The Jeweler's View

Courtney Gray
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

A podcast not only for Jewelry Makers, but all Creative Movers and Shakers,  connecting entrepreneurs and aspiring creatives in with the resources, knowledge, and mindset support they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. 

  1. 3d ago

    #103: Clear Boundaries for Custom Jewelry

    Send us Fan Mail Stop the Endless Design Revisions: Set Iteration Limits in Custom Jewelry Courtney Gray hosts The Jeweler’s View and explains how custom jewelry projects can stall when customers keep reopening decisions after a design seems approved, creating extra hours of sketching, sourcing, and email. She shares a graduation pendant story where offering too many blue-stone and sketch options led to weeks of circular feedback, and notes that limiting choices helped the project move forward.  Gray suggests using structure to prevent endless revisions: ask whether changes move toward a decision or open new ones, set a clear number of design iterations, define what counts as an iteration versus a new design, and communicate expectations upfront. She emphasizes that customers feel safer when guided, and encourages jewelers to practice holding boundaries without guilt, starting by clarifying one blurry expectation in their standard customer email. We cover: 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:35 Custom Changes Spiral 01:51 Why Decisions Stall 02:52 Blue Stone Lesson 04:32 Guide Toward Yes 05:18 When Changes Matter 06:12 Set Iteration Limits 07:48 Boundaries and Follow Through 08:44 Inbox Warning Signs 09:36 Bench Note Homework 10:44 Wrap Up and Next Week 11:29 Final Thanks and Outro DIAMRA Sponsored by Diamra! Explore custom jewelry design, create inspiration boards, and bring your ideas to life with a platform built for jewelers, from initial concepts through CAD and production. The Jeweler's View listeners get their first month free with code CGRAY. https://diamra.com Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  2. Oct 20

    #102: I Almost Ignored a $10,000 Custom Jewelry Inquiry

    Send us Fan Mail Don’t Judge a Custom Jewelry Inquiry Too Fast: The “Dragon Slayer” Email Lesson Courtney Gray shares how she almost ignored a six-page email from an address ending in “dragon slayer,” only to later discover it was a sincere request for a one-of-a-kind custom piece with full creative freedom and a roughly $10,000 budget, which became a commission paid via a $500/month plan and resulted in an elaborate gemstone necklace made in a new platinum-silver alloy.  Using this story, she explains how custom inquiries can look awkward, overly long, or unclear because clients don’t always know how to ask, and why first impressions can cause jewelers to dismiss great fits or fall in love with projects before confirming timeline, expectations, and budget. She encourages staying curious, gathering information before deciding, and reflecting on what triggers quick reactions to inquiries. We cover: 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:35 Dragon Slayer Email 01:32 Reading Past First Impressions 02:50 Commission Details 04:01 Custom Inquiry Realities 05:47 Budget Versus Creative Freedom 06:47 Falling In Too Fast 07:49 Curiosity Not Commitment 09:23 Bench Note Exercise 11:02 Wrap Up And Next Week 11:38 Final Encouragement Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  3. Oct 13

    #101: You Sold the Jewelry. Did You Pay Yourself?

    Send us Fan Mail What Did That Sale Really Require? (Custom, Shows, and Best Sellers in Jewelry Business) Courtney Gray explains why a sales total never tells the whole story in a jewelry business and urges makers to ask, “What did this sale require from me?” Using examples from custom work, craft shows, and best-selling pieces, she breaks down the hidden time, labor, sourcing, communication, revisions, travel, and prep that can shrink real profit and drain energy even when revenue looks strong. She shares a client example where a $700 custom quote yielded under $50 profit once true costs were counted, and discusses how better data can guide pricing, design fees, revision limits, process changes, outsourcing, and show decisions. The episode’s “bench note” is to trace one recent sale from first idea to delivery, list visible and invisible costs, and decide whether to repeat it at the same price and what to change next time. We cover: 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:35 The Hidden Cost of Sales 01:30 Beyond the Easy Metrics 02:42 Custom Quote Reality Check 03:44 What Did It Require 03:55 Custom Process Boundaries 06:10 Show Sales Breakdown 07:54 Best Seller Tradeoffs 09:15 Make Intentional Choices 11:26 Bench Note Exercise 12:50 Share Results and Next Week 13:54 Closing and Subscribe 14:24 Final Encouragement Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  4. Oct 6

    #100: There’s No Magic Key to Building a Jewelry Business

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 100: No Magic Key. Just Reps, Commitment, and Beginning Courtney Gray marks episode 100 of The Jeweler’s View, reflecting on nearly 30 years in the jewelry industry and on building the podcast one week at a time without a master plan. She shares growth milestones (15,000+ audio downloads, about 1,000 a month, 17,000+ YouTube views, 200+ subscribers) and emphasizes that success isn’t a “magic key,” but the unseen hours of learning, mistakes, adjustments, and persistence.  Using her own experience getting comfortable on camera, teaching, and hosting large online events, she reframes discomfort as part of gaining reps rather than a stop sign. She encourages listeners to ask what they want and whether they’re willing to stay uncomfortable long enough to improve, commit to the next stretch, and adapt without getting stuck in a rut.  She explains Transform as a program for clarifying goals and making decisions, thanks listeners, guests, and sponsors Gesswein and Bonny Doon, and previews upcoming episodes on messy business decisions. We cover: 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:35 Episode 100 Milestone 01:37 Why the Numbers Matter 02:41 What Do You Really Want 03:20 The Myth of the Magic Key 05:21 What Success Really Takes 06:24 Getting the Reps In 09:46 Consistency vs a Rut 11:39 Transform Program Explained 12:50 Bench Note for You 14:10 Thanks and What’s Next 15:38 Sponsor Message Bonny Doon 16:04 Final Encouragement Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  5. Sep 29

    #99: Can You Go Slow and Still Build Something Big?

