Everyone’s creative spark flew when COVID-19 and quarantine started. Some instantly started making crafty projects for themselves and others. Niles West alum Jojo Beiza definitely had her spark fly, which led her to open up her own small jewelry business, Jojo’s Jewelry. What sparked Beiza’s interest in making jewelry again was not only Covid but the summer ’19 bracelets that were popular all throughout apps like VSCO and TikTok, which she had also made.

“What made me want to start Jojo’s Jewelry was Covid. I was planning on getting a job throughout summer so that I could start saving for college, but when everything happened, I was stuck at home and wanted to make money somehow. The previous summer (2019), I was already selling bracelets, so I thought I could go back to doing that,” Beiza said.

With craftiness already engraved into Beiza, it wasn’t that hard to get the motivation to start this business.

“I knew making jewelry wouldn’t be easy, but I knew it would be easier for me than it would for anyone else. I’ve been crafty since I was little, so I’ve built up the patience and practice over the years. I go through trial and error a lot, but that is what helps me practice and learn to get where I am today,” Beiza said.

You could say Beiza has learned a lot by just owning a small business. She has not only met so many people (she does deliveries) but has also become more skilled at managing her money, which is an extremely important life skill you’ll need to adapt to when you get a job.

“[Jojo’s Jewelry] has made me change my perspective on money. I learned to responsibly split my earned money into 3 ways: School savings, spending money, and for supplies. I’ve always struggled with saving money, but this has changed the way I handle it,” Beiza said. If you’re looking to open up your business anytime soon, you’ll master the great skill of money management.

Not only are there so many positives coming out of starting and owning her own business, but the amount of support from the Chicagoland locals and her friends is incredible.

“I love Jojo’s Jewelry because you know that your money is going to a small business, not a huge corporation who doesn’t need the money. The jewelry is homemade and super cute, and she can customize so much to your own personal needs,” senior Quinn Niedermaier said. “Each package comes in cute wrapping and a handwritten note. There’s things for everyone’s sense of style, and it’s all super affordable, too, so it won’t break the bank account. I 100% recommend!”

“Jojo was my former teammate on the Niles West Dance Team, and she had always been really creative, so when she started her jewelry business, it wasn’t a surprise. Her jewelry is really cute and affordable. I really recommend it to anyone looking for cute new jewelry!” junior and former NWDT teammate Andrea Bora said.

Thanks to Niles West, Beiza has gotten so much support from students in various different grades whom she’d never met nor knew before.

“I wouldn’t say Niles West itself has impacted my business in any way. I will say that the students have been huge supporters. I have people in different grades that I’ve ever even met or knew before ordering from me. West students have definitely helped put my name out there to others!” Beiza said.

With the future extremely bright for Beiza, she hopes to continue this as a long-term “hobby.” She’s already shipped to 12 different states and hopes to expand more across the United States. She’s actually in the works of also creating an official website, so it’ll be easier for people to purchase her jewelry!

In the words of Beiza, “The advice I would give to someone in my position is love what you do. Because if you don’t genuinely love what you do or have a passion for it, you will not succeed. It just doesn’t go hand in hand; you have to enjoy what you do to do it well.”

Make sure to check out Jojo’s Jewelry’s official Instagram @jo.jo.s.jewelry, and if you’re looking to see what she sells, here’s the link to her makeshift website, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2AmnjQzPOvpfr-FczUutl2L_VtTsdPrQ-thW2Oy2JKdw9Cg/viewform?gxids=7628