. It's like, who knows where you'll be in like five years from now. Maybe that won't seem like a lot, but right now, like you said, just with your lifestyle or what you're doing, it just like it's fits.

So are you pretty consistent? Is business pretty consistent there?

Rie: Yeah, I, I would say it is. 'cause it is a very high traffic area, which I'm really grateful for. So people will stop by, or like they'll look at it and then it [00:25:00] kind of, it's like instill in them like, oh, there's a permanent jewelry spot in that area.

And also since I do post online and my Instagram, so people will, they don't need to go to that plaza, but they'll go because like they wanna get permanent jewelry done. So it does help to have a storefront, not like a brick and mortar, because there's. Because like sometimes I go to popups and then people are like, oh, what if I want more?

Where can I see you? And then obviously I kind of funnel them into like, oh, I have a, I have a spot in Irvine. So it's a, it's a good thing to have because like popups, like you pay a daily fee. That's, that's why I call it, it's like I go there for, I pay, I, I pay them rent for a day.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: That's, that's how I see the bfi.

Some of my students or some people that I know, I, they feel, I feel like they keep saying that they can't afford a kiosk or the price of it, because the overhead is a lot. And I, I see that. And honestly, I cannot run the kiosk by myself. I feel like if I wanna keep growing as a brand, as a business, you wanna keep hiring too.

So I'm in the process of hiring another person, because like I said, Cheryl, she's [00:26:00] amazing, but sometimes she can't work because she has school and all of that. Our goal for Q1 is to hire at least one more person to kind of like hold the fort down when we're not there.

Jen Thyrion: That's amazing. So do you mind sharing what has been like your best day at the kiosk?

Just the kiosk alone.

Rie: The best day, the key, I would say holidays. The holidays has been a good one for us also. Mother's Day.

Jen Thyrion: Yes, mother's Day.

Rie: Those two are always my highest ones. But I also be, also, I run ads too, so I think that also pushes it. Pushes it out. We do some sales here and there, but I would say holidays is our best one, but for some reason Mother's Day, like Mother's Day has been consistently, two, two years in a row has been my, one of my best times of the year.

Jen Thyrion: Speaking of ads, this is great because I would like to talk about social media for, you know, going into that because do you specifically run ads around certain times or certain, what kind of posts are you putting in an ad? Like do you have a monthly budget for it or how do you, how do you kind of structure [00:27:00] that?

Rie: To be honest with you, I would love to learn more about ads myself. Um, this is just based on what I know. So when it comes to pushing ads out, okay. I started doing ads only on trainings.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Only on trainings, because I do a lot of travel trainings. Two years ago. Two, yeah, two years ago. So like, I did a travel training in Nebraska, in New York, in Hawaii, and like I don't have audience there, so the only way for people to know and book my trainings is to push out ads and it's, it was getting, uh, fully booked, which is kind of crazy if you'll think about it.

Like the fact that I get to say that I get, I did a training in Nebraska is insane.

Jen Thyrion: I know when you said Nebraska, I'm like, really? Nebraska

Rie: Demand. So,

Jen Thyrion: I mean, nothing against Nebraska, but I'm just like, you know, I was thinking of like a big city.

Rie: Exactly. Like it's so random because usually like Chicago, New York.

Jen Thyrion: Sure, sure.

Rie: When I did Nebraska, people were like, huh. I was like, yeah, it was kind of cool. Well,

Jen Thyrion: when you say full, how many, how many students make it full?

Rie: My biggest one was Hawaii. There was 10, and then Chicago. Oh no, Chicago has 10 too. Uh, but it's like, I [00:28:00] do a minimum of six.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Six to 10. It depends.

Nebraska, I think I have five. Okay. Five or six. Five or six. Yeah. So I was doing that, but now I feel like I would do more like online trainings. I would love to travel again and then do chalkboard travel trainings this year. I just need to plan it because

Jen Thyrion: yes,

Rie: we're a one, one-woman show, so like everything gets lost sometimes.

But, um, going back to the ads part, so usually I push it out. Um, one of the things that I learned from a marketer before, uh, she said that if you're running ads, at least run them for six days. So my rule of thumb is like when I'm running ads, it's always a week minimum of one week. But let's say for example, it's Mother's Day.

I don't know what day's Mother's Day, but let's just say it's May 15th. Right. I'll start running ads on the first. I'll write it for like the whole 15 days to push it out. The budget depends. I always depend my budget, depending on how much I made the previous month. What do I call this? Like, depending on how much revenue we made.

No profit.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Profit. The after after expenses.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. The profit. Mm-hmm. Yep.

Rie: Profit. You'll think, you'll think I know [00:29:00] this terms.

Jen Thyrion: No, it's okay. Yeah. Yeah. Your net, like your profit. Yeah.

Rie: Well, depending on the profit, I'll base my ads on that, but usually, like if it's training, um, and I'm only promoting it for a whole month, then I'll push it for like $10 a day.

So that's $300 a month. If I'm doing just a regular Mother's Day sale, um, or promotion or something like that, maybe like $5 a day is enough. It depends. I'll put at $10 a day. So like for 15 days it's like one 50, which you'll think about it, it's like two bracelets. Right. So how I see it, the ads do pay for on its own?

No, the, the ads pay for itself. Um, in a sense that as long as you get booked and it, it does work for us. If the more I push it out, the better. In terms of what kind of content? I usually just do reels like the videos. I feel like they do better, but sometimes it surprises me if I'll just do a flyer, a story post, and then I do an ads on it.

It's, it does well too. It really depends. I know some people are more versed in the ads, ads world. Sure. They're, oh, do AV testing, all of that, or like, do this. And I'm like, ha, I'm just trying. [00:30:00]

Jen Thyrion: Yes. That's all you can do.

Rie: That's all you can do is, so, a lot of experiment.

