Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhechao Jin.
Hi Zhechao, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m Chao, the founder of Pretty U&Me. I grew up in Shaoxing, China, a region home to the world’s largest freshwater pearl production and trading center. Pearls were all around me growing up, and that early connection is why I chose pearls to make them the heart of my jewelry brand. To me, pearls feel familiar and personal—a little piece of home that I get to share with others.
My father is a painter, and my mother is a tailor, so creativity was always part of our family life. Growing up around their work taught me to appreciate the care and details that go into making something beautiful. Those influences come together in Pretty U&Me: my love of pearls, flowers, and natural stones, and my belief that beautiful jewelry can be part of everyday life.
I came to the United States for my master’s degree and built a career as a data engineer. For years, I had an idea of starting a jewelry business, but with a good full-time job, there was never a strong financial reason to take that leap. It remained something I hoped to do someday.
That changed after the birth of my first daughter. My parents immigrated to the United States, and our family entered a new chapter together. They brought creativity and skills with them, but the language barrier made finding suitable work difficult. I wanted to build a business where they could contribute and earn an income. That gave me the motivation to finally begin.
I founded Pretty U&Me in 2023 while adjusting to life as a first-time mother. Starting a business during that postpartum period was truly difficult. I was learning how to care for my baby while figuring out everything from setting up the business to preparing jewelry for sale.
We started small at the Sykesville Farmers Market near our home. Over time, our booth became a local favorite. Seeing people stop, try on a piece, and return to shop with us again gave me so much confidence. Those connections helped turn an idea into a business I believed could grow.
Today, Pretty U&Me offers modern, accessible jewelry centered on freshwater pearls, real flowers, and natural stones. Markets remain a big part of our business, and our jewelry is also carried in six retail stores, where it has become one of the stronger-selling offerings. I’m especially proud of that because so much of our growth has come from those personal connections.
I still work full-time as a data engineer, and this year we welcomed our second daughter. We’ve grown at a pace that allows raising our children to remain a priority. Pretty U&Me began with a long-held creative dream and a practical wish to support my family. Watching it become something that brings beauty into other people’s lives has been the most rewarding part.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In the beginning, the hardest part was starting with an idea and very little knowledge of how to run a business. There was so much to figure out, from finding a style that felt true to me to understanding my customers and which markets were a good fit. A lot of that learning happened through trial and error.
As the business grew, time became my biggest challenge. I was building Pretty U&Me while learning how to be a mother, recovering from childbirth, breastfeeding, and working full-time as a data engineer. Then there were markets to prepare for, jewelry to make, and stores to restock. Each part of my life needed my attention, often at the same time.
I have a million ideas for the business, but I can’t bring them all to life as quickly as I’d like. Often, I’m focused on getting through the next deadline, whether that’s preparing for a weekend market or finishing a restock. It can be frustrating to feel excited about what’s possible while knowing there are only so many hours in the day.
Sometimes it feels like being a mother and running a business requires you to become a “superwoman.” But I’m learning that I can’t do everything at once. Raising my young children remains a priority, and I’m learning to give myself permission to grow the business at a pace that fits this season of my life. Some ideas have to wait, and I’m still learning to be okay with that.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Through Pretty U&Me, I specialize in modern pearl jewelry, alongside pieces featuring real flowers and natural stones. My mission is to make pearl jewelry accessible, contemporary, and filled with natural elegance. I want people to see how much personality and variety pearls can have, and how naturally they can fit into everyday life.
Education is part of that work, too. At markets, I introduce customers to different pearl shapes, colors, and styles. Many people still associate pearls with a traditional strand saved for special occasions. I love adding a modern spin and helping someone discover a pair of earrings or a necklace they can imagine wearing with their favorite everyday outfit.
What sets Pretty U&Me apart is the combination of quality pearls, approachable prices, and a wide variety of distinctive designs. Customers often tell me they’re surprised by how many different styles they find at our booth, or that they haven’t seen pieces quite like ours before. One of the most meaningful compliments is when someone returns after buying something for themselves to choose gifts for friends or family. Earning that trust means a lot to me.
What I’m most proud of, though, is that even as a small, growing business, we’ve been able to give back. In 2024, I started our “Giving Back to the Bay” campaign. For every pair of earrings sold during October and November, I donate $1 to the Oyster Recovery Partnership to support oyster restoration in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.
Across 2024 and 2025, we donated a total of $700, helping support the planting of 70,000 oysters. We’re now in our third consecutive year, and this year’s campaign is underway. I’m hoping we can surpass last year’s donation.
Giving back has always mattered to me. I’m proud that I didn’t wait until the business was bigger to begin, and I’m grateful to every customer who has helped make this possible. A small contribution from each pair of earrings becomes something meaningful when we do it together.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think luck has played a meaningful role, often in ways I didn’t recognize until I looked back.
I was lucky to grow up in Shaoxing, surrounded by pearls, with a father who paints and a mother who sews. I didn’t choose that upbringing, but it shaped my appreciation for beauty and eventually gave me a direction for Pretty U&Me.
I also feel fortunate that the Sykesville Farmers Market was close to home. Having a place to start small, meet customers face-to-face, and learn as I went made starting a business feel possible. You can put your heart into something without knowing how people will respond. Finding a community that welcomed us, returned to our booth, and chose our jewelry as gifts has been one of my greatest sources of good luck.
Having a stable career as a data engineer has been another advantage. Balancing that job with the business and motherhood is difficult, but it has also given me financial breathing room. I’ve been able to let the business grow at a pace that works for my family.
Of course, those opportunities still required me to take the first step and keep showing up. For years, I had the idea but didn’t act on it. I’m grateful for the circumstances and people that helped me begin—and for every customer who has given me a reason to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prettyuandme.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretty_uandme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettyuandmeusa/
