ABOUT US
Finding
Inspiration at
Every Turn
We are a small passionate team of creatives here at Jojo. Shari is an all-round superstar and lover of Mango and online shoe shopping. She is our chief maker, takes care of our wholesale and online orders and is a valuable contributor to product selection. Nanny Shirl (my Mum) is one of our most experienced makers, that's when she is not golfing or planning social events at her lifestyle village.
Emily is a student, lover of Crime Podcasts, our Wellington merchandiser and full-timer during the Christmas chaos. Then there’s Wendy, a friend and partner in crime who helps me at markets and events. I am Jo, owner of Jojo. My role is curator, accounts lady, sales, event hostess and general over sharer!
My Story
Some of my earliest memories of my love for design were in my childhood bedroom. I would colour code my wardrobe and constantly rearrange my toys and furniture to create the perfect retreat. The tidy bedroom did not last long but the memories of the fabrics, patterns, and textures are still as vivid to me now as they were back then.
This love of creativity led me to Auckland and Art School - studying design and this skill set has been the foundation for all the future roles I have held. While studying I worked part-time at “The Warehouse” and met my first husband, then came marriage, children, and a career as a bathroom designer. Auckland's “fun vibe” soon became more of a “chaotic vibe” with young boys, so we decided to come home to Hawkes Bay, the place at 18 I swore I would never return to, as it was soooo boring, who knew!
​Then life happened and I began a journey of raising 2 Sons on my own. This was when I realized I needed to craft my way through some emotionally tough stuff and earn some extra dosh because I had a mortgage and sons with endless hobbies to pay for. Like many creatives, I painted, stitched and glued my way through local markets with average results, and a fair few damaged gazebos! I attended this one particular market, and across from me was a woman selling jewelry, and holy moly was it flying out the door! That day I had an Oprah AHA moment I realized ladies LOVE earrings! That was the beginning of Jojo Earrings.
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I started selling earrings a friend made but we couldn't keep up so I began making and sourcing to extend my range. Over the years my paid employment went from full-time to part-time to now I am rocking it as a self-employed business owner! It took me a while but now at 50 I am feeling pretty COOL!
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Jojo Earrings now supplies around 100 retailers and partners nationwide, we also sell at expos and markets, as well as online. Thank you to all the customers who support my business, my amazing friends and family, you have allowed me to do what I love, and hopefully, my success can pay it forward to support and empower other humans on their journey.
Jojo xx