Goals and Gems
In Omnivorous is a new student-run jewelry business that emerged from a combination of entrepreneurship and a love for jewelry. Main organizer and junior Veronica Chen has a strong desire for their business to be successful. Founded during the summer of last year, In Omnivorous took a significant step forward with the recent launch of their Instagram page. The name of the brand originated from omnivores, organisms that eat both plants and animals. Much like how omnivores eat various foods, In Omnivorous sells various types of jewelry. The word “In” was added to “Omnivorous” so the name resembles the phrase “in style”. During the business’ infant stages, Chen enlisted long time friend Rhema Tan, a junior from Shanghai High School International Division. They both share the same devotion to the business and to achieving financial self-sufficiency as they continue crafting unique jewelry pieces that would capture the attention of online customers.
With motivations from family and friends, Chen had a desire to turn their passion for entrepreneurship into a lucrative business. Chen’s most significant inspiration stemmed from their mother, as she provided invaluable guidance that helped Chen fervently pursue their passions. Her mother has a business of her own, which Chen has looked up to since they were young.
“My mom was truly my biggest inspiration when [starting] this business,” Chen said. “She has taught me [many] valuable lessons that are not only [beneficial] but extremely supportive. She has motivated me to push myself further with this business venture.”
Since launching In Omnivorous on Sept. 2 of this year, Tan has gained more knowledge about operating a small business. Not only did they need sincere interest to pursue this endeavor, but they also learned about the strategic planning necessary to be successful. This is why they spent the past summer carefully mapping out the most efficient way to strengthen the business. Ultimately, they decided to separate the labor into different sections: filtering, transferring jewelry, recording, advertising and sales. This division of sections has helped them take business orders productively through Instagram, which allows them to showcase their artistic creations to a broader audience and take orders through direct messages. Their mutual support and commitment to the business continues to lift them to further success. With the devised workload, they have been able to efficiently send out packages and order materials like metal rings, clasps and jewels from wholesale sellers like Amazon. Additionally, it allows them to dedicate more attention to product design and display on social media. Tan is passionate about further expanding their knowledge regarding businesses and contributing to In Omnivorous’ success.
“I have always wanted to be a part of an [entrepreneurial] business venture,” Tan said. “When I was offered the privilege of co-working with [Chen], I felt extreme pride knowing I could work [for] a possible successful business. I have excessive passion for this project and will continue to make the shop [affluent] by actively sharing it with others.”
While they are still trying to figure out what kind of jewelry their consumers would purchase the most, they hope to continue making new and unique pieces. To expand their audience, they plan on promoting the business on other online platforms in addition to Instagram, such as TikTok. The customers pay in person through cash or credit, as well as return or exchange jewelry in person. To avoid damages to the product, deliveries and returns are in-person transactions, at school or a rendezvous, which also allows them to stay organized. If the business continues to flourish, they plan on taking a portion of the profits and donating it to those who are in need such as homeless shelters, food drives and animal shelters.
“The turn out of this business has been extremely well [thus] far.” Chen said. “We have been able to sell a decent amount of jewelry since starting the business and can not wait to continue on selling. We hope the [store] will stay relevant to our customers in the future.”