Jen Thyrion: Do you notice a lot of like a, I guess new followers is a way to kind of see, and I know that they do share all those statistics when I think you do and do an ad, you know, the followers you get from it and whatnot.

But even the people coming in person, do you, are you asking like, oh, where'd you hear about us? And you, do you hear a lot of that? Like they found you on social?

Rie: Yeah, because, uh, especially be before the kiosk, so I only have my studio, so I'm like, well, I can still host like events here, you know, so I'll post like, uh, mothers, especially by this thing.

I remember putting it out there and then literally all of my, because I did it for two days. And I put like times that they can come in to the studio and I remember they're like, almost all of my clients from those two days are all from ads. And so that's how I knew. I'm like, oh, did it did work. And that was, that was the flyer one.

I just did a little Canva flyer, type in Mother's Day, changed the text and then the, the colors and then I put as an ad and then it did work. So yeah. That's

Jen Thyrion: [00:31:00] amazing. Congrats. That's so cool. Yeah, and like, so speaking of social media, so like I was saying, we were talking about B roll and just kind of capturing the content, right?

And I was going through your Instagram and noticed a couple like videos where you could tell you're at your kiosk. You have like your phone off to the side. You're not really showing your customer's face, but you're doing the jewelry on somebody and just your conversation and I'm like, Ooh, I really like that.

And that's interesting. It's like one was about a woman who wanted a class bond and you were just going back and forth with her and I was like, oh my God, I really like this. Like, it's like you're stepping inside and like being this little person off to the side and witnessing this conversation. Are you doing all your content yourself?

Rie: Yes.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: So everything that you see right now is just. Produced by myself. I always say my best friend is my tripod. I carry her everywhere. Everywhere. Like I go to the coffee shop, I have her, like, I don't leave it alone. I, I coffee.

Jen Thyrion: I love how you call her her. Okay. So like, does she have a name? She

Rie: and her, like this girl, like she goes everything.[00:32:00]

Jen Thyrion: She's the best tea.

Rie: Yeah. So my tripod, I always carry it. No, her, I call her

her.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, it's her.

Rie: I always have that and I invest it in a microphone. It helps a lot because if you're in a event, it's so busy. It's so loud. Like even if you have good content, microphone is like a must.

Jen Thyrion: So who, do you have a little mic on your shirt or something?

Rie: No, I put it on the table.

Jen Thyrion: You put it on the table?

Rie: Mm-hmm.

Jen Thyrion: Ah, on

Rie: the table because I don't want it. 'cause I, I feel like when people see that you have a mic, they get intimidated.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah,

Rie: because some, because some people are not really, they're not into the camera thing, you know what I mean? Like, they don't like the filming part.

I was like, okay, sure,

Jen Thyrion: sure.

Rie: So I just put it in a table. But sometimes it gets really, if you, 'cause like I did a popup recently and it's like inside, it's a convention so it's in, it's an indoors and I put the mic, I do the same thing, put the mic on the table, but the mic is not picking up our voices that well.

But when I'm at the kiosk sometimes it's not really that loud or like, since it's, I, I don't know. I dunno if that's that affects it. But I noticed when I was editing the video, I'm like, oh, [00:33:00] I wish the audio is better.

Jen Thyrion: I didn't even think about the audio when you said that. 'cause I'm like, yeah, how am I hearing this conversation so well, 'cause the camera's, like their phones were definitely off to the side.

That's so funny. I didn't even think of that. So if people see it, 'cause obviously it's like, it's a pretty, I mean, a mic is usually pretty large. Oh yeah.

Rie: See? Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: So do they ask like, does everyone ask what the mic's for?

Rie: No, no one. No one have asked that.

Jen Thyrion: No one has

Rie: no. I mean, if they do, then I just tell 'em like, oh, is it okay if I record?

They're like, yeah,

Jen Thyrion: okay.

Rie: In my consent form it says there like, I can, if they sign it, yeah, I record and post it and stuff. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. Does it say like, you can post also their face and stuff or No,

Rie: I need to double check that again.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: So, but like basically saying like the, I can use it for marketing purposes, but I purposely try not to put their phases in it.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I noticed you didn't, which is smart, you know?

Rie: Yes. It's just me basically. So, but sometimes. There's in one video that you can see their face fully. I mean, they didn't mind it.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: Yeah. And they even commented and like, okay, cool.

Jen Thyrion: Well, [00:34:00] yeah, I think Viva like, enjoy, like a lot of people, like you said, don't like it, but some people love that to like see, you know,

Rie: earlier before the recording team, you mentioned about the behind the scenes.

I think one of the things that people love seeing is the behind the scenes of it. A lot of people get curious. I, I personally like seeing like the struggles, like, yeah, because like, I feel like a lot of people showed the aftermath and like, oh my God, everything's so nice, but like, I wanna see the struggles.

I wanna see where you cried because I cried last night too. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Know.

Rie: So it's like, like I, I just know like for me, like not everything is rainbows and sunshine. As a business owner, it's not easy. Like I'll stay up. Like last night I was up till like 2:00 AM because I was trying to figure out something.

And then also you get this, I dunno if you get this too, but you get a burst of like motivation and like. Oh my God. I'm like, I'm on it. You know? So, but yeah, I would say the recording behind the scenes has been helpful too. I always tell my friends this, I was like, you don't need to give me a gift, but if you see me working, just record me.

That's really the, the best gift that you can give me. 'cause you're seeing, you're seeing me like, what do you call that? Like [00:35:00] candid? Yes. But like, so I'll be, yeah. And then all my friends, we all have a shared album. They just know. I was like, I took a video of you. I was like, thank you. I love

Jen Thyrion: it. And then

Rie: they use those for content.

Um,

Jen Thyrion: well, yes, it's so easy because we, we've been talking a lot about this recently and I, we, I shared this with you that I was being more mindful of my social media this year and really stepping into, so I also, I have a, in our shop, I, on the wall I have, 'cause I have a magnetic case, right? So I have a tripod, I have a one that goes on the wall.

