Meet the member: Sarah Parham, SVP Jewellery

Enterprise Nation member Sarah Parham shares the story behind her business, SVP Jewellery.

What was your motivation to start your own business?

I am naturally driven and passionate about people. It was a chance meeting in India that has lead me to where I am today.

Whilst you were starting up how did you balance home life with work?

I love what I do, it doesn't feel like work, most of my friends are entrepreneurs and my father owned his business, so I have always lived juggling work and home. Because I run my own company it's easier to be flexible than being stuck in an office every day. My husband works very long hours too, so we catch up when he gets home.

What's your tip for most effective sales and marketing?

As a brand you need to know who you are, what you are, who your audience is and how you stand apart from the competition. Once you know that you need to create a brand ethos in five words or less. It gives you a focus. You'll find it so much easier to keep a clear vision, and it will help your audience understand what you are about.

Which tools could you not live without in your business?

My laptop, phone and reading specs!

What movie, song or book offers you the most business inspiration and why?

One book that has really inspired me is Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh. A path to profits, passion and purpose. Everyone laughs at my music taste. I am stuck in the 70s and 80s.

What has been your biggest business success to date?

Every retailer we have wanted to be stocked by has said yes! It's an amazing feeling.

If you had to live on a desert island with one entrepreneur who would it be and why?

It would probably be Uffa Fox. He designed the International 14 sailing dinghy. I hope he would build us a boat to get us off the island so I could get back to work. Desert Islands are great but there would be a distinct lack of wifi and wine.

What are your ambitions for the next five years?

The ambitions for SVP Jewellery over the next 5 years are growth, both in the UK and internationally. We have spent the last two years working to build up trust and transparency in our supply chain, making sure they can deal with orders whatever the size. We have worked hard developing a niche in a very overcrowded and established market, Our brand ethos is 'change is beautiful' and every piece we engineer can be worn in multiple ways. We want to make people more aware of the gem industry and work with governing bodies to create positive change from the mining industry all the way through our supply chain.

How does being a member of Enterprise Nation help your business grow?

Enterprise Nation has been great. We came to StartUp Saturday which was really inspiring and so nice to meet other people who are all going through the same thing. Enterprise Nation is brilliant for connecting you with people already established within your industry; that in itself is invaluable.

For more information visit the SVP Jewellery website and follow the company on Twitter and Facebook.

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