She Started Her Jewellery Business In Her Room

You can do anything but not everything. You also have to believe and commit to everything it takes to get the business off the ground and running.

Running a jewellery business from her bedroom in Australia at first, Jenn Low has taken her home-grown brand Wanderlust + Co to unimaginable heights.

Today, she has over 400 stockists and retail partners worldwide. Celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez and Jessica Alba are all fans.

She never anticipated how huge it would become today. “Having graduated with an accounting and media background, I never dared imagine to be so immersed in fashion today,” says Low.

Low’s first full-time role was with a Melbourne company famous for stocking local Australian accessory designers.

Two years into the retail world equipped our budding entrepreneur with a general understanding of how a business works within the fashion industry.

Armed with that, Low decided it was time to venture out on her own. “I saw a gap in the online marketplace for a jewellery brand that can consistently deliver luxe designs at an affordable price point,” shares Low.

The brand took off when in 2011, Low decided to do something risky. “I sent Leandra Medine, owner of the popular blog, The Man Repeller, some of my favourite arm party pieces. She ended up wearing them and even featured us in her blog,” says Low.

Very quickly, the brand gained momentum in the US and was featured in various other media outlets like Time Out New York and Teen Vogue. “The US is our number one location for both retail and wholesale sales,” says Low.

Now, seven years into the business, what’s next? “We have set our sights back to grow in Asia, Southeast Asia specifically. My vision is to continue to grow our retail and wholesale sales as well as drive pop-up store initiatives and distribution partners across the region. Basically, to be true to our vision of being Asia’s first fashion jewellery brand with a lifestyle influence and to go global,” Low further explains.

How does she juggle everything, from production to designing to packing and shipping right down to managing a team of 18? “I don’t! I manage to juggle it all (most of the time anyways) with the support of my team, help at home with my one-year-old daughter and an incredibly supportive husband. I’m grateful that we live in transparent times where it’s OK to throw our hands up in the air sometimes and say we need help. It’s healthy to take a break and say we need to rest. There is no medal after all for whoever is the most burnt out.”

Interested in following Low’s footsteps to become your own boss? Her tip: “Hustle hard and put in the hours. But also remember it is your job to lead and make decisions. Be a bundle of energy and enthusiasm! Love your customers, love your people, be true to why you started, love what you do and do great work consistently.”