A mum-of-two who started an ethical jewellery business at just 21 with her husband is now making seven figures.
Makayla Donovan, 24, from Brisbane, dreamt up the idea in 2020.
The inspiration for The Moissanite Company began three years ago, when she and her now-husband Tom, 24, wanted to get engaged.
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Makayla wanted a ring that was more ethical and affordable — but at the time there were very few moissanite or lab diamond retailers.
The couple decided to source their own gemstone and had a former jeweller colleague of Makayla craft the ring.
“I fell in love with the creative process and we both instantly identified a gap in the market,” Makayla tells 7Life.
She says they wanted to give other couples the same experience, “with an unwavering commitment to our stance on ethicality and affordability”.
Before starting the business, Makayla’s background was in marketing and communications and Tom was a dietitian.
Her interest in jewellery started from a young age and she had experience within the industry from 14 years old.
“I worked in many facets of the industry and so everything came very much full circle when we decided to launch our company,” she says.
The couple met in high school, both graduated from university the same year and found themselves quickly advancing in their careers.
Although both had a corporate background, they had always been “entrepreneurial at heart”, Makayla says.
To start the business, the pair invested $10,000 they had saved together.
“Founding the company coupled both our unique skill sets — me being creative and Tom being analytical,” she says.
“We were so passionate about the idea. We could envision how we wanted to execute it, and we knew we needed to back ourselves and take the plunge.
“We both still had full time jobs at the time, and we’d work on the company tirelessly around our work commitments.”
Makayla handled the website, social media and marketing while Tom focused on finances, operations and liaising with customers.
They launched the business in June 2021 with a goal to craft 50 rings every festive season.
But they ended up doing about 450 rings by Christmas in their first year.
The couple began the company with six rings and, within eight months, had opened their first showroom in Brisbane.
“It was the right timing, the right product and the right people pushing the company’s mission forward,” Makayla says.
When it comes to the creation of their rings, they proudly craft their jewellery in Australia.
They have a team of in-house jewellers and focus on lab-grown gemstones which are the more affordable option.
Knowing their customer base — which mostly compromises couples aged 20-35 — is key, Makayla says.
“We simply don’t excessively mark-up our products which is very common in the jewellery industry,” she says.
Makayla says she and Tom enjoy the freedom to work on their own terms and be at the forefront of something they are “deeply passionate about”.
A pinch-me moment for the pair will be opening their first interstate showroom later this year in Sydney.
Makayla says they experience “little moments of awe every single day”.
“We see every kind email from customers telling us how much they cherish their pieces, as well as the DMs we get sharing engagement photos,” she says.
“It truly is so amazing and such a privilege to play a small role in people’s love story.”
Having their own company at such a young age does not come without its challenges.
“It’s quite difficult to switch off, it can be all consuming and can be hard to achieve a sense of work/life balance,” Makayla says.
In five years’ time, the couple hopes The Moissanite Company will be “leaders in the industry, expanding nationally and globally”.
When the couple aren’t managing their 20 employees, they are busy taking care of their two girls, both aged under three.
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