Five Questions With Ernest and Joe

This post was first published on May 3, 2017

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image features Emerald Romantic ring – handmade by Ernest and Joe

We chat with Mother / Daughter duo, Mia and Sally of Ernest and Joe!   Read on to discover why these two lovely ladies ended up in business together and learn a little more about their process.  Be sure to catch Ernest and Joe at our Melbourne market in a few weeks time! 

Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to begin your label.
Ernest and Joe is owned by myself, Mia, and my Mum Sally. We did a short course in silver smithing together years ago and decided to venture out and start a hobby which soon became a full time job. A lot of what we know is self taught so we are very much rookies in the industry!

Originally we were both pretty much doing the same thing but selling under two separate names until one day we realised that it would be much easier to run a business together and that is where Ernest and Joe was born. Ernest was my Pops middle name and Joe just sounded good with it. A very masculine name for pretty feminine jewels!

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image features Large pyramid necklace – hand made by Ernest and Joe

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image features signet ring range – hand made by Ernest and Joe

What would be one piece of advice you would give a first time seller at The Finders Keepers?  
Other than drink lots of coffee, we would probably say to make the most of your stall space..use every inch that you are allocated and make it pop. There are so many wonderful and clever people at Finders Keepers so the visual competition is high.

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image features ernest and joe’s debut stall at Melbourne SS16 Finders Keepers Market. Image credit: Mark Lobo

Also, it is a great networking event, such a huge opportunity to put a face to the labels that you stalk on Instagram and to meet a bunch of creative and inspiring people, take advantage of that. Wait, that’s more like three pieces of advice! haha

Tell us something exciting that you have planned for Ernest and Joe this year.
We have just opened our studio/retail space to the public earlier this year so we hope to keep building on that (and keeping our studio space tidy!) . We also have some exciting ideas involving diamonds and other precious stones in mind so hopefully we can get that range up and running. Oh, and there is the small detail of having a baby mid this year…I suppose that is exciting too!

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image features gold Saturn Sun hoops – handmade by ernest and Joe

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image features Heart breaker sleepers – handmade by ernest and Joe

Name one resource that your label could not live without. 
About a year or so ago we hired and trained up my Brother, Luke, to work for us and we could NOT live without his hard work these days! We work him to the bone while we put our feet up! (we wish).

Also, the internet. Instagram is our strongest advertising tool and it is free! Without social media, I don’t know if our business would have survived. It is a great way to get your brand out there and connect with other labels.

Tell us about your favourite product from your collection.
My personal favourite piece is our Triplet ring which is a thin gold band with an emerald, sapphire and ruby sitting on top..i am actually getting Mum to whip me one up right now!

Mum ironically doesn’t wear much jewellery but she has a pretty decent collection of bangles jingle jangling on her arms these days!
Aaaand Luke’s fave would probably be our rectangle signet ring, knuckle duster!

ernestandjoe.com
instagram.com/ernestandjoe

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image features ernest and joe’s debut stall at Melbourne SS16 Finders Keepers Market. Image credit: Mark Lobo

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