Female Founder World How to Decide If You Should Double Down or Diversify With a Second Business
Aug 18, 2025
Christine Bartolillo, founder of Elvie Fine and owner of Love Dunette salon, shares her dynamic journey from hairdressing to jewelry design. She discusses the hurdles of balancing two businesses while opening her new jewelry studio. Christine emphasizes the importance of education and collaboration in the jewelry industry, as well as the power of storytelling and social media in building client relationships. She also shares insights on navigating e-commerce platforms and tools for streamlining client projects, inspiring fellow entrepreneurs.
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Business Can Snowball From Small Steps
- Christine's jewelry business didn't launch via a single decision but snowballed from posting work and client requests on Instagram.
- A pivotal finished piece gave her the confidence to call herself a jeweler and formalize the business.
Choose A Specialty And Outsource The Rest
- Pick an avenue in jewelry because each part (stone setting, bench work, polishing, CAD) is a specialty.
- Take multiple classes to discover what you enjoy, then outsource specialties you can't or shouldn't master.
Finding Trusted Vendors Through Classes
- Christine built a network of vendors through her classes and teacher referrals, which led to trusted casting and findings suppliers.
- Those connections also produced a stone setter who now does finishing and mentors her weekly.