    Send us Fan Mail Go Slow With Intentionality: Bella Grass on Becoming a Jeweler, Building Confidence, and Finding Your Niche Host Courtney Gray shares a conversation with Transform student Bella Grass about her path into jewelry after college, starting with a Boulder Metalsmithing Studio class, learning through an entry-level casting job, attending New Approach’s three-month program, and working as a repair jeweler and setter. Bella discusses what surprised her most, how hard and gratifying the work is, along with the focus, problem-solving, physical demands, and confidence required when things go wrong.  She explains how Courtney’s podcast and the Transform program helped her learn business basics, set boundaries, and “go slow with intentionality,” including designing a life first and letting the business fit around it. Bella shares current goals like showing work at the Colorado Metalsmithing Association Conference and training at GRS, and encourages others to keep going, seek community, and find mentors. We cover: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:35 Why This Interview 01:16 Bella Finds Metalsmithing 02:17 First Jobs And Training 04:17 Confidence And Reps 06:02 What Makes It Hard 07:29 Discovering Transform 08:42 Business Skills Goals 09:39 Go Slow Intentionally 11:50 New Priorities And Boundaries 13:21 Next Steps And Shows 14:36 Advice To Keep Going 16:46 Find Your Niche 17:37 Should You Join Transform 17:58 Host Wrap And Next Steps 19:03 Final Sign Off Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  6. Sep 22

    #98: What doesn't fit anymore?

    Send us Fan Mail Stop Adding More Tasks: Find Direction with Two Words Courtney Gray welcomes listeners to The Jeweler’s View and explores what to do when you know you want something different but can’t define what it is yet. She describes how makers often react by piling on new classes, tools, techniques, and goals, mistaking activity for direction.  Drawing from a coaching call with an accomplished jeweler and her own experience selling Creative Side without a mapped-out next step, she emphasizes creating space to notice what’s pulling, draining, and worth letting go of. Courtney introduces her live business program, Transform, where week one focuses on defining vision before making changes. For the “bench note,” she invites listeners to choose two honest words, what they want more of and what they need less of, to clarify their next direction. We Cover: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:35 When You Want Change 01:42 A Client in Overdrive 02:34 Activity vs Direction 04:09 Two Words Prompt 05:21 Letting Go Without a Plan 06:50 Transform Program Vision 08:31 Bench Note Exercise 09:55 Next Week and Wrap Up 10:45 Sponsor and Final Notes Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  7. Sep 15

    #97: What If You’re Ready for Something Different?

    Send us Fan Mail When Your Jewelry Business Doesn’t Fit Anymore: Recognizing Evolution Without a Perfect Plan Courtney Gray introduces The Jeweler’s View and reflects on the Evolving Creatively event with Holly Gage, Francesca Watson, and Teresa Kiplinger, highlighting how creative and business evolution often happens without a full map. She emphasizes that recognizing something “doesn’t fit anymore” is valuable information and doesn’t mean failure, and that makers can experiment in business the way they do at the bench without self-judgment.  Drawing on Teresa’s idea of developing a visual vocabulary, Courtney notes that refinement requires exploration and letting go. She urges listeners to design a business around the life they want, acknowledging changing seasons, bodies, and priorities, and shares her program Transform: From Vision to Success, which addresses connected business fundamentals starting with defining personal success. Her bench note question is: “What doesn’t fit anymore?” We cover: 00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:35 When Change Hits 01:20 Evolving Creatively Recap 02:01 Youre Evolving Already 03:57 When It No Longer Fits 04:55 Business Like Making 06:10 Design Your Own Rules 07:30 Personal Evolution Story 08:26 Questions That Shift 09:36 Transform Program Overview 11:24 Big Takeaway and Bench Note 13:34 Closing and Next Steps Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

  8. Sep 8

    #96: You Probably Don't Need Another Idea

    Send us Fan Mail Discernment for Creatives: Good Idea vs. Good Idea for Right Now  Courtney Gray explains that most creatives don’t have an idea problem but a deciding and discernment problem. Ahead of the Evolving Creatively gathering with Holly Gage, Francesca Watson, and Teresa Kiplinger, she shares how to evaluate ideas before they become obligations: whether an idea fits the current season of life and business, what work and responsibilities are attached to saying yes, and what will get less time, energy, or attention if you commit.  She encourages using “not now” as a valid third option, capturing ideas without immediately executing them, and leaving events with one meaningful shift instead of many new assignments. She mentions October enrollment for Transform, offers one-on-one coaching, and gives a weekly bench note to assess whether an idea is good and whether it’s good for right now. We Cover: 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:35 Too Many Ideas 01:12 Evolving Creatively Preview 01:58 Good Ideas vs Right Now 03:12 Stop the Shoulds 04:10 Question One Season Check 05:17 Question Two Hidden Work 06:46 Question Three Tradeoffs 08:11 The Power of Not Yet 09:12 Capture Ideas Dont Execute 09:51 How to Attend Creatively 10:45 Transform and Strategy 11:28 Coaching and Enrollment 12:04 Bench Note Challenge 13:13 Final Sendoff Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

A podcast not only for Jewelry Makers, but all Creative Movers and Shakers,  connecting entrepreneurs and aspiring creatives in with the resources, knowledge, and mindset support they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. 

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Gray
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Jeweler's View
  • Show Website
    The Jeweler's View

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