From court cases to jewellery boxes

Former lawyer sets up her own online jewellery boutique...

WARM white sands, turquoise waters and the lush tropical climate of Antigua would have been Rebecca Doyle’s idea of holiday heaven…..had it not being for her beeping Blackberry and ringing work mobile.

It was at this moment, on the phone to work from a beach in the Caribbean, that Rebecca realised life as a corporate lawyer at Linklaters was no longer for her.

“It was getting to the point that I was consistently working the most ridiculous hours,” recalls Rebecca. “Added to this I was aware that I didn’t feel fulfilled enough by my work. I could see my life drifting off ahead and I didn’t feel in control of it.”

At the back of Rebecca’s mind was the niggling urge to establish her own business, and on leaving Linklaters in December 2005, Rebecca set up Chez Bec, an online, boutique jewellery store.

“The website showcases contemporary jewellery collections from the latest designers,” explains Rebecca. “I’ve always had an eye for attractive jewellery and I never sell anything that I wouldn’t wear myself.”
So where did the idea come from?

“When I was a lawyer I worked incredibly long hours and never had the time, or the inclination, to hit the high street and do my shopping,” says Rebecca. “So, I did all my shopping online, normally in the middle of the night, and I really struggled to find a good website with beautiful, contemporary jewellery which was easy to order, that arrived quickly and beautifully wrapped. I figured there had to be other women feeling the same way so I created Chez Bec to fulfil this gap in the market.”

After returning from that life-changing holiday in Antigua, Rebecca spent every spare second in the run up to her resignation going to trade shows, researching the jewellery industry, e-commerce, jewellery designers, website designers, competitors and packaging options.

In June 2006 http://www.chezbec.com/ went live and spread by word of mouth through Rebecca’s friends and family.

Just over a year and a half later and the success of Chez Bec has even taken Rebecca by surprise: “The website has come such a long way in such a short space of time that it really has been a bit of a whirlwind.

“We launched our Bridal Collection in May last year and it has already been remarkably successful. We’ve made a lot of brides very happy and making other people happy is what makes me happy!”

So does she miss the law?

“I am so much happier now running my own business than I ever was as a lawyer,” admits Rebecca. “But I do miss having the support network that Linklaters provided. I don’t miss my old job, although my legal training comes in useful at times as it means I can draft my own agreements and terms and conditions.

“I love being my own boss and I have so much job satisfaction now. I find it so rewarding that people are buying things that I have chosen myself, and every minute that I put into the business is for my benefit.

“My hours are still long but it is a completely different way of working. Unfortunately there is no instruction manual for running an on-line jewellery business so I learn day by day by networking and from my mistakes.”

With one successful year tucked firmly under her belt, Rebecca hopes that Chezbec.com will become the number one port of call for anyone looking for contemporary designer jewellery, whether as a gift or for themselves: “I’d like Chez Bec to become an established brand within the UK. That would give me a real sense of achievement.”

Law and More wishes you all the best Rebecca!

Visit http://www.chezbec.com/.