Interview: The Resilient Journey of Z Martinez, CEO of Z Jewelers

Z Martinez’s journey into the realm of jewelry design was ignited by a divine whisper, a dream she believed was a calling from above. Fueled by this inspiration, she embarked on a relentless pursuit of knowledge, immersing herself in the artistry and intricacies of jewelry craftsmanship. However, fate had its own plans as the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly altered the course of her life, leading to her departure from a corporate job. Undeterred by adversity and armed with nothing but a dream and $50, Z took a leap of faith to birth Z Jewelers into existence.

Against all odds, her unwavering determination and boundless ambition propelled her to success, as she defied industry norms to amass $30,000 in her first month of business. Remarkably, with no formal training, background in jewelry, or industry connections, Z has emerged as a trailblazing force in the world of custom jewelry, capturing the hearts of clients and celebrities worldwide. Z Martinez shares her testament to the power of resilience, passion, and unwavering faith in an interview below.

Can you share with us the moment when you decided to start ZJewelers and the inspiration behind it?

I started Z Jewelers after God gave me a dream about my business. In this dream, I was a celebrity jeweler living in Atlanta, Georgia, and appeared to be an expert at my craft. Prior to this dream, I had no prior knowledge or experience of the jewelry industry but felt compelled to research it because of how real the dream felt. Months later, after being laid off from my job, I launched Z Jewelers with my last $50 and a determination to bring this dream to fruition.

Given your background in a corporate job unrelated to jewelry, what motivated you to take that leap of faith into the jewelry industry?

When I was working my corporate job, I was struggling and living paycheck to paycheck. My quality of life was so poor that my husband and I could only afford to cover our rent and feed our family with just $30 per week. I began to pray and ask God for a business that would change the trajectory of our circumstances, and before I knew it I had a dream that then led to my preparation process before being let go from my job, which I now know was divine

alignment with my destiny and launching my brand.

How did you navigate the challenges of starting a business with limited finances and resources, particularly during the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic?

When I started my brand, I had a lack of capital and resources. I used what was left from my last paycheck to invest in jewelry that I could resell and eventually grew from there. I searched for affordable mentorship and ultimately resorted to self-education by way of YouTube, and Google and walking into local jewelry stores and studying how they conducted business. I researched vigorously to learn everything I possibly could to become who I knew I was destined to become.

Your success in scaling up to $30,000 in your first month of business is incredible. Could you walk us through some of the strategies you employed to achieve such rapid growth?

Absolutely, I developed a growth formula after seeing the immediate success of my first product. My first product was priced at $100 and with the high demand, I aimed to sell at least 10 of this item per day. My strategy to make sales was to frequently go live on social media and do a jewelry broadcast of the different variations and demonstrate how they could be worn. My goal was to show clients that I was a relatable person, build trust, and address common pain points that would convince them of why they needed my product and how they could benefit from it.

What have been some of the most memorable moments or milestones for ZJewelers since its inception?

My most memorable moment would definitely have to be working with the legendary rapper Lil’ Kim. She is such a ray of light and showed my work an immense amount of love. She invited me out with her and her entourage during the BET Awards and I was blessed to enjoy the full experience and the fruits of my labor.

Your commitment to giving back to the community through the ZJewelers Foundation is admirable. Can you elaborate on the mission and goals of your nonprofit organization?

When I started I wished I had the capital needed to go even further than what was available to me at the time. My goal is to dedicate my life to empowering other struggling or aspiring entrepreneurs by providing not only the education but also the support needed to pursue the journey of financial freedom within the realm of business.

Why did you choose to focus on supporting women entrepreneurs through your foundation, and how do you envision impacting their journeys?

I like to think of myself as a “girls girl”. Growing up, I admired women like Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks and appreciated how they used their success and platforms to provide opportunities for other women. So, I always hoped for the day to achieve a level of success that would allow me to pour into others. I want my journey to be an inspiration for women all over the world to dream big and know that anything is possible.

Could you share some insights into your upcoming projects, such as the E-Course and jewelry cleaner? What inspired you to venture into these areas?

Absolutely, my E-Course is a fast-track online jewelry academy that combines my years of experience into a 30-day program that will equip aspiring jewelers with the skills needed to launch their brands. My jewelry cleaner will serve as the first black woman-owned jewelry cleaner line and will be available on major platforms like Amazon and Etsy. I ventured into launching both of these products after receiving a high demand for jewelry care and an increase in requests for a masterclass.

As a black woman-owned business owner, what do you hope to contribute to the jewelry industry, both in terms of innovation and representation?

As a black woman in a male-dominated industry that lacks diversity, I would like to become a trailblazer that creates room for more women and people of color to join this lucrative industry.