Life & Work with Kelsey Woods of Winchester TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Woods.

Hi Kelsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
People often ask how I ended up doing permanent jewelry, so here’s the story: I spent three years working in construction, believe it or not, and was doing really well. When one of my projects wrapped up, I applied for a new position in Paducah, Kentucky. Moving from my hometown, Chattanooga, TN, to a place where I knew almost no one was incredibly stressful. No family, no friends, and I couldn’t even find a place to live before starting the job on night shifts in just a couple of weeks! I ended up hiring a realtor to find a duplex, moving in sight unseen after only seeing a few pictures on Zillow.
I started the job, and it went about as smoothly as any new job could. It was awkward at first—meeting new people with different personalities, adjusting to an entirely new job site, and learning the ropes as a quality control inspector. My role was to ensure everyone followed concrete guidelines (literally).
But here’s where things got tricky. I kept raising issues with my boss, but management wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear my findings. I learned why very soon. One night, I walked into work as usual, only to be greeted by a higher-up I’d never met before. He asked me to come to the office.
You know that sinking feeling you get when you just know what’s coming? Yeah, that was me. Sure enough, I was fired. Gone. Out. Adios.
I was completely blindsided! I hadn’t even finished unpacking from my move, and there I was, alone in a new state and jobless. They didn’t give me much of a reason, either—just the classic, “You can direct all your questions to HR.” Turns out, the jobsite was not what I expected. Needless to say, I was freaking out.
I cried…for half a second. Okay, maybe I cried a couple days. Remember, I was in a new town and had just lost my new job. I think my mom was freaking out even more than me. But…if you have ever met me, you know that I am resilient. I had this thought, “I can’t work for anyone, ever again. I REFUSE!” Every job I had, I excelled at, but for some reason, I always ended up getting fired. I have always had the thought process of “I can do that better” or, “Lets do it this way, and it will be better”. Well, that doesn’t work too well when you’re an employee.
One day after getting fired from this job in Kentucky, I was scrolling through YouTube and came across a sponsored YouTube ad for a permanent jewelry training course. “Okayyyyy what is this?” I watched the video probably 20 times. I did my research. Permanent Jewelry was becoming very popular, and it looked pretty profitable. Here I am, 29 years old, only ever worked in a “man’s job”…Pep Boys, Nissan, construction. I definitely was not a jewelry wearing, dress up every day kind of girl. I was used to wearing concrete covered, steel-toed boots, jeans and a t-shirt to work and talking to sweaty, cussing men all day long. BUT what I WAS, was a go-getter, a hustler, a get stuff done type of a girl.
Okay…so here we go! We ARE going to start a business! I knew this wasn’t going to be a side business like most people do. I wanted to be branded. I wanted to be well known. Most importantly, wanted it to pay my bills. This was going to be my full throttle, full time gig!
At the time, I had a very supportive boyfriend who helped me purchase the course, the welder and tools that I needed. I still give him loads of credit for helping me get started. About a week later, I received the delivery. Can you believe I didn’t open it for a couple of days? I’m not sure if I was scared or what, but yes, my future sat in a cardboard box on my kitchen table waiting for me to unbox.
I finally opened the box and wow! It was full of pink confetti. I remember thinking, “Okay, this box is very girlie, and I am not.”
I started the online course which took me about 2 weeks to complete. During those 2 weeks I sat in my office with boxes in the corner, still unopened from the move, doubting every choice I had ever made in my life. I was making good money from my past couple jobs, and why did I have to ruin it? What the heck am I doing? No one taught me how to be self-employed, how to run a business, anything about jewelry…or welding. I had a sales job once before, so I knew I wouldn’t struggle too much. I had to learn what the difference was between a sole proprietorship and an LLC and which one I needed to file for. You remember that supportive ex-boyfriend? His dad owned many businesses throughout his life, so I always had lots of questions for him. My grandmother explained what the Chamber of Commerce was and told me that I needed to join. “Umm, okay?” I eventually did that, and she was right. It has been very helpful!
Once I got confident enough to weld jewelry on other people, I started to go out and just walk into stores and tell them about me and what I wanted to do. I wanted them to allow me to set up my little table in their store and hopefully snag their customers. Thankfully my sales pitch has evolved from that!
I got my first pop-up booked at a little antique store in Metropolis, Illinois. On July 8th, 2023 I set up my table and talked to a total of 3 people and made one sale, a total of $60. I literally didn’t care how much I made; I was jus so happy to get one pop-up in the books! It was a huge milestone for me, and that first pop-up lit a fire that’s been burning ever since.
From then on, I was dead set on getting new pop-up locations and making way more than $60 in 5 hours. I obviously knew this would take time and loads of effort. I went to boutiques, salons, antique stores, literally anywhere to hand out my business card. I had a few pop-ups over the next few months. Chattanooga TN, being my hometown, made it easier to book pop ups, so I knew I would have some support there. Because my parents live in Winchester, TN, it was easy to book pop-ups there as well. I would come stay the weekend with my parents and go home to Paducah for a few days. I was still out and about hustling in KY, but Winchester was where I decided to land. After 6 months of traveling for pop ups, I decided it was time to move again. I moved to Winchester (again) around Thanksgiving of 2023 and have been here ever since.
Since living in Winchester TN, I have been able to grow my business into what it is today. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far I’ve come since that very first pop-up. What started as a small spark of inspiration has grown into something I’m truly proud of. Winchester has become more than just a place to live; it’s become the heart of my business. I’m grateful for every challenge, every new connection, and every person who has supported me along the way. This journey has been filled with hard work, learning, and growth, and I wouldn’t change a thing. The fire that was lit at that first event is still burning strong, and I’m so excited to see where it leads next. Here’s to the future and to continuing this incredible adventure!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the beginning, one of my biggest struggles was figuring out which pop-up locations worked — and which didn’t. I once set up at a dog grooming salon. It didn’t bring in many sales, but it helped fill my calendar and expand my network. Every experience, even the slow ones, taught me something. And now? I can turn almost any location into a fun, profitable event. I’ve learned the secrets and built a system that works.

