Meet Ariana Lazo | Co-Owner | JOJO SKYE

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ariana Lazo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
JOJO SKYE is a business that started with myself (Ariana) and my sister (Cristina). It came to fruition at a pivotal point in our lives. She was a stay at home mom of two, and I had just left a career I loved to care for my son who was battling health issues. These life changes and COVID 19 had taken such a toll on everyone mentally, and our situation allowed us to circle back on having talked about owning our own business.

We needed change, and we needed a space where we could make women feel beautiful even in the mundane moments and seasons of life. We needed the ability to show our daughter’s that they could pave their own way.

What should our readers know about your business?
We started our jewelry business in an effort to empower women and ourselves to be better, feel beautiful, and find their confidence. We began with the endeavor of handmade jewelry. Quality jewelry that would last without tarnishing. Since 2021, we have pivoted to offerings that were more conducive to our life. Between the two of us, we have 7 children. It is no easy task running a small business and then running a home simultaneously. It was and continues to be a hustle, but it’s one that we love.

We now offer permanent jewelry (which is all the rage) and have a Custom Charm Bar to create custom charm jewelry. Both areas of the business are thriving, our newest offering being the Charm Bar. We have been blown away by the interest and adoption of this side of the business, and it has been so exciting to help people create pieces that respresent them and tell their story.

I think consistency and grit go a long way with small business owners, it’s exhausting and a grind to reach goals, but the community support and the love of the business help with the challenges that come our way. We’ve had to overcome a lot and realize that there will be areas we fall short in. Overcoming these challenges continue to be possible by adaptation. We realize that ok business we will need to pivot to find what works best for us and our incredible customers. That makes for a lot of uncomfortable but necessary change.

We have a long way to going regards to reaching our goals for growth, but by prioritizing which “next steps” are most pressing, we know we will get there. We are also at a point where we know we need to expand our team to grow, and we will be taking those next steps to grow brand awareness, and to reach more amazing new customers.

Our customers are at the center of what we do, and I don’t know that seeing the joy our jewelry brings them will ever get old.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I seriously love Arizona. I feel like there is so much to see and do, and there are so many places to visit that are close. Most of my life revolves around family friendly spots, since my kids are so young (10 months, 3 years old, and 5 years old). Life looks a little different these days.

However, if my best friend was coming to town,

I’d take her to all the good food: Ocotillo, Temari, Board and Batten, Prep and Pastry.

I LOVE a good movie, so we would definitely catch a movie.

A Hike would be a must. The desert landscape is unreal, and it’s something you cannot miss.

Definitely a stop in Sedona and Flagstaff, because let’s be real in a 3 hour drive you can hit 3 completely different worlds. All of which are must see places.

My husband is a big baseball fan, so if it was time for spring training we’d go to a game,

And if there were local small business markets you bet we’d be there. One of my favorites is Made with Love Markets. Supporting small will always have my heart. Seeing the talent and beautiful products that come to fruition from amazing vendors is the best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our husbands Michael (Ariana’s husband) and Zachary (Cristina’s husband). These two are the real MVPs of this whole operation. We could not accomplish any of our past successes or future milestones without their unconditional love and support. There has never been a moment in time where an event, a trip, late nights, heavy lifting, watching all the kids have been an inconvenience. They find a way to make it happen and are truly an important part of our team. Our mom, Patricia, has also been a huge help in helping us succeed. She has traveled with us and held down the fort back home to ensure we live our dreams.

Website: Www.shopjojoskye.com

Instagram: @shopjojoskye

Other: Tik Tok: @shopjojoskye