So if I wanna capture action in the shop, I have one on the wall. I have one at my shop. A tripod. I have, I bought one that follows you around. I haven't even like unpacked for that from the box, but

Rie: that's so

Jen Thyrion: true. Girl. Same. Oh my gosh. I'm like, because this is the thing. It's just that is, so I think a lot of people, there's a few different reasons why people struggle with social media that I hear a lot.

But one of them is the content, just like getting things to share.

Rie: And I feel like the more you record, the more you have B rolls, like you said earlier, it's B rolls. Even if [00:36:00] I don't capture the, the talking part. That's still me welding. That's still me doing action. That's still B roll. Literally cut for five seconds.

Put a little POV, you know, title. And I know it sounds like, oh, it's so easy to do, but trust me it's not, it's not that easy. I feel like the content planning is Takes, takes a while.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. What is your content planning like? How do you, how do you structure that?

Rie: Okay. I'm gonna explain this in a way that I feel like for you will sound easy, but trust me, deep down, it's so hard.

Like, I personally struggle on my own that there are days where I get overwhelmed and I'm like, uh, I don't wanna post anymore. You know? I try to segregate them into contemplate. I try. Okay. Recently I haven't been doing a whole, I don't, I try not to over complicate things. I just split my content between just regular B rolls, like five seconds, seven second videos, and then I split it to a training video, something with the kiosk, and then something for the audience.

No audience. Uh, something for my clients. There you go. I put it in that, and then before I'm very like, okay, [00:37:00] Monday's training, Tuesday is this, we is there. And then I realized, I get so overwhelmed that I'm like, I don't stick to the plan. So now I think I'm giving myself more grace in a sense of, since I wanna show up more, I'll keep showing up and then just see what happens.

And then maybe structure from there, because I feel like a lot of people are like, oh, you need this, this, this, this. Like, I get it, but I'm not that type of person. I get overwhelmed when there's so many things in my to-do list according to chatt, pt, chat, pt, I should break down my to-do list into smaller bites pieces.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. Yes.

Rie: So I think that's what I'm trying to do, but that's just what I do. I try to post six days a week, but honestly, if you stalk me, it doesn't really. I don't really follow the calendar that much too, so that that's one thing too. So, but I'm trying to give myself grace, but content pillars, I try to stick to those and then see which one works and then double the up on that.

Yeah, A lot of behind the scenes, but like some of them is like educational, so I am pushing my trainings too. Things that I wish I knew as a ER artist. And then,

Jen Thyrion: so you're encompassing both, [00:38:00] right? Like you don't have separate Instagram, right? No. So you're training your ins, your actual permanent jewelry business, your kiosk, everything is in one place, right?

Right.

Rie: Okay. The reason why I did this, because when I was doing lashes, I have, it's called re beauty, RIE, beauty. I have that, and then I created a separate account for permanent jewelry. I separated them and not gonna lie, looking back, I wish I just went all into re beauty. I really wish I just did that because now I'm splitting two things and I tell this to all my students who have, um, who have services already, like lash, uh, not lash checks, nail tech.

One of the main questions they'll always ask me is that, should I create a separate account for permanent jewelry? Kinda like bounce of another question. I said, well, with one account, do you feel like you are struggling or do you think it can handle one more? Because now if I, if you add a second account, if you'll think about it, yes, the, the content is separate, but then now you're splitting yourself into two.

If you're getting overwhelmed with one account only, let alone two, I feel like you're setting yourself up in failure at that point. So might as well just like go all [00:39:00] in in one. So that's why I told myself, like if I'm doing the. You know, the whole permanent jewelry business. I'll just stick with one and then just see what happens.

Maybe in the future, if I can hire another person that can run that second account, I would do that. But right now everything is just funneled into one because I just know, I know myself too well that if I have a second account, I feel like I won't be as active in both, and I'll just. It's just too much.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I think it's a couple different, I think that, yes, it's like in the end it's what works for you and what's gonna, you know? Right, right. Yeah. Like help you be consistent. Right. Because if you're keeping a separate Instagram that you're not even, you can't even get to what's the point. But also too, it's like, not saying everyone that gets permanent jewelry is gonna be into lashes, but I think it's a type of person that would still be interested in seeing it.

You know what I mean? I,

Rie: I agree. I agree.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. So I feel like it's like also too, like who are you speaking to and does it make sense to combine the two? Who's

Rie: your audience? Who's that? But for, I mean, I see the, the vision of like separating the training, separating, yeah. The products. But as of the [00:40:00] moment, if I do that, I feel like it'll be too much of my plate.

So, you know what? I was like, no, I'll stick with this and see what happens, and then go from there.

Jen Thyrion: There you go. Yeah. I love that. Do you find that certain posts do better than others? Like do you find there is, people like to see one over the other type of post?

Rie: Recently? Not really. I feel like most of them are, 'cause right now we're doing more content in front of the kiosk.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: It's like the more people see like, oh my God, it's a kiosk. I know that place. You know, like it kind

Jen Thyrion: of, yeah.

Rie: Hits them of the spot. So I feel like it depends. 'cause I, I feel like my content right now revolves around like, funny reels versus like training reels, educational. And then I have some that's like very like structured.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: And then, like I said, I'm very lenient now on what I post. I'm, I'm, I try not to do the whole structure thing. I know you should, that's what you're supposed to do. But this is working for me right now, so I'm gonna keep doing that.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. But I think that's also what keeps us back. It's like with the things that we should, you know, do or it's like, then it just prevents us from posting in general.

I hear that so much of like overthinking. [00:41:00] I know I can do it too. And then I'm paralyzed because I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm not doing this right and I should be doing it. But, you know, rather than just putting it out there because no one's knowing what's going through our head but us.

Rie: Yeah. One thing that I also realized.

