Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Lambert
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My start in permanent jewelry began three years ago at my best friend’s boutique, Sweet Darlin, in Andrews, Texas. It interested me. I’ve always loved creating things and have been told I have a steady hand and excellent fine motor skills. At the time, I thought permanent jewelry might be a fun side hustle, but I knew nothing about welding or argon gas. Honestly, I was afraid I might blow something up! So, I put the idea on hold.
Fast forward two years: I was nearing retirement after 34 years of teaching in Andrews, Texas, and started thinking about how I’d stay active, have fun, and make a little extra spending money. The idea of permanent jewelry came back to me. This time, I decided to dive in. I spent about two months researching, took an online training course, and invested in the equipment, chains, and charms.
Next, I needed a name. Around this time, my first grandbaby was born. I wanted to be called Lolli, and my husband wanted to be Pops- LolliPops. That precious baby is our world, and I wanted my business name to reflect that love. That’s how Love, Lolli was born—a comforting, “motherly” name, like signing off a heartfelt letter: Love, Lolli.
My family has been my biggest cheerleaders. My youngest, Deric, handles the argon gas settings and the welding side of things. My precious daughter-in-love, Hayden, also helps decorate for events and brings my grandbaby, Emmy, for moral support and I get to show off! My husband, Mark, takes care of argon gas refills and helps load and unload equipment for events. My middle daughter, Brittney, is my strategic thinker. As a loan officer, she offers valuable advice on inventory and financial planning, helping me work smarter, not harder.
My oldest daughter, Rebbekah, is the heart and soul of our customer interactions. She’s a social butterfly who never meets a stranger and has a way of instantly connecting with people. When we attend events, we always leave with new friends, thanks to her vivacious personality and natural ability to connect with people. She’s the one who approaches customers, strikes up conversations, and creates an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable and welcome. Honestly, I’m more of an introvert and don’t particularly enjoy talking to strangers—so I’m incredibly grateful for Rebbekah’s ability to handle the people side of things. She brings energy and warmth to every event, and that’s why our booth is always buzzing with excitement. Together, we balance each other out perfectly.
I practiced welding on family and friends for a couple of weeks before hosting my “grand opening” at Sweet Darlin. It was a huge success, though stressful at the time! Since then, Rebbekah and I have attended vendor events, hosted parties, and collaborated with employers gifting jewelry to their teams. Our relationship has grown stronger through the business, and we’ve loved meeting new people and traveling to new places.
As the business grew, we expanded, to include a charm bar and recently added an engraver to offer even more custom options. Our motto, Tell Your Story, reflects what we hope to do for our customers—help them create something lasting, beautiful, and uniquely theirs. Every piece we make represents our client’s journey and style. We use high-quality gold-filled and sterling silver chains for bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and rings, offering a variety of charms to reflect personal stories, memories, or playful wishes.
As I look forward to retiring in May, I’m excited to focus more on Love, Lolli, and expand into other ventures like Lolliberri, my chocolate-covered strawberry business. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed making for family and friends, and I can’t wait to turn it into a small business for holidays, weddings, and special occasions.
Looking back, what started as a spark of curiosity has grown into something meaningful and rewarding. I feel so blessed to be doing what I love, surrounded by the people I love, and helping others share their stories in such a unique way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a rewarding one! Starting a business like this has been a huge learning experience, especially since I jumped in with no prior knowledge about welding, branding, or event vending.
One of the first challenges was finding wholesalers for quality chains and charms that fit our style and budget. Once we found suppliers, we had to figure out how to create a recognizable brand—designing signage, business cards, and advertising that would make Love, Lolli stand out.
Learning to weld correctly was another hurdle. There’s definitely a learning curve to ensuring the jump rings are fused properly without overheating or breaking them. In those early days, I would sometimes drop jump rings if I got nervous or tired, which didn’t help when we had a line of customers!
Another challenge has been time management. We’re still working out how to make events run smoothly. It’s a lot of trial and error—deciding what materials to invest in for our booth, what setup works best, and how to streamline our process. Even after 9 months, we’re refining our system and spending money on tweaks to improve the experience for both us and our customers.
