“Mindset is definitely the make or break for new entrepreneurs” with Adrienne Peltz

A former engineer turned entrepreneur – Adrienne Peltz - started a custom jewelry design and manufacturing business after losing her job in 2020. She (and her husband) works with customers to make unique pieces – whether it is a classy traditional jewelry design or something unique as a chicken necklace or a pinwheel ring. The uniqueness is also carried into the name of the business – Forge Gone Conclusions – because they not only forge jewelry, but also meaningful relationships with their customers.  

Can you tell our readers about your background?

My background is in the mathematics and sciences. I always loved math as a student and was encouraged by many different people to enter the engineering field. As a result, I studied Industrial Engineering in college because it dealt with a lot of applied math and modeling. It also focused a lot on people whether it was ergonomic issues, predicting times people spent waiting in line, or even how to present data visually. After college, I worked at a medical device company for many years and focused primarily on data analysis and project management.

What inspired you to start your business?

From a young age, I was always fascinated by powerful women such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; partly because they had ties to Seneca Falls, NY, and I live close to there. I admired their determination in the face of adversity.  During the pandemic, I found I had more time on my hands, so I started listening to the Flourish and Thrive podcast which has tips and tricks about running your own jewelry business. I probably listened to over 50 episodes and was inspired by jewelry designers who took the leap of a traditional day jobs into owning their own businesses.

Where is your business based?

It is based out of the broader Syracuse, NY area (Skaneateles, NY to be exact), but we work with people across the US.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The business started when I was let go from my current position in Oct 2020. Ironically, an hour before I was let go, an idea popped into my head about the jewelry industry. Literally, the next day, I dove head in to learn more about running my own business. Within two weeks, I signed up for a comprehensive course (Laying the Foundation) that walked me through all aspects of establishing and running a jewelry business. I also signed up for a mentors through SCORE, the local women’s business center, and the Small Business Association. I knew early on that I had to create a team of supporters.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The most effective way of raising awareness has been the one-to-one connections. It allows for the other person to know we exist and to allow them to ask questions about what services we provide. It also allows us to tell them more about why we got started and our capabilities.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge has been trying to figure out what I didn’t know. There were a lot of legal and financial considerations that I needed to understand to start a business. I sought out professionals and also listened to available training resources so that I understood the right questions to ask as well as to put appropriate things into place. Marketing has also been challenging and it is something I constantly work on.

How do you stay focused?

I think the passion of what we are working on helps me naturally stay focused. I like working with people on a one-to-one basis to help make their ideas come alive. The co-designing aspect and then bringing the piece to reality keeps us on track because each project is truly unique and different.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

What differentiates us from the competition is that we only focus on custom fine jewelry. We work to really understand the needs and desires of our clients and make something that is meaningful and one-of-a-kind. In addition, because we design and manufacture everything in-house, we are able to provide personalized videos that show how the piece was created.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

The most effective marketing strategy that has been the most memorable is hand-written letters to people. I have had people come up to me months after I sent them something and comment how they loved receiving a letter in the mail!

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Mindset is definitely the make or break for new entrepreneurs. I am constantly pushing myself to the limits as to what is and is not possible and most of it is just working on the limiting beliefs that so many of us carry around each day.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite book is probably “Energy Medicine for Women” by Donna Eden. In order to be able to run a business, one needs to be in pretty good physical and mental condition. Although I don’t use many of the techniques as often as I should, I do find a difference when I do use them.  

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

With a math background, one of my favorite business tools is actually Wave Accounting. It is very easy to use and I can access the reports at any time. It makes managing the finances a breeze so I always know the status of the accounts.

Who is your business role model? Why?

One of the things I learned early on is that you can never have enough mentors for your business. I have learned a lot from many different people over the course of the business. I would say one very unexpected group is being on the email lists of copywriters. Many of them email their list every day, and those are the emails I can’t wait to read to see what is going on in their lives and businesses. And, the emails they send are also good examples on how to create connections with others.

How do you balance work and life?

I think running a business allows me to better balance work/life than a traditional 9-5 job. If something needs to be taken care of during the day, it is much easier to step out and take care of it. I also find that by taking a break, I am sometimes more productive later in the evening and am able to accomplish more. As a result, I don’t mind working at 9pm or 10pm on the website or social media postings because I was able to accomplish more meaningful tasks during the day.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My favorite way to decompress is probably to use the “Tapping Solution” app by Nick Ortner. Most of the sessions are only 10 minutes, so I can easily fit that in at the end of the day before I go to bed. 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

My biggest goal is to get in front of more people and to spread the word of what we are doing. We have a good foundation and are ready to serve more people. As a result, I plan on attending a few different events to help promote the business. 

How can our readers connect with you?

I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more to check out our website (https://fgconclusions.com/) and sign up for our email list. The email list is a great way to learn about how we are progressing in our business and the highlights of what we are up to. Our website has many of our past projects posted, so check them out because each piece is unique and different.