Like around last year someone told me this, I was like, oh, I can't post that clip anymore 'cause I've already used it. She's like, okay. Who knows that though,

Jen Thyrion: right?

Rie: Yeah. So like sometimes there's one if you just stalk me like really, really well, there's one video that I really used at the same, like, same video, just different content.

Jen Thyrion: Yep.

Rie: But no one really knows until you actually deep dive on my Instagram and look one by one. You know, a lot of people think that, oh, I always need to film. Like, you always, you said earlier like you people struggle with the whole content thing, but like you can always repurpose. Definitely. Like, you know, so like at a one minute video that you took, like just split it and then you can use that so many times that people don't realize that.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. I mean, I'm not gonna lie, like there's only been a couple times where, you know, you know, those nights you can't sleep and you're just like getting obsessed with [00:42:00] random and you do deep dive on someone random. And like I have come across that where they're like, they'll reuse. 'cause I, I'm coming from that mindset too, of knowing I'm, you know, posting from my business and having that intention, but.

It's like they will repurpose and it still seems fresh to me. I notice it, but it's not something where I'm like, oh my God, I'm gonna unfollow them now because they repurposed the content. You know, like it sometimes they'll literally do the same post, like the same thing even, and Yeah. You know, and it might perform better then than it did a few weeks or months ago.

So there's no hurt in doing that. And no one is, like you said, like you said, unless you're literally like going psycho and, and deep diving with someone for two hours is gonna know that. I think too, we think, we say it one time and people will, you know, see it and it's, that's not true either. Like the algorithm and all the things we talk about, it's like.

You have to say things so many times, you know, for everyone to really hear it. Posting is better than not posting and not overthinking. For sure.

Rie: There's this one girl on TikTok too that she said like, posting is like a lottery ticket. Like it's free and it's [00:43:00] free. Just keep posting.

Jen Thyrion: Yes,

Rie: yes. That's what she said.

I think for me, like I don't aim for virality because I've, I've seen it in the lash industry a lot where people that has like 50 K followers.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: And you think, and their account like, oh my God, like they have like more than 10 K views in every single post. But like, I remember this one girl, she, she posted like she's not getting enough clients and how come I have more clients than her at the time?

So I think people also understand like, virality is nice. Numbers wise, but you also need content that converts because if your content won't convert into an actual paying client, then you really don't have a business. You just have an Instagram account.

Jen Thyrion: No, it's so true. I mean, I'm actually, I just, for accountability and knowing that I'm getting more mindful into social media, I actually belong to this group of this, it's Instagram coach and there's maybe like 20 women in it.

So I'm seeing the constant conversations happening in Telegram and we're sharing, and they're sharing their posts. But there are some people that have amazing amount of followers and amazing amount of views on their reels, and they're bringing very little money in. Okay. [00:44:00] Yeah. So it has, they're, your views and your followers has nothing to do with the actual what's happening inside your business.

So yeah, it's like more or less, again, one person, one follower means something. Even if you have one follower, you know what I mean? Like we're 20 people. How they always say that it's like. Even if you have a hundred followers, it's like picture a hundred people in a room. That's a lot of people, right? So it's like as long as they are intentional real customers, that means more than just random people following you because your videos are funny.

You know what I mean? Yes. So it's like, what's your intention behind posting? Right. So yeah. I love that you brought that up.

Rie: Okay. Real talk for a second. Running a business can feel

Jen Thyrion: overwhelming. The content marketing, social media decisions, it's a lot. That's exactly why I created GoldLink Society. It's a space where permanent jewelers can get real support, education and tools like quarterly photos and video done for you.

Templates, trainings, weekly calls, support group, and access to expert trainings who understand this industry. If you are craving clarity, confidence, and community, [00:45:00] Goldie Link Society is built for you. You can join us anytime. Go to goldie link society.com. I can't wait to get to know you and your business.

See you soon. Let's talk swag. Are you gonna have swag at, uh, at PJX again?

Rie: Yes. Okay, blah. It's funny because I'm staring at my whiteboard right now and I just, uh, wrote down my plans for new things for the pjx.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. So

Rie: I'm excited.

Jen Thyrion: Yay. We're excited to see you there again. And yes, I love that I saw your story today, how you, for writing on your whiteboard, and I'm like, girl, join the club.

I have this huge whiteboard. My husband made fun of me so much. I bought it, um, actually after PJX in 2024 because I was there as a vendor for the first time. And I went home and I had so many ideas and things, and I was, had to train new makers and all this stuff was happening. And I went on Amazon and bought this huge whiteboard that's on wheels.

Rie: Yeah, it helps. Like I'm so tired of writing in my small ass notebook. I

Jen Thyrion: know.

Rie: Yeah. And like, I need like a, a bigger vision. Like I need, I need to see this in a, in a bigger scale. So I bought a whiteboard and then my friends would be like, [00:46:00] why do you have that? I was like, this is how my brain works.

Jen Thyrion: Seriously. I'm with you. Like, we're on the same page. And it was actually. In my kitchen for the longest time, my husband's, can we get this whiteboard out of the kitchen?

Rie: It's the cutest, not gonna lie. It's not the most, but I mean, it works.

Jen Thyrion: It works. I love it. So yeah, let's speak to, I feel like you're just this, again, going back to you're like a serial entrepreneur, like you're always dreaming up new things.

So what do you see for yourself in the next like year or two? Do you have any?

Rie: Yeah, I, with the whole jewelry brand, I wanna scale it more in terms of, like I said earlier, like I wanna hire more people hoping to, if. If I could open another location, I would love another kiosk. Like I do love it because of the, I didn't realize the low maintenance part of it.

That, and also hopefully expand my online presence, not only presence, sorry, online website where I, I wanna sell more ready to wear products, um, for people. 'cause I feel like with the kiosk it is, I'm not saying it's easy to sell, but like some people, they don't really want something permanent. They just want a gift, you [00:47:00] know, so for their mom and stuff.

