Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Sammi Antosz, owner of Adorn Permanent Jewelry.
To start, we asked Sammi to share some fun facts about herself! She shared that four months after meeting her partner, she decided to move states to be with him (and yes, they’re happily together with two children). She’s had a sixth sense about five of her friends’ pregnancies and/or when they were in labor. And, she does not like pickles or peanut butter!
We asked Sammi to share a little bit more about her business with us too. Get to know her and her business, Adorn Permanent Jewelry, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“I’ve always had an affection for jewelry. When I saw permanent jewelry storm social media, I HAD to have it! After getting a bracelet, the idea to build my own brand found me and flooded my mind the way Elizabeth Gilbert describes it in Big Magic.
“First, I captured all my ideas by taking pen to paper. Then I went to search engines and social media to learn everything I could about permanent jewelry: what items were needed, best practices and techniques, metals 101, how welding actually works, etc. I ordered my machine, chains, and tools immediately. While waiting for those to arrive, I took time to focus on the business side–opening an LLC, creating social media accounts, and building my brand’s look!”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“Yes, and no. I say “no” because I learn best from making my own mistakes . . . and I’ve already made plenty! I’ve been able to quickly adapt and evolve my business from those learnings, which I take pride in. At the same time, this is a BUSINESS. It’s a big deal–one of the most ‘adult’ things I’ve done in my life. So while I learn best from my mistakes, I cannot let my pride get in the way and risk making an error that would have a lasting, negative impact on my business.
“Looking back, I would have taken advantage of connecting with and accepting guidance from a business attorney and CPA sooner [rather] than later. I now honor that there are parts of my business beyond my scope and partnering with experts saves me time, money, and protects our reputation.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“Fall in love with being a beginner.” -Danielle Mika, Wellness Coach
“Those seven words had a profound impact on my mindset. Falling in love with being a beginner means your mind isn’t clouded by ‘what you know.’ This allows you to try new things, discover opportunities, and be inspired by endless possibilities. That’s the magic in the newness of something.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“I seek support from close friends/family. In being vulnerable with my feelings, they oftentimes see or sense something that I do not. When they bring my attention to this, I’m able to see the challenge through a new lens and come up with a plan or solution to grow through it!”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“Adorn Permanent Jewelry’s goal is for our guests to leave with lasting memories by bringing a social and sentimental bonding experience to them (literally and figuratively, lol). As for the community, our goal is to collaborate with local small businesses to offer unique events that foster connection and build relationships.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2023?
“Believe it or not, the pros and cons of being a women-owned business in 2023 are actually the same thing for me: social media and content creation. I deeply appreciate having access to social media. It allows me to be expressive, flex my creative side, connect with my community, seek inspiration, and even inspire others. Apps like Canva and Unfold make creating professional content a breeze. I have access to any color or font I can dream of, pre-sized templates, can create email blasts or business cards, and even start with a blank canvas if I’m feeling extra creative.
“At the same time, social media can be overwhelming. Getting stuck in the comparison scroll, feeling the need to constantly post, and staring at your “followers” or “likes” number for a quick dopamine hit. Because so many of us have access to social media, the unfortunate reality is that there are people straight up copying and stealing other people’s business ideas. You might see someone’s logo that looks just like yours, how their bio or post captions are oddly familiar, or that they are claiming a new idea or partnership as their own right after you shared it to your page.
“To top it off, those content creating apps are used by many other businesses and oftentimes you’ll see you’re using the same templates as others, which makes it difficult to set yourself apart. At the end of the day, the beauty of the pros outweigh the cons. Continue to stay true to yourself and your brand, and you will show up authentically! Your community will sense that, and your connections will thrive.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“Two things come to mind: 1) Just BEGIN. You don’t need to see the whole staircase to take that first step. That gets the ball rolling and keeps the momentum going. 2) Hire out in the areas you don’t enjoy or need support. If you don’t like creating content, the content you do create will match that energy and won’t be successful. Hire a content creator so you can spend your time on doing what you enjoy.”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“I recently swapped meditation with breathwork. It’s drastically altered my focus, awareness, [and] mood, and supports in calming my nervous system. I’ve formed a few friendships with permanent jewelry artists over the nation–we pick each other’s brains, seek support, and inspire each other daily. My previous career had a strong focus on self-development. I continue to use those tools and practices with my new business venture!”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“Anywhere in Royal Oak! It’s the first place I moved to from living at home and quickly stole my heart.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Adorn Permanent Jewelry on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website!
