Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Drueke.
Hi Leslie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Starting my own business was always the goal. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, working multiple jobs, building side hustles, and staying busy. But beyond the hustle, I’ve always loved the customer-facing side of retail. Meeting new people, building relationships, and creating those small moments of connection is something I truly value. I’m a people person at heart, so when it felt like the right time to finally go all in, I knew the idea had to be built on that same foundation, something fresh, curated, and connection-driven.
After 10 years in retail and fashion, I saw an opportunity: a jewelry pop-up with custom, on-the-spot engraving. Having worked in some of Nashville’s “must-visit” spots, I saw how many visitors wanted an experience that captured their time in the city, something they could take home with them, literally engraved with the memory.
My fiancé bought me my first engraver and told me to “just go.” That moment gave me the push to actually start. Without his support, this brand wouldn’t be what it is today! He now handles our finances and is incredibly good at marketing strategies. I was passionate about building a brand that genuinely resonated with people, and having him behind me made that possible.
There was no YouTube tutorial for this, since mobile engraving isn’t something you can just look up. It took months of trial and error to build a system that actually worked. I officially launched on September 1st, 2025, to test the concept in front of real customers, and with only a few small kinks, it worked.
The brand, Jeann Aveline (pronounced “Jean Ave-a-leen”), is named after my late grandmother, Jeanette. The name Aveline came from a wine bottle. After one too many glasses, the brand was born.
Jeann Aveline focuses on events and pop-ups, offering a personalized jewelry experience where every piece is custom-engraved on the spot. Whether you design with me or one of our talented engravers, you walk away with a completely one-of-a-kind piece, customized right in front of your eyes. We’ve also expanded into corporate events and now offer engraved accessories, giving businesses and individuals even more ways to create something custom and memorable through an on-site activation.
My favorite part of this journey has been figuring it out as I go. I wanted to create something unique that would draw people into local shops, support small businesses, and help preserve the local charm that makes Nashville special. Along the way, local Nashville businesses have taken a chance on me, and their willingness to partner and collaborate has helped grow this business into what it is today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road, and I don’t think any real entrepreneurial journey ever is. One of the biggest challenges was starting this brand completely from scratch. I taught myself how to use the engraving machine with no guide and no one to ask. It took months of trial and error until I found a system that worked. Once I had that figured out, the next challenge was training my staff to do it the same way. Every engraver needed to learn the same level of precision and consistency that I had built through my own trial and error.
Technology also has its limitations. Because every piece is engraved manually, in front of the customer, there are times when a piece doesn’t come out perfectly on the first try, and I have to redo it. But that’s actually something I take pride in. No matter how many attempts it takes, I always make sure the final piece is exactly right before it goes home with the customer. That standard, of never settling until it’s perfect, has become part of who we are as a brand.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Jeann Aveline, we’re known for creating memories on the spot. Choose from any of our stainless steel rings, necklaces, bracelets, and accessories to be engraved right in front of your eyes. Recently, our custom handwriting option has been a huge hit. Customers send us a photo of a note or card, and we engrave it onto any piece from our collection. It’s incredibly sentimental and creates a wearable memory. As someone who loves personal connection, it truly doesn’t get more special than that.
Any big plans?
This summer began our first residency with an iconic Nashville boutique, e.Allen in the Gulch! You can find our pop-up every Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm!
As we continue to grow with more pop-ups and events, the residencies are incredibly significant to this business model. They give customers a consistent place to find us, which builds trust and makes it easy for people to plan around us, whether they’re locals stopping by regularly or visitors who heard about us and want to make sure they catch us before they leave town!
Pricing:
- Jewelry $68-$78
- Accessories $25-$88
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jeannaveline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeannaveline_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583169606924
