By Jacquie De Almeida
Brittany Hopkins was always fascinated by her grandmother’s jewellery.
The memory of diamond wedding rings with an unusual setting and earrings worn down to the neck inspired not only Hopkins’ love of jewellery, but her eventual career path, which today includes a store of her own.
To get there, though, the 26-year-old George Brown College graduate turned to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), a move that recently made her one of eight young entrepreneurs supported through a $171,000 donation by Telus. CYBF offers financial support and expert advice to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 via pre-launch coaching, business resources, and mentoring.
The loan helped Hopkins start Anice Jewellery, a store located in Toronto’s Kensington Market offering one-of-a-kind jewellery, custom and repair work, antiques, and workshops.
Although she already had a custom design business, the hectic pace of going from location to location to meet with clients spurred Hopkins to open her own storefront.
Turning to CYBF, she developed a business plan, which she presented à la Dragons’ Den. Not only did Hopkins get the backing she needed, but the process helped her shape her vision for the new venture. Described as “Old treasures, New love,” the business allows clients to redesign their unwanted jewellery by mixing old elements with stones, crystals, and other materials.
“It’s about changing people’s mentality of putting aside their unused jewellery and thinking it useless, and instead, giving it some attention,” says Hopkins, who also has a diploma in business administration, entrepreneurship, and innovation. “When you have different eyes or a different creative mind looking at something, it’s cool to see what you can actually do with it.”
Aside from a business loan, recipients are also provided with a mentor for two years, which in Hopkins’ case, is a marketing expert with whom she meets every month. Social media and online marketing know-how are two topics high on their list of things to discuss.
“I know how to make jewellery and run the business, but she keeps me in check on the importance of marketing and how to do it strategically,” Hopkins says. “There are so many things to think about in terms of running my business and doing it right. A lot of it is trial and error, but she helps me not make too many errors along the way.”
So what’s the difference between a jeweller and an entrepreneur?
While many of her goldsmithing friends from school now prefer to work on the bench for a retailer or sell their brand through a network of stores or galleries, Hopkins says she wanted to put her skills to work for herself.
“I’ve always being obsessed with jewellery my whole life, but the entrepreneurial spirit is in me more than anything else,” she explains.
“Jewellery was a hobby that I turned into a career. I can’t imagine choosing security and counting down the days to my paid holiday. Every day is a holiday for me, even when it’s stressful because I’m doing something I love. I think that’s where you separate people in terms of what it takes—can you give it your all and feel like you’re giving enough. I work 24-7 and still feel like I’m not doing enough, but that’s a great feeling because that’s what motivates me.”