So it'll be nice to have those little collections of, I guess, like jewelry in a sense. And one of the things that I've been wanting, wanting to do is to be a supplier. But I feel like that's, it's really hard to be, I mean, I guess it's like a, it's, it's a matter of like finding the right timing to do it too.

So if I could, I would girl. But hopefully in the next one to two, maybe five years, I'll be in that point and maybe we can do another podcast and like look back in this like, oh my gosh.

Jen Thyrion: Love it. No, it's amazing. I mean, that's what I have to say. Like most people on the podcast, we know how long permanent jewelry has been around.

I mean, some, a little bit longer than others, but for the most part, 2022 I feel like was when the big boom people started doing it. So it is crazy. I mean, we're at, we're at 20, 26 now, but I mean, just what can happen in a few short years is pretty mind blowing. So yeah, I mean, I, I would love to follow up with people I've chatted with and to see where their businesses have gone and see what's possible.

It's, it's pretty, it's pretty crazy.

Rie: Yeah. You never really know. I feel like a few months to a year can change your trajectory, like literally. [00:48:00] To a different level? Well, a lot of it, it's also like just gut and just gut feeling and also like trusting yourself. Um, I've done things where I have to bet a lot of money in it.

Yeah. And then just see if it happens. But I mean, you gotta spend money to make money and I feel like the more you risk the, I feel like from, okay. One thing that I always say, like, the faster I fail the better. Because the more I fail, the faster I get to my goal. So it, the more I fail, it's okay. Sometimes the failures are expensive failures.

Jen Thyrion: So can you actually, can you think of a failure of like a, an expensive failure of yours? Did you, have you had

Rie: I, okay. I don't see it as a failure. I try not to think that's a failure, but I would say it did fail. 'cause at 2023, I started a third business, which is, oh no, 24. Sorry. 24. I, so I was doing the lashes of doing purple jewelry and then me and my, uh, one of my best friends, like we opened a photo studio.

Oh yes. But I feel like it failed in a sense of we have our own business. And we just couldn't [00:49:00] focus on that. And I feel like as a business, as a baby business especially, you need to literally feed it. You need to change it clothes. You need to literally nurture it so much that we just couldn't do it.

Although it was generating income, it's just really hard to put a lot of effort into it. I feel like it was one of my expensive, expensive risks because I put in money that I made from the per jewelry into it.

Jen Thyrion: Ah,

Rie: yeah. You know? So,

Jen Thyrion: so obesity, it was a photo studio that you kind of like had props and things and people could just rent it and use?

Yeah. Okay.

Rie: Okay. It's like it's a No, it's a self-portrait photo studio. So we have all the equipment, they do the little shutter and you get like quality photos.

Jen Thyrion: Oh, wow.

Rie: It's a really good business model. Not gonna lie to you. If I can restart it, I would again, but I feel like the, I feel like I need to focus on the jewelry and like just let it bloom.

Jen Thyrion: Mm-hmm.

Rie: And then if I have time to take a step away, then I would start another one.

Jen Thyrion: Well, yeah, I mean, that's a great lesson because like you said, it's like spreading yourself basically too thin, right? Like rather than half-assing everything, right? Like whatever, all the terms, right? [00:50:00] It's like you have to, like you said, feed it and, and there's a hustle period.

And I always say that because I think, I think hustle culture is like, that's kind of a dirty word sometimes with hustle, but it's like, there definitely is stages of growing a business, you know? Yeah.

Rie: Like me doing popups, like that's like the, the grind of it is crazy. Like, I would work Monday to Friday lashing and then in the popups, like I don't have breaks.

Like I don't have days off. There was a point where I didn't have like days off where if I look on my calendar two years ago, every single weekend is booked because of popups and then eventually I got the kiosk. I feel like it does pay off because people recognize you and you're kind of giving yourself a reputable, I would say reputable name.

I know like a reputable brand, like a client of mine comes back to you. 'cause we do OC fair, I dunno if you guys have state fairs.

Jen Thyrion: We do, yeah.

Rie: Yeah, so we have a state fair here. This is my third year coming back in, in the summer. And it's funny because we are in the same spot and then people will come to us like, oh my God, I got this jewelry from you last year.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: Like that's such an amazing feeling. Like, oh my god, welcome back. And they bring more people to our booth. I'm excited to do it again this [00:51:00] year I didn't expect for people to come back because last year was doing, last year was our second year, so I didn't expect people to come back and actually remember us.

So I'm excited to do it this year, but I feel like you create a reputable brand and something that, you know, people, people will come to me and be like, I got this from you and I got this from another person, but your lasted long, so I trust you. Like those little things that I'm like, oh, like I didn't think I was creating an impact, even if it's so tiny that it is, it creates an impact regardless.

So it makes it feel good.

Jen Thyrion: So, I mean, I just have to ask 'cause you're from an area that's, you know, it's really populated, I mean Southern California, right? So how do you feel about like, competition in your area and other permanent jewelers or what's your view on that?

Rie: Someone asked for this too. Uh, he said, so you're training people?

I was like, yes. He's like, you're training people in your area. I was like, yes. So he is like, so you're creating competition. I was like, technically, yeah. I think for me I see it as like a. If I just focus on, if I'm, if I'm [00:52:00] very narrow-minded thinking like you're, you're competition. German competition.

German competition, I don't think I'm gonna grow as a person, or even my business personally, don't believe in saturation.

Jen Thyrion: Mm-hmm.

Rie: Because here in Orange County, I always use it as an example. There's a one. There's multiple, like intersections here, nail salons in all corners. Dental office in all corners.

But if you'll think about it, how come they haven't, they're still in business till this day. So I always say that, and for me, the way I see it too is like, my business is something that creates feelings and like, you know, it creates like bonds with, with clients. So, um, there's that, marketing is a big thing too.

