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 Location: Santa Barbara
Established: May 2009
Employees: 3
Colored Brazilian Gemstone Jewelry
www.mmpersonaljeweller.com
Maurice Moreno has had a love for beautiful gems ever since he was a child working at his father’s jewelry store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a teenager and then young adult in Brazil, Maurice pursued his passion for creating beautiful jewelry. When he and his family moved to Santa Barbara in 2006, he had to find a new job to provide for his family. For two years, Maurice drove limousines in order to earn an income, but the job did not bring him the same joy or the freedom to spend time with his family that jewelry making did.
In 2009, Maurice took a risk and quit his job as a limousine driver to enroll in WEV’s Self-Employment Training course and to focus on his own business full-time. After graduating from the course, Maurice went on to start MM Moreno & Son, Inc., which provides uniquely designed, high quality Brazilian colored gemstone jewelry. Owning his own business has helped him achieve a lifestyle and income that bring together his passion for gems and love for his family.
Is this a new business or are you growing an existing business?
It’s both! My father has owned jewelry stores in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the past 30 years. I remember spending many of my childhood hours in his store admiring the jewelry, and what I liked most were the colored gems. Therefore, both my passion for the gems and my work started when I was a little boy. When I was 14 years old I started designing jewelry. When I was 19 years old I opened my own store in Buzios, Brazil, and it was a huge success for many years. When my family moved to Santa Barbara in 2006 to raise our kids, I was not sure what I was going to do. I knew that I wanted to be my own boss and make a living doing something I loved.
What prompted you to go into business for yourself?
After two years living in Santa Barbara and driving limos to support my family, as well as running my business with no perspective, I decided to put 100% of my focus on my jewelry business. I noticed that so many people were struggling in their businesses due to the economy, so I needed to be positive and do something for myself. One day I saw a WEV ad in the Santa Barbara News Press and thought “Now is the time, I need to take this course!” I quit my job as a limo driver and put all my effort into WEV’s course. All of a sudden my jewelry business in Santa Barbara was a success!
What has been your biggest business challenge?
Since I have only been here for 4 years, my English is still a challenge. Sometimes I feel that I can’t express myself 100% while doing business, but I am improving each day. Also since I work with jewelry and fashion, it’s a constant challenge to be up-to-date in order to WOW my clients.
What has been your biggest business success?
I’m proud to say that I am able to live and support my family solely from my business income, but I still feel that I have more to improve.
Who is your ideal customer?
My business is a mixture of two of my biggest passions, women and gems. I love the beauty of both of them, so I try to match them in a way that enhances the other’s beauty. So my ideal client is anyone that loves natural beauty, and appreciates natural, gorgeous gems.
What has been the biggest surprise about owning a business?
My biggest surprise has been that in only 4 years of being in the USA I have been able to accomplish so much, and my pieces are very well accepted in many jewelry stores.
How do you juggle all the pieces of your life (family/work/self/volunteering) to make it all come together?
That’s the hardest part of being a small business owner, you always bring work home! So, I do the opposite; I bring my family to work. They all help me with my business. My wife and daughter are my muses and my quality control. My wife also helps me with trunk shows all over the country. My son brings me lots of joy and enthusiasm. All this helps me to be focused and work harder for them.
What advice do you offer others who might want to start their own company?
Find something that you love to do, believe in it, have the patience to do a business plan, and go for it! (WEV will help).
How did WEV help you to achieve your goal or dream?
WEV helped me set my goals. The class was great for me because it helped me put my dreams into action. I was able to make a plan as a jeweler.
Is there something you learned from WEV that you use every day?
WEV offered many business tools, but to me, the most important tool was instruction on how to write a business plan. Today my business only exists because of WEV. I always follow the business plan that I created in the SET class.
What does ‘success’ mean to you?
Success for me is wearing my flip flops to work while doing what I love. Success is seeing my family and people around me happy and healthy. I’ve been in so many hard situations but this is what I love and this is what I will do forever. This has given me the opportunity to spend time with my kids.
What is the biggest reward you get from your business? What makes it all worthwhile?
Being able to do what I love! The smile on people’s faces when they see my work is so rewarding. I promote wellbeing through my jewelry. It’s so good to work with happiness.
How do you picture you and your business in: one year? 5 years?
In one year things will be pretty much the same. I’ll be working hard, building my network, and following my business plan.
In 5 years, I’ll be in the middle of my second business plan, which involves selling my business to a corporation.
Is your business being affected by the economy now? And what are you doing to deal with this challenge?
Fortunately, the economy has not been a challenge, but an opportunity for me. I’m getting the chance to show my work in places that I never dreamt I would. Things have been happening fast for me. I graduated from WEV in May 2009. In July I began doing business in Atlanta, Georgia; by October I was doing business all over Florida, and by November I had work in Montreal and Quebec, Canada!
Photography courtesy of Maria Carreras Photography: www.mariacarrerasphotography.com |
