Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Winovich.
Hi Sydney, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Sydney, I am born and raised in Cleveland Ohio. I graduated from the University of Dayton in 2021 and moved to Dallas Texas in July 2021 to work in sales for a telecommunications company. The dream is to one day do my jewelry business full time.
When I was young, my mom and I would go to a store down the street from our house called Bead Q. We would take classes learning how to wire wrap, thread bracelets, solder metal, and various things pertaining to jewelry making. It was a fun experience for the both of us and something we bonded over. As I grew older, I kept learning more and more. In middle school, I met a woman with her own jewelry company and worked for her throughout high school. She taught me backend things about running a business-like setting up pop-up shops, purchasing materials, and techniques on jewelry making itself. When I was ready to go off to college, I knew I would miss it. I’d go to her house after school and spend time with myself, making jewelry, and using creative freedom to my full advantage. It was a way for me to use my creative outlet and make my own style within her brand. We really ran the company together and collaborated very well. So, when I went off to college, I started my own company. It was different than what I was used to and started off making ribbon chokers that went for $5. I needed money for weekends and wanted a way to be creative when I was in a whole new world. It was convenient and consistent to what I had known before. As time went on, I was recognized on campus as “the jewelry girl” and Swinco became pretty well known by my peers. At the time, that was all I wanted it to be. A hobby that helped me pay my tabs! When COVID started, I had a lot more time to take the business more seriously. I looked into vendors and sold gold-filled, quality jewelry that girls would wear and love. I built a website and focused heavily on social media and branding & here we are now! I sell only gold-filled jewelry in small batches and am working on building my brand and hopefully one day it blows up!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
To be completely honest, I have always been interested in entrepreneurship. I started a furniture painting company in high school. I ran classes for younger girls over the summer to teach them how to make jewelry. I was always finding creative ways to make money. I think that working for another jewelry company for so many years helped teach me so much about the industry that I was really versed when I finally decided to move onto my own company. In college, I studied entrepreneurship which also guided me on the backbone of a small business and how to run things smoothly. Because of this, it has been a pretty smooth road.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
-I own a small batch jewelry company that specializes in gold-filled necklaces, rings, and earrings. We come out with new pieces almost every month that revolves around what is in style and what I am personally vibing with at the time. Each piece is named after a woman who has inspired me in some way and I like to spotlight them from time to time on my social media.
-Something I want people to take away from my company is that I started the company as a 17-year-old girl, with less than $100, and have built it up to what it is today. I want to inspire young girls to do the same. To be creative and think outside the box when it comes to jobs and what they want to do in this life. I think sometimes we put ourselves in a box and think – sales, accounting, doctor, or chef. There are so many things we can do and if you focus on what you are passionate about you can build up something totally inspiring. That is what I want to center my brand around.
I also work a classic 9-5 sales job. Without my company, I think I would be in a totally different headspace. I am passionate about Swinco, it helps me see that I am able to create something that inspires others and me. I needed some way to be creative and some way to show others my vision and experience and Swinco is my best way to do that.
I am definitely most proud when I compare Swinco 2022 to Swinco 2017 when I was making ribbon chokers. They were totally in style back then, and people loved what I was doing. But now focusing on quality and trends is so interesting to me. I love looking at what girls are wearing and talking to people to see what they want. I have learned so much and met so many people a long that way that I never would have met. Connecting with other entrepreneurs is always so interesting, and I almost always learn something new. It is really cool to be a part of that community.
What do you think about luck?
I don’t think luck has played any part in my life or business. Everything I have done has been intentional. I think that life has a way of making itself work out when you work hard for what you want. Everything is meant to be. I always say “You can’t have it all” and I fully believe that. If you had everything you wanted, what is there left to work for? There is always improvement to be done and growth to be seen.
Contact Info:
- Email: swin.co.2017@gmail.com
- Website: www.swin-co.com
- Instagram: @swin.co.jewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=swinco
Image Credits
Grace Rolfes
Taylor Snead
