5 minute read
Leading with Purpose: Anne Hyun
from Issue 32
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BUSINESS AND BECOME A FEMALE FOUNDER?
My mother is a natural-born hustler. In 1975, she started importing fine jewelry with only a few jade pieces. Eventually, she grew the business into one of the largest and most well-known import wholesalers of fine jewelry in the Midwest, expanding into pearls, diamonds, and precious and semi-precious stones. I admire her defying stereotypes and beating the odds as a Chinese immigrant female business owner. I have been around jewelry and the business my whole life, often accompanying my parents on sales trips and conventions, tidying up inventory, and, on at least one occasion, staying up late to string pearl necklaces! However, I am very grateful that they strongly encouraged my academic pursuits and the establishment of my own career. I gained over 20 years of experience across disciplines and industries, including establishing fashion, dining, and entertainment partnerships for the American Express Centurion “Black” Card and launching Black Twine, an experiential marketing agency based in NYC. I worked with Martha Stewart, Eva Chen, and many other lifestyle and fashion brands on launches and events.
Looking back, these experiences have led me to this moment of starting Maimère. Maimère allows me to continue the legacy of my parents’ footprint in the fine jewelry industry while launching a fresh new fine jewelry brand aimed directly at consumers, leveraging my background and experiences.
WHAT UNIQUE PROBLEM DOES YOUR BUSINESS SOLVE, AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO ADDRESS IT?
I am surrounded by friends who are starting to explore fine jewelry. It may be due to the life stage we are all currently in, where we seek to invest in a few quality pieces rather than accumulate many items. Therefore, when my parents prepared for retirement and liquidated a portion of their inventory, I hosted several online and in-person trunk shows. To my surprise, the level of engagement and interest was beyond my expectations. I have to laugh because several friends even accused me of hiding my jewelry connections from them. However, the positive feedback regarding the quality, wearability, and pricing relative to comparable items in the market inspired me to consider launching a consumer-focused version of the business. I was excited about leveraging my family’s wholesale relationships to offer fine jewelry directly to consumers, bypassing traditional luxury retail channels.
WHAT SETS YOUR BRAND APART FROM COMPETITORS IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
Fine jewelry can be intimidating due to the numerous variables influencing its price, including gemstone quality, size, color, finishing, setting, and sourcing. Also, buyers must pay more attention to the significance of skilled craftsmen who meticulously create each jewelry piece. I learned so much from my parents while growing up in the jewelry business. Still, I also had to acquire valuable technical knowledge by completing my gemology certifications with the Gemology Institute of America (GIA). With my training and the advantage of leveraging decades of experience and relationships with only the finest manufacturers worldwide, Maimère is uniquely positioned to offer high-quality classic fine jewelry at an exceptional value.
CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE MOMENT OR EXPERIENCE THAT SOLIDIFIED YOUR DECISION TO PURSUE ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
When I was working in a corporate environment, making decisions or even sending out a simple email would often involve numerous stakeholders from various parts of the organization and could take days or weeks. Starting my own business, Black Twine, brought immense satisfaction from a getting things done perspective. For example, one of the most rewarding day-to-day activities was the ability to brainstorm an idea for an email and then send it to our base within minutes. The capacity to swiftly execute ideas and solve problems on the fly captivated me and drew me to entrepreneurship. There is a genuine sense of empowerment from controlling your destiny. Running my own business has enabled me to harness all my skills and has shown me that I can continue learning and growing in ways I didn’t think were possible!
HOW DO YOU COLLABORATE OR CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES?
I am so impressed by how wonderfully supportive the Dallas community is in showing up for each other, especially within the women-owned business community. I have been the beneficiary of many generous women sharing Maimère with their friends and offering to partner on trunk shows and events.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Maimère is a fine jewelry brand founded by Anne Hyun. Through Maimère she aims to continue her parents’ legacy and grow her business through new and exciting pieces, different channels, and ventures. Anne’s ultimate measure of success is having happy clients who adore their pieces, wear them often, and tell their friends about Maimère!
