Chanelle Chalazan on Building a National Jewelry Brand at 16

In this inspiring episode, Sharon sits down with Chanelle Chalazan, a young entrepreneur who started her jewelry business at just 13 years old. What began as a hobby and a few listings on Facebook Marketplace quickly gained traction, leading Chanelle into trade shows, e-commerce, billboard campaigns, media appearances, and a Canada-wide tour, all while attending high school full-time. She shares how passion, affordability, product quality, and a willingness to put herself out there helped turn a small idea into a growing Canadian brand. Chanelle gets practical about the realities of entrepreneurship, from bootstrapping and testing customer demand to choosing social media platforms, building a professional website, working with suppliers, and deciding where to invest in advertising. She explains why entrepreneurs can’t simply wait for opportunities to find them and shares her experiences reaching out to media outlets, pursuing trade shows, experimenting with radio and billboard advertising, and overcoming assumptions about her age. Throughout her journey, networking, consistency, and building credibility have been essential to continued growth. The conversation also highlights the importance of mentorship and having the right people in your corner. Chanelle credits her dad as her biggest mentor and supporter while emphasizing the value of surrounding yourself with knowledgeable professionals and learning from other business owners—even your competitors. With ambitious plans to continue expanding her brand across Canada and beyond, Chanelle’s message to entrepreneurs of any age is clear: start small, know your goals, keep learning, build a strong support system, and don’t be afraid to ask, “What’s next?” **About Chanelle Chalazan** Chanelle Chalazan is the young entrepreneur behind **Chic & Charmed Boutique**, a Canadian jewelry brand she began at just 13 years old. Starting by making jewelry herself and selling through Facebook Marketplace, Chanelle quickly discovered demand for affordable, waterproof jewelry and began expanding the business through trade shows, e-commerce, advertising, and media exposure. Her entrepreneurial journey has since taken her to events across Canada, while her story and business have attracted attention from major media outlets. Now 16, Chanelle continues to manage much of the business herself—from online orders and customer communication to social media, advertising, product design, and trade show planning—all while attending high school. With plans to grow the brand throughout Canada and potentially into international markets, Chanelle brings an impressive combination of ambition, curiosity, confidence, and a commitment to continuous learning. **In this episode, you’ll hear:** 00:00 – Meet Chanelle Chalazan: Building a Business at 16 02:39 – From a Love of Jewelry to a Growing Business 04:21 – Trade Shows, Customer Demand & Expanding Across Canada 06:45 – Networking, Media Exposure & Building Brand Awareness 13:34 – Mentorship, Family Support & Learning from Competition 15:45 – Scaling Production & Finding the Right Suppliers 19:32 – Social Media Strategies for Growing a Business 21:25 – E-Commerce, WordPress & When to Invest in a Website 24:14 – Bootstrapping, Reinvesting & Building a Business Team 27:38 – Overcoming Age Assumptions & Building Credibility 29:42 – Billboards, Radio & Marketing That Gets Attention 34:07 – Balancing School, Future Growth & Chanelle’s Advice for Entrepreneurs **Resources discussed in this episode:** - Facebook Marketplace - WordPress (WordPress.org) - WooCommerce (WooCommerce) - Zeal Media — this is the Saskatoon-based agency Chanelle referenced. (Zeal Media Inc) - PATTISON Outdoor Advertising (Pattison Outdoor) - Global News - CTV News - CityNews - Retail Insider — **Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions:**  - Website: itpromo.ca - LinkedIn: Sharon DeKoning - Facebook: It’s Time Promotions - Google: It’s Time Promotions **Contact Chanelle | Chic & Charmed Boutique:**  - Website: chicncharmedjewelry.com - Instagram: @chicandcharmedbychanelle - Facebook: Chic & Charmed Boutique by Chanelle