One challenge I still face is being taken seriously. A lot of permanent jewelry artists do this as a side hustle — but I’ve been running a full-functioning business since day one. This business pays my bills. It’s not a hobby, it’s a career. I’ve even been overlooked by larger corporations simply because I don’t have a storefront — and truthfully, I don’t want one.

What I’ve built is unique, mobile, creative, and powerful. And I’m just getting started.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I offer a fun and expressive jewelry bar experience — earrings, necklaces, bracelets, toe rings, and more — truly head to toe! While I carry a variety of pieces, I specialize in permanent jewelry, and that’s the heart of my business. It’s where I started, and it’s what my customers love the most.

I stand on quality over quantity. Every item I offer is carefully selected and made to last — because I believe your jewelry should be beautiful and dependable.

What people know me for, though, goes beyond the jewelry. I’ve built a reputation for my work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Fellow business owners come to me for ideas, encouragement, and even a little hard love when they need it. I’m the friend who will tell you what you need to hear — not just what you want to hear — because I genuinely want to see you win. Sometimes that means saying, “Hey, that clearly isn’t working — let’s try something else.”

What sets me apart?
I don’t just sell jewelry — I create connection, confidence, and community. I’m not here to follow trends; I’m here to lead with heart, hustle, and honesty. And I bring that energy into every pop-up, every party, and every piece I weld.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was playing outside with my older brother and cousin. We’d spend all day sword fighting, wearing ourselves out on the trampoline, and skateboarding from our driveway down the hill, straight across the road into my grandmother’s yard — usually crashing into her lawn by the end of it.

My cousin lived with us for a while and having him around made my childhood feel extra fun and full. My dad used to help us make these awesome wooden swords out of broomsticks — some even had little hand guards. We’d decorate them with different colors of duct tape so we each had our own. Then we’d head out to the yard and just go at it, yelling, laughing, and pretending we were in some epic battle.

We also had a big trampoline, and I swear we’d jump on that thing for hours — no phones, no screens, just us being kids. Looking back, those were some of the best days. Definitely a core memory for me.

Pricing:

• Bracelets $60-$120
• Anklets $80-$140
• Necklaces $100- $160
• Toe Rings $48-$72

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eckjewelrydesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eckjewelrydesign/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eckjewelrydesign