Jamie Yeo | Lula J Jewelry

1. What's your story?

I found work straight out of school and went on to enjoy a couple of decades in the entertainment/media industry.

When I hit 40, I realised I needed to start something that I can call my own - a business that marries both pleasure and work, one that would allow me to work remotely anywhere in the world (with full fibre broadband).  

I have had years of memorable wining and dining and partying in the city but now I craved for nature and more space. Lula J Jewelry was born out of that desire to call my own shots. We launched right before the first Covid lockdown and have never looked back.

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2. What’s the most satisfying part about what you do?

This sounds cheesy but the most satisfying part is receiving a text message from a client saying how much she loves a piece of jewelry. We aim to bring affordable fine jewelry to everyone and I love that our clients don’t have to wait for special occasions to own “real” gold and diamond jewelry. Most of our clients are working women who carted out because they just felt like getting something nice for themselves.

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3. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you move forward?

The biggest challenge is supply chain issues - First, the pandemic, then the war in Ukraine and now the inflationary pressures that have gripped the globe. Every challenge results in higher costs. We have had to say goodbye to some suppliers because the quality of their workmanship faltered from the challenges or we just didn’t want to accede to their unreasonable price hikes. There’s always a supplier who can produce better quality or give you a better price. I have learned that one just needs the patience to look for them.

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4. What's the best piece of business advice you would like to share?

When you’ve found an honest vendor who does good work, treasure them, be nice and pay them promptly.

The best supplier isn’t the cheapest one.

My main supplier isn’t one that gives me the best price, but it’s the one that provides much appreciated time-saving extras like keeping track of all orders on top of quality products.

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5. How has working with Harvest Accounting and using Xero impacted your business / life?

Harvest Accounting is the reason I can run my Singapore-based business from the UK.

They make it so easy for me to focus on marketing my brand which is my forte, and have handled all the accounting for me. Xero automates all the tedious tasks and gives me a clear picture of the numbers. Also, Bryan and Matt are always there for me if I have a dumb question (haha) and I’m grateful that they have so much patience to explain to me what I need to understand.

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6. Shameless plug for your business:

Lula J Jewelry provides fine casual jewelry - 14K and 18K solid gold, diamond pieces at wallet-friendly prices! Our jewelry is casual and wearable, yet classic and sophisticated, and can be passed down the generations!