By Chris Olsen
Jordyn DiOrio Polski’s Whyography is one of more than 30 stories featured in the “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose” book.
Jordyn DiOrio Polski was in the mood to break something. More specifically, she wanted to smash apart some old costume jewelry. It wasn’t that she had anything against the baubles—she’d always loved jewelry and accessories. She had started wearing a wristwatch at age 4, before she could even tell time. But she was missing her grandmother, who had passed away a few years earlier. The loss had been difficult for Jordyn, but transforming vintage jewelry into something that captured the timeless essence of her grandma made her feel close to her, and it was cathartic. So she kept deconstructing the old pieces and creating new jewelry designs.
Although the process was therapeutic, Jordyn didn’t see making jewelry as anything other than a hobby. Her long-term goal was to own a business someday, but she wasn’t sure what exactly it would be. Then, as she rang in 2017, she experienced a major shift. The pull of entrepreneurship had gotten stronger. “Why not make jewelry my business?” she thought.
Jordyn started by refining her jewelry designs. She especially enjoyed working with precious gemstones and believed each held a specific kind of energy. She began to envision a line of necklaces that were classic, beautiful and simple, made from stones known to promote positive and healing energy. Jewelry had been a source of positive energy for Jordyn, and now her designs could do the same for others. She enlisted the help of her sister Julie—a color consultant with design expertise—on her branding.
Just four weeks into the new year, Jordyn launched MEND Jewelry. She created a business plan, formed an LLC, opened a business banking account, launched a website, and began selling her new creations online and at special events and pop-up shops. There was a significant change in the way she talked about designing jewelry. It was no longer a hobby; it was a legitimate business.
Jordyn told everyone she encountered about her business. A friend who’d purchased a necklace told Jordyn about someone who admired the piece and wanted to meet her—Katherine Forrester Schneewind, owner of Forrester Wealth Management. Katherine was inspired by Jordyn’s story and spirit, and her long-term goal was to invest in a female entrepreneur. After meeting with Jordyn, she and her husband decided to invest in MEND. That investment enabled Jordyn to focus on growing the business, which was exactly what she needed.
She’s achieved some significant milestones for MEND, including selling her products online at Nordstrom.com and winning a New York Now’s Best New Product award. But Jordyn believes her greater purpose is to help women feel empowered the way Katherine and others have done for her. Whether it’s manifesting the positive energy of the stones in her jewelry designs or pursuing a longtime goal to launch a business, she wants to inspire others to let go of their fears and follow their passion.
To learn more about Jordyn’s business, visit MendJewelry.com. Follow MEND on Instagram at @mendjewelry.
Photo credit: MEND Jewelry
About the Author
Chris Olsen is a broadcast media veteran turned communications consultant, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.
About Publish Her
Publish Her is a female-founded and focused publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all. Publish Her specializes in print-on-demand books, workbooks, journals, magazines and more.
