Like many of us who create jewelry, she has always had a creative spirit within her. While in the corporate environment, she wore the usual uniform of dark suits. However, her artistic nature urged her to create jewelry that would add a sense of style to her regimented work attire. This is how Tina Tang started making jewelry.

What jewelry maker doesn’t some day dream as Tina did? So, I asked her to share her story with us, and tell us how she made her dream come true.

I never regretted not starting the company sooner because everything I learned about business practice and profitability, I gained from my corporate experience. My time at Goldman Sachs was invaluable.

2. Who encouraged you to leave your corporate job and take a chance on a jewelry business?

I had been thinking about leaving and talked about it to a couple of close friends. The close friends I spoke to at that time were very supportive although none of them had done it or even had any type of entrepreneurial jobs. For me, it was really the need to leave and do my own thing that spurred the action.

3. How did you learn to make jewelry when you first started out? Did you take a class or were you self taught?

My mom has been making jewelry all my life (although her career is as a chemist) so I grew up with it. I learned from a combination of classes (post college) and self taught experimentation.

4. Where do you get your inspiration to create?

I make what I want to wear. Sometimes ideas come as I am getting ready to go somewhere, and I want to accessorize.

5. When you create your pieces now, do you make what you like and hope that it sells, or do you try to create marketable items from the beginning?

I only make things I like and would wear. When customers suggest things I should be making and its not my style, I just say that its not the type of jewelry I like creating. I don't want to make things that sell but that I don't like.

6. You’ve managed to get a lot of publicity through magazines such as Victoria and InStyle. How did that come about?

Persistence and pounding the pavement. It was not easy. I tried many many magazines before getting those two.

7. Did publicity have a great impact on your business? What advice would you give other jewelry makers about finding publicity opportunities?

Publicity is the best advertisement. Pay advertising doesn't get you what publicity gets in the same time period. The magazine features have helped my business immensely.

8. You have a number of stores listed on your web site that sell your work. Did they approach you or visa versa?

Again, those stores were obtained as clients through pounding the pavement. Anything I have gotten has been from knocking on doors.