I feel like if you start a business that has quote unquote competition, you need to know how to set yourself apart from that competition. If you'll think about it, you go to Sephora and there's literally stands of makeup, makeup, makeup, makeup, and all of them have foundations.

Jen Thyrion: Mm-hmm.

Rie: Like they selling it.

They're still, they have their people. There's always an audience. I mean, I feel like it does help that I'm in an area [00:53:00] where it, there is a lot of people too, because, you know, the more. Populated is there, there's more clients for everyone in a sense, when it comes to like the creating competition in the area.

If you know how to set yourself apart in the industry or as a business of, of your own, then I think you should be okay. But I'm always, I've always been that person who I only focus on me and my only competition is really me.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Like I try to, okay, what are the numbers last month? Mm-hmm. Let's, let's, let's beat that, you know?

Yep. I love learning from other people. Like, I love learning their numbers too, to like see, you know, compare and like, what am I doing wrong? What can I improve on? But when it comes to like com, like being competition with people, then, I mean, if that's how they see it and that's how they see it, but for me it's like, it's okay.

Also when you do popups, like, um, here in SoCal, since there's that influx of Avenger artists, um, they started hiring, what, two to three Avenger artists in one event. But then if you think about it, there's also like clothing vendors that There's like multiple clothing vendors too.

Jen Thyrion: Exactly,

Rie: yes. Multiple vendors.

So it's like. There is competition, but like how do you [00:54:00] really show up with your brand? How is your booth set up? Like how do you talk to people? Are you rude? You even talk to people. There's a lot of factors that go, goes into it, I would say. But yeah, there is influx. Like I remember I told you, like when I searched prot jewelry when we first started, like there's only one person who shows up here in Orange County.

Now you search Pro Bon jewelry and oc there's so many.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: So definitely different times for sure. But I feel like there's always clients for everyone. There's always room for everyone if they wanna start.

Jen Thyrion: I love it. I mean, I can just sense like your, your work ethic is so strong. Is that just innate too?

Like it's just, just something

Rie: No, I, I cry myself to sleep. Okay.

Jen Thyrion: I,

Rie: I'm not perfect. I'm telling you now.

Jen Thyrion: I know, but what I can, I can just, I know. Trust me, I cry too, uh, a lot. I mean, I, I see myself, it's so funny. I see myself a lot in people who I like chat with because you're so multi-passionate and it seems like your mind never stops.

Yeah, that's just what I'm getting, right. It

Rie: doesn't shut down, girl.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah, [00:55:00] it's like a blessing and a curse, right? Like do you ever try to shut it down?

Rie: Okay, so there was a point where 2023, I always say that's my, the year that my business, like it was the best year. Best in numbers, best in paper, but it was also the year that I felt the tst.

Jen Thyrion: Ah.

Rie: Yeah, so I burnt out really hard. I feel like I went a thousand miles per hour and hit the wall. That's how, that's what it felt like. That was the best year, because I doubled everything from 2022.

Jen Thyrion: Okay.

Rie: Which I didn't think is possible, but I did it somehow. I also told myself like it was the year that I felt the mt, so I feel like.

Coming into 2025. Sorry, that's 2024. That's 2024. Perfect. Coming into 2025. This whole year of, I dunno if you felt it too, but there was something in the air where the whole year it was a, a, a year of rebrand, a a lot of like realizations. Within that year, I started prioritizing my health. I started working out, I would say have a wetter work life balance too, compared to 2024.

So like understood the whole work life balance now. Yeah. Taking time for [00:56:00] myself in a sense where, for me, traveling is like my thing. I love traveling. Yeah.

Jen Thyrion: Like

Rie: travel. I would go to Asia in heartbeat. It's like my time of like, okay, when can I, when, when can I put this in? Like I'll, I, I'll go to through seasons, like is boring mode.

Okay. And then vacation. But do I work on vacation? Yes. Guilty. I

Jen Thyrion: know. Well, it's so funny. I ask that to, because like I do, my mind is always, I can't shut my mind off. But having said that, I relate to what you're saying because again, it's not always like money doesn't equal happiness. So even you saying that you doubled and yet you were so unfulfilled.

I'm like, ooh, you know, that is, it's like trying to find. This, you know, like balance, it's like the word balance sometimes. Like is that possible? I just think its like, but it's

Rie: fine in the area.

Jen Thyrion: Right? But finding the fulfillment, right? Like what works for you and not trying, because I, I have to say myself just growing what I did last year.

I know that going into this year, I feel the same way. I think that you felt last year is like, I know I need to pour more into myself and self-care. And I think a lot of his [00:57:00] women in general, we struggle with that. Um, I remember going to this conference in California, actually I was in Southern California, and I forget the name of it, but it was all women entrepreneurs and there was some celebrities at spoke, like Jessica Elbow was there, um, Jessica Simpson.

Uh, Lauren Conrad. But I swear like, here are these women that, you know, you think, again, when someone is making X amount or you have this vision of what being a celebrity is, right? We all have these like, oh, life must be so easy. Right? And these are women that of course, yes, they have probably some help.

They have money for help, whatever they can. You know, you'd think they'd be able to have all the luxuries and so much they spoke about self care and that's why I took away so much from that was like, wow, like here are these women that again, like they also

Rie: win all that.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. So it's like, it's just so universal.

And I think that it's probably maybe not spoken about enough, I feel, because I think that sometimes we, we vision the word success of what that equals, you know? Especially when you deal with a, like you did where you're like, oh my God, I doubled my money. You know what I mean? Like, I should be good. But here I was miserable.

So it's like, why? Right. So it's [00:58:00] like,

Rie: that was a learning thing for me. I was like, whoa. 'cause I saw the, the paper, I was like, um, how much I made the, the tally. I was like, whoa. I did double everything, but I felt really empty. And then that's how I realized like, not all money is good money.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: Because I feel like for me, like, oh, success means that I don't get to go on my friend's trip.

