Should We Open A Coastal Jewelry Business? (Husband & Wife Duo)

How A Husband and Wife Decided To Go Into Business Together

Engagement photos at a family farm in Virginia

Should We Start a Coastal Jewelry Business? How a Husband and Wife Built Mermaid Money

If you had told me a year ago that I'd be helping run a coastal jewelry business, I probably would have laughed.

After all, I was on a completely different path. Between working toward becoming a future dentist and serving as a United States Marine Corps Drill Instructor, making handmade jewelry wasn't exactly part of the plan.

When Ashley first mentioned starting Mermaid Money, I'll admit—I was conflicted. To say I was doubtful would be an understatement.

Little did I know, one day at the beach would completely change the direction of our lives.

The Beach Trip That Started Everything

One beautiful spring day, we parked at Nokomis Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast and made our way over the dunes toward the water. It had quickly become one of our favorite beaches, even though we'd only visited a handful of times since moving from Beaufort, South Carolina.

I'm originally from Florida's east coast, so shells weren't exactly new to me. But let me tell you—they're nothing like the shells you'll find on the Gulf Coast.

The moment my feet touched the hot white sand, I looked toward the shoreline, and my jaw nearly hit the ground.

There were thousands—maybe even hundreds of thousands—of seashells covering the beach.

There were so many shells you almost needed shoes. Every step felt like walking across a giant ball pit made entirely of shells.

Ashley, who grew up in East Tennessee, had never experienced anything like it. She had always loved the ocean and the incredible life it holds, but this was something completely different.

For hours, we wandered the shoreline, searching through countless shells of every size, shape, and color.

By that evening, Ashley walked over with a smile and said something that would unknowingly shape the future of our lives.

"We could call it Mermaid Money. Wouldn't that be cool?"

I stared at her for a moment.

Inside my head, I was thinking...

"I've never done anything like this. I have no experience making jewelry. I have no clue how we'd ever make this work."

So naturally...

The very next day I was registering the business, building a website, and filing everything we needed to officially start Mermaid Money.

FOCUS!

Learning to Make Handmade Jewelry

There was just one small problem.

Neither of us had any idea how to create the beautiful handmade coastal jewelry we had admired online.

What followed were hundreds of hours of learning.

There were failed attempts, disappointing days, plenty of mistakes, and more persistence than either of us expected.

Then one day...

We finished our first piece.

It was beautiful.

Seeing something we had created with our own hands was an incredible feeling, and before long I realized something I never expected...

I genuinely loved making jewelry.

Building Mermaid Money Together

We're still at the beginning of our journey.

As I write this, Mermaid Money has only recently entered the sales stage of our business. We aren't a huge company, and we certainly don't have everything figured out.

What we do have is confidence in what we're creating.

Every piece of coastal jewelry is handcrafted with care because we truly enjoy making it. Whether it's a sea shell necklace, a sterling silver ring, or another ocean-inspired design, each piece reminds us of the beach that inspired this entire adventure.

We believe that if we continue creating quality products and treating our customers well, the rest will come with time.

Is Starting a Business With Your Spouse a Good Idea?

People often ask whether it's a good idea for a husband and wife to start a business together.

For us, the answer is easy.

Absolutely.

Even before Mermaid Money, we were the type of couple who spent nearly every day together without getting tired of each other's company. We laugh constantly, encourage one another, and genuinely enjoy building something together.

Being able to work alongside my wife every day has been one of life's greatest blessings.

As Proverbs 18:22 says:

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."

Our marriage wasn't built on business.

It was built on Christ.

Long before Mermaid Money existed, we chose to make Jesus Christ the foundation of our relationship, just as Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that our salvation is by grace through faith.

That foundation gives us purpose far beyond jewelry or business success.

A Final Thought

If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read our story.

Whether you're thinking about starting your own small business, dreaming of opening a coastal jewelry business, or simply stumbled across Mermaid Money while looking for unique handmade jewelry, we're grateful you're here.

We hope our story encourages you to chase the opportunities God places in front of you, even when they seem unexpected.

God loves you.

And so do we.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son..." — John 3:16

"Love the Lord your God... and love your neighbor as yourself." — Matthew 22:37–39

Thank you for supporting Mermaid Money. We can't wait to share this journey with you.