We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenn Lacayo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my small business in 2020, as we entered the COVID-19 lockdown, I suddenly found myself with a lot of free time and extra finances from all of the canceled vacations and commitments. It was truly a unique opportunity, and I spent a few months thinking hard about where I wanted to invest those resources. I came to the conclusion that if I started a small business that I would be spending a great deal of my time on, it should be in something I truly enjoyed.

Coming from an immigrant, working class family, we never owned real gold, diamonds or pearls, but we were always happy to find jewelry pieces that were durable, long-lasting, and that resembled the real thing without breaking the bank. That is how I arrived at the idea of starting JL Jewelry, an online boutique with affordable, hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant and waterproof jewelry. It combined my love for classic and elegant pieces, along with trendy, chunky gold jewelry, all at an affordable price range that is accessible to everyone. The majority of our jewelry is made of sterling silver, stainless steel, with 14k or 18k gold plating and lasts a long time without tarnishing, even when exposed to water.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Recently, I have been proud of JL Jewelry going viral on TikTok and Instagram. I’ve learned first-hand that the power of word-of-mouth on social media is unlike any marketing tool. Also, the power of community is amazing– I’ve been astounded by the number of people locally in our Miami community and others around the world who are eager to support and promote our business.

Starting a business was not easy. Although, as a public relations and marketing professional, I felt equipped with the knowledge to build a business strategy and grow a strong social following during my first year of business. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to apply my experience in branding and storytelling while building my own brand. I’ve faced many challenges along the way, as most first-time business owners do, yet I found that the internet is a great place to learn and look for answers. I relied on YouTube, TikTok and Google to do the majority of my research when starting my business. It is truly a new era of business and I am excited to be a part of it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have so many favorites in Miami and there are a ton of places that I haven’t tried yet, but some of my favorites at the moment are Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar in Midtown, Layali Lebanese Restaurant & Lounge in Doral, Jaya at The Setai in Miami Beach, The Gramercy in Coral Gables and Peacock Garden in Coconut Grove. To hang out, I love going to the Design District, the Pérez Art Museum, Wynwood or the beach!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has helped me along the entire journey with my small business. My mother helps run the logistics for all of our pop-up events and my sister helps keep track of inventory, quality control and packing our online orders. My fiancé and my sister’s boyfriend also help us set up at our pop-up events and do quality control during our busy moments. It’s truly a family-run business and all of our success is thanks to them.

Website: www.jljewelry.co

Instagram: @jljewelry.co

Facebook: JL Jewelry

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.