Success means I don't get to get dinner with them because I need to work. I feel like I equaled success into like sacrifice, but I feel like 2025 taught me where success means like when you feel, I like what you said earlier, like finding fulfillment. That's such a good word. Finding fulfillment and what actually makes you happy.

Like money. Money is money, right? Money is money. It does pay the bills and stuff, but I feel like there's so much more into it. There's not, it's not just that. Because I feel like once you start making the money that you think that would make you happy, next thing you know, you're like, no, it's not enough.

And you wanna keep making, which is good, which is a good thing. 'cause you wanna be ambitious. I think for me it was like, to what extent?

Jen Thyrion: Well, I, it makes me think of this quote, I dunno if you've heard of it from Jim Carrey and he says, I wish that everybody would, could become rich and [00:59:00] famous and realize that's not the answer.

Rie: Ooh.

Jen Thyrion: And I'm like, and he has some good stuff out there. Actually. Jim Carrey is pretty, pretty enlightened. Yeah. But like, man, that is so true. Because I think we always just think we go right to, when you say success, it does somewhat equal monetary. We do go there because, you know, money is great. I mean, it can, it can enable you to travel, like you said, it can enable you to do amazing things.

But in the end, like, I love that you also said there's that, uh, not all money is good money. That is so cool. I love that so much. I'm gonna, I'm gonna like use that because that's so true. And that's such a great way to. Kind of, it conjuress up this like, this like picture of, you know, it kind of gives you a picture in your mind with the good money and bad money, you know, like Yeah.

I love that you said that.

Rie: Yeah. No, all money's good money. 'cause I've, I, I got so burnt out to the point that I don't wanna work anymore.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: Like I literally hit, I call it the great burnout off the 2024.

Jen Thyrion: Really?

Rie: I call it the great brain of 22. 'cause like I burnt out on Q4 girl, Q4.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah.

Rie: It was the end of it.

I'm like, of all months, why would I burnt out on Q4 [01:00:00] especially. So it was such a eye-opening moment and I feel like last year was a lot of, I slowed down a lot in the sense of like, I need to stabilize myself and really figure out where I want to bring this brand towards to like, where do I really wanna go?

Um, I dunno if you've heard about this, like last year was this year of the snake.

Jen Thyrion: Okay,

Rie: so that's just the year of the snakes. It's a lot of like slow, like you're going out of your new skin and it's like a whole new thing. And then this year is the year of the horse. So like year of the horse is like, you go like fast speed and then a lot of people will rediscover themselves and like, it's like a good year.

I can feel it. I hope that it, it happens for everyone. 'cause I feel like a lot of people that I asked last year, they struggled a lot last year. Yeah. It, I was like, okay, it's not just me then, like what's happening in 2025? But, um, I have high hopes for 2026. So

Jen Thyrion: yeah. But I also feel like it's, it, whether it's the year and yes, I do feel like sometimes it's so crazy how everyone seems to be collectively, you know, experiencing something.

But also it's just such a stage in like business and [01:01:00] just evolution, you know, as people, right? It's like, you know, not we're gonna, it's just expected that you're gonna have these years or these times in your business where you're like, oh my God, all of a sudden I, I mean I experienced that prior to permanent jewelry, which I talk about my 2021.

And 20, well, 2020 and 2021 is my years where I'm like, oh, they're, I call 'em my dark years. But really they led to the light years, you know what I mean? Like, I was put through that because I had to figure out what really, how I was gonna feel fulfilled because what I was doing prior, and I was a business owner, then I was like, oh my God, all of a sudden, I mean, I feel like I should be happy, right?

Like I was bringing in money. It's not like it was terrible, but I was like, I'm not happy. Like, you know what I mean? So it's like I had to kind of dig deep and like figure stuff out and try different stuff. And then that's what, you know, that's what led to me to where I am now, which I do feel fulfilled.

So I think it's like part of those feelings though, do, they're there for a reason. They make you kind of sit and be like, okay, what can I, what do I need to change? What's not working? What is working? And then it leads to a better place, right?

Rie: I love, I [01:02:00] love where you say the, the darkest light into the light years.

I like that.

Jen Thyrion: Yes. Yeah.

Rie: Like I'm, I'm in that era right now.

Jen Thyrion: Yeah. Getting through the tunnel, right. Like, you know, you know, there's gonna be a tunnel has a beginning and has an end. Right. So it's like, right. Like, gotta get to the end. Well, this has been such an amazing combo. I can't wait if you guys are gonna PJ 'cause I hope you get to meet you and hug you 'cause you're just so approachable.

Anything you wanna offer, anything you wanna share before, like if someone is feeling kind of like in a, in a icky time or they're even questioning, you know, I guess starting something, what would you tell that person?

Rie: Okay. This is my rule of thumb. Whenever I wanna buy something, if I keep thinking about it, I'll buy it.

Because for me it's like, um, how do you, how do you put this? I feel like when people ask me like, I don't know when to start proven jewelry, I don't know when's the right time? My answer is always like, there's no right time though. Like, my, my life or like my business, whole business journey thing, it wasn't planned out.

Okay by 2022, I'm gonna start this. Nothing was planned.

Jen Thyrion: Wouldn't that be [01:03:00] nice if we knew? But it's just not that way.

Rie: Um, I dunno what your faith is, but for me, like I do believe in God. And one of the things I always pray for is if you show me an opportunity, I'll embrace it with open arm. If you put it in front of me, I'll take it.

I'll start recognizing it. 'cause I feel like a lot of people would be like, I'm gonna do this. I don't know if I should, I don't know if it's the right time, but how would you really know? Like, I'm not gonna, I'm not saying that all my students are successful in permanent jewelry. Some of them realize after the training, like after doing certain popups or events, they're like, wait, this is not for me.