Speaking of money, I’ve also learned some lessons there. Early on, I wanted to have all the charms and chains available right away to appeal to every possible customer. In hindsight, I should have started small, invested profits back into inventory, and grown more gradually.
Physically, it can be a challenge too. Sitting for eight straight hours at events—especially when there’s always a line of customers—is exhausting. Balancing that with the desire to attend as many events as possible, while also protecting time with family and friends, has been tricky. I want to grow the business but also maintain balance, which is still a work in progress.
Despite the struggles, I’m proud of how far we’ve come. Each challenge has taught us something valuable, and the support from my family and customers makes it all worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Love, Lolli is a family-run business specializing in custom permanent jewelry that tells each customer’s unique story. We offer high-quality, gold-filled and sterling silver chains that can be customized into bracelets, anklets, necklaces, and rings. Our focus is on creating lasting, meaningful pieces that reflect our clients’ personalities, memories, and milestones.
What sets us apart is our commitment to personalization and connection. Our motto, Tell Your Story, is at the heart of what we do. Each piece of jewelry is more than just an accessory—it’s a representation of a customer’s journey, whether it celebrates a special occasion, memorializes a loved one, or simply expresses their personal style.
We also offer a charm bar, allowing customers to add symbols that speak to their individual experiences, and we’ve recently expanded to include an engraver, giving even more options for customization. Whether you’re looking for a sleek, minimalist design or a charm-filled bracelet with special engravings, we work to ensure every piece feels one-of-a-kind.
Beyond our products, what truly makes Love, Lolli unique is the experience we provide. My daughter, Rebbekah, plays a big role in this, engaging with customers at events, making everyone feel welcome, and often turning them into friends by the end of the day. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, whether you’re visiting us at a vendor event or hosting a private jewelry party.
One of the things I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is how much of my family’s heart is woven into Love, Lolli. From the name, inspired by my first grandbaby, to the help I receive from my husband, children, and daughter-in-law, this business truly represents who we are as a family. It’s been incredible to watch the business grow and to have so much support from those I love.
Lastly, I want to emphasize that Love, Lolli is about more than jewelry. It’s about helping people celebrate the moments that matter, big or small. Whether it’s a memory, a milestone, or simply an expression of style, we’re here to help you tell your story in a way that’s as lasting as the bond it represents.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in a very close-knit family with one older brother, who was my best friend. We spent so much time together as a family—whether it was through church activities or with our parents as our Scout leaders. Summers were often spent on our family ranch, which gave me a strong connection to the outdoors and a bit of a “country girl” spirit.
My parents were incredibly talented and creative, which had a big influence on me. My mom was an RN but also had a knack for crafting, sewing, and making just about anything she set her mind to. My dad was a woodshop and industrial arts teacher at Odessa High School. He could design and build just about anything—from houses and furniture to intricate little pieces.
They always poured that creativity into my childhood. When I was little, my dad built me an entire kitchen set—complete with a sink, fridge, and oven. Later, he built me a two-story, six-room dollhouse, complete with handmade furniture. My mom took it to the next level, sewing curtains, adding carpet, wallpapering the rooms, and even making clothes for my Barbies.
Our house was always the house where friends wanted to play. Whether it was because of the handmade toys or just the welcoming environment my parents created, there was always something special about being at our house.
Looking back, I think I inherited my parents’ creativity, meticulousness, and love for making things. They taught me how much joy you can bring to others through thoughtful, handmade creations, and that’s something that’s carried through to what I do now.
Pricing:
- Gold Filled Jewelry- rings to necklaces prices range from $20-$75
- Sterlinv Silver Jewelry- rings to necklaces prices range from $15-$70
- Charms and Clasps- $10
- Charm Bar Chains- bracelets to necklaces prices range from $12-$15
- Charm Bar Charms- prices range from $6-$12
Contact Info:
- Instagram: love_lolli2024
- Facebook: LoveLolli
Image Credits
Rebbekah Lambert
