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www.thejewelrybook.com
A Jackson Mississippi native, Mitchell Binder grew up working
at the now-closed Olde Tyme Deli owned by his aunt and uncle,
Judy and Irv Feldman. Now he sells jewelry to the likes of
Steven Tyler, Usher, Taylor Swift, Rhianna, and other musicians
and celebrities.
Mitchell's parents separated when he was young. His mother
took him and his siblings to California, where he says, "I just
feel in love with the culture and the music." At 15 years old,
Mitchell became a jeweler's apprentice and eventually, started
designing his own pieces. He honed his craft in college, created
more complex designs, and before long, his business gained
traction.
Mitchell went to Europe for a trade show-twice in one year.
"First time I went, huge success. Second time I went, all of my
designs had been knocked off, and everyone else's booths were
half the price. I took it very badly and personally, and I just quit
the business, "he says laughing.
Mitchell met with a friend at Warner Brothers, got a job
dragging cable, and worked his way up to writer.
Here's where things get CRAZY
Around that time, eBay was on the rise. "I had a buddy of mine
put all of my old samples that were in the garage on eBay, and I
had a fan base in Japan that I knew nothing about. Something
I would sell for a hundred of dollars, they would pay a thousand
for it, "he says.
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Mitchell Binder
King Baby