But I feel like you wouldn't really know if it's for you or not for you until you actually try. A lot of people are scared to start it because of the investment costs. And I understand like it's, it's not money that you can just like, you know, that we have laying around, like, this is money that you worked hard for and like saved up and stuff.

So I feel like for me it takes. Spending money to make money. But a lot of it too is motivation and grit. And this is one thing that I always tell my students. I can teach you everything that I know about t jewelry, the marketing, how to run your business, how to do the perfect world, whatever. [01:04:00] But I cannot teach motivation and grit.

That's one thing that has to come within you, because if you are not like, fired enough, like there's no fuel in your butt, literally. Mm-hmm. Like nothing is, nothing's gonna happen. So honestly, I always tell 'em, like, after the training, use this momentum. Don't stop. Because if you stop, you're gonna be like, nah, I'm, I'm gonna do it next month.

So my homework for them is like, make sure you have a pop-up book right away. Because even if the popups is like next. I don't know, in two months, that's okay because now you have a deadline like, okay, by this day I have every, I should have my table, my, my, my tent. I should have my little mirror in my displays.

So it gives you that certain timeline that by that time I'm already confident enough in my welds I can I practice enough. So like on your first event, you're not like, oh my God, I forgot this. Like, oh no, no, I forgot that. You know, I personally like giving myself deadlines because if I don't have a deadline, I will literally, 'cause I don't have a manager, I don't have someone like telling me like, you need to do this by the end of the day, you know?

Jen Thyrion: Right, right.

Rie: Yeah. So I give [01:05:00] myself deadlines and sometimes I post about it. So that is like a visual deadline so I can hold myself accountable that by this date, like I should be good. Um, honestly, if you're someone that just wants to start to start it, see what happens. The worst thing that can happen with permanent jewelry is you sell everything.

So you just make your money back.

Jen Thyrion: So

Rie: true. No, that's it. And then the only thing you wasted probably is time. But I feel like it's not really a wasteful time. 'cause now you know like this is not for you and maybe onto the next like adventure Nike's logo is like, just do it.

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: And it's so simple. Like I, there's this one quote that I saw on Instagram.

It says that the only difference between you and the person that's living your dream is that they started, you know? So I was like, yeah, you're right. They just started but nothing, nothing special. Like they're just

Jen Thyrion: yeah,

Rie: like me.

Jen Thyrion: I know. And that's why so often I think we do, we can, we just naturally, I dunno if it's human nature, but like comparing, you know, and thinking that someone does have something special we don't have.

And that's so not true. You know, it's just not. Thank you so much. This has been really fun. How can we find out about you or stalk [01:06:00] you? Where can we find you?

Rie: You stalk me. Um, my Instagram is at charmed ed. Charmed by re website is the same thing, charm by re.com, but you can find me there at my Instagram and TikTok.

Jen Thyrion: I love it. Oh my gosh, real quick. Instagram versus TikTok. What do you, how do you feel about it?

Rie: Okay, so I always say this, I wouldn't have a business without Instagram. I've run my lash business, even the photo studio. Um, even my per and jewelry, everything's on Instagram. But recently I have been loving TikTok because I feel like there's like an audience there that it's, you know, you can tap into.

But if you stalk my TikTok, it's literally the same content girl.

Jen Thyrion: Okay. Okay. I was gonna say, it's easy to like, just use your, in Instagram,

Rie: right? I now, I did a video. I'll post in both, literally same time. So I used TikTok as like last year in OC fair we started doing bag charms and this one video blew up.

Like literally, I remember this is the video that I, it took me 10 seconds to make, like randomly just posted it and then it blew up. Not blah blah, but like, it's, it's blew [01:07:00] up enough that people actually try to find our booth, like actually go to our booth. And this is my biggest flex of last year. Someone found us on chat, GPT.

Jen Thyrion: No way.

Rie: I dunno how it happened. She's like, where can I get Pearl and Jewelry at the OC fair and then Chachi BT list, like there's two companies. One is Charmed by re I'm like, how does it know?

Jen Thyrion: Amazing. You obviously been using those keywords. Girl,

Rie: my captions if you use talk is almost the same. So yeah, so I would say TikTok has a really good audience potential that you can tap into.

But my main, main, main thing is Instagram. But it's really easy to do DMS on Instagram. Like, you know, do the selling of trainings on Instagram. TikTok is very like, just like vi like visuals, like post, post, post. You know, both if you can.

Jen Thyrion: I know, I was gonna say, I mean why not? Going back to like, okay, it's just like it's free, it's there, so why not?

And it's amazing. Just hear, you know how randomly one will just pop off and then you know, like, so it's like being consistent 'cause you never know throwing things at the wall and one, one might stick kind of thing.

Rie: [01:08:00] Exactly. It's a lottery ticket for free. So I know it's a lot, but um, all you need to do is like start and just like post one a day.

That's it. I have a, a little sticky note next to my computer, like right there. Uh, he can see it, but I have three goals and in one day post, uh, post on Instagram, post on TikTok post and stories. Like, it's so simple, right?

Jen Thyrion: Yes.

Rie: And then it just check them and I'm like, whoa. I feel so productive. Like I hit my goals today.

Jen Thyrion: There you go.

Rie: Count. You know, like I hit my step count.

Jen Thyrion: I love it. I love it. Well, thank you so much. It was so great, and I can't wait to see you again at PJX.

Rie: I know. In a couple months.

Jen Thyrion: I know. It's wild. It's coming up fast. Thank you so much. We'll talk to you soon.

Rie: Yeah. Bye

Jen Thyrion: bye. Well, how do you feel? I hope you found value in today's episode and you walk away feeling inspired.

I would love to hear from you. Let's link up. You can find me on Instagram at Goldie Link Society. You can find out more about our permanent [01:09:00] jewelry membership@goldielinksociety.com, our handmade permanent jewelry, supplies of connectors, chain, and more@goldielinksupplies.com. Okay, I will see you next time.

Have a golden day.