1 day ago
NEED TO KNOW
Jessica Holiday converted her closet into a sleeping area to optimize space in her studio apartment for her jewelry business.
She launched her business with $400 and reinvests all profits, sharing her journey and advice on TikTok.
Holiday previously lived in a van while building her business and says her success has been years in the making.
Jessica Holiday has been sleeping in her closet for over two years to save space in her studio apartment while growing her jewelry business.
The 25-year-old Minnesota resident tells PEOPLE she has come to "love" sleeping in the cozy nook and even recalls that as a child, she often asked her mom if she could sleep in the closet.
"She would tell me no, so it’s fun using my free will as an adult to make a little fort in there. It’s actually really comfortable," Holiday shares.
She uses the main living area of her studio apartment to craft jewelry and store supplies for her business.
Jessica Holiday's jewelry
Credit: Jessica Holiday
Holiday has been developing her business for over six years. After graduating high school, she initially sold rings online. When that approach didn’t succeed, she shifted to selling clothes.
Now, she has returned to making and selling jewelry online and says her business is finally "really taking off," though she admits "it’s been years in the making."
Her inspiration came from watching YouTube videos of women creating clay items and running print businesses.
"It looked so fun to me, and since I was living alone, I thought it would be something I could do during my free time," Holiday explains.
One key lesson she’s learned is that "baby steps compound."
"There have been many times I felt like what I was doing wasn’t working, but looking back, it’s the little mundane days that really add up and ultimately are the reason things work out," she says.
In the early days of building her business, Holiday sold all her belongings and lived in her van while making jewelry. She later returned to her construction job, sold the van, and moved into her current apartment.
Credit: Jessica Holiday
"Making big investments can be scary, especially when you’re not sure what the return will look like. When I didn’t have much money, I questioned every purchase, but I knew if I kept working, things would work out," Holiday shares.
She has been very open about her business process on her TikTok account, where she shares glimpses of her life and the jewelry she creates.
"I started my business with a budget of $400. Everything I’ve purchased for my business since then has been reinvested from that original amount," she tells PEOPLE. "I didn’t want to dip into my personal spending money or savings because I wanted to make sure my necessities were covered."
"It’s okay to start small. Use what you have and try to make the most of it before spending a lot of money," she adds.
Read the original article on People
