Today we’d like to introduce you to Trenton Lizana.
Hi Trenton, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I come from a poor yet ambitious and very talented family. The mistakes and decisions they made growing up or even after I was born, I was sure to learn from them and that I didn’t want to live like that forever and I wanted to pave the way further for my younger siblings so that they can feel the value of accomplishment.
My father is a comic book artist/designer of many toys, shoes, etc. He showed me what real passion looks like for anything you want to do whether it’s drawing or not. My mother had a passion for helping others as an occupational therapist/personal care aide before she was injured on the job which left her disabled. While living at my mom’s, I started my passion for skateboarding with my neighbor, unfortunately, I couldn’t do too many tricks, so I quit around 10 years old to play football and basketball.
I met my high-school sweetheart Riley at my first job at Little Caesars Pizza and she has shown me what real support is by always being there to hype me up and also keep me focused I appreciate that! By staying focused after graduating high school, I’ve been steadily moving up at each new job and while completing some college for business I realized I didn’t need a degree for what I was doing.
After being at a couple of retail stores, I realized I had a passion for sales, after selling shoes and phones I knew I needed to sell something more prominent like cars or houses, but I had to start somewhere small work my way to that and then I get hired at JCPenny and they offered me a job in the jewelry section and from then on I dialed into what I knew about the products and I got recognized and recruited by every jewelry store in the mall, then I had to play it like free agency and interview with each one and choose which environment I felt was right for me to thrive in and of course who paid well.
From there is when I realized my experience and youth is what sets me apart from the rest, plus my creative background has helped me adapt to every situation I’ve been in and still perform. I’ve worked at Samuels Jewelers, Kay’s Jewelers, and Neiman Marcus. I love designing jewelry and want to have my own designer line in the next few years owning my own business. I also plan on becoming a well-rounded skateboarder progressing in every aspect I can reppin’ STL for life!
Anyone from my city knows how hard it is to be well recognized and respected as an upcoming entrepreneur. I’m at Vincents Jewelers right now and they have taught me the most about the jewelry industry and how it operates with the amazing ability to allow me to design for clients custom pieces that are truly meaningful!
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?
After being in jewelry coming from JCPenny, I had to prove myself because my age makes me look naive. I had interviews with some companies that all they wanted me for was diversity, which if it was a decent-sized stepping stone to where I was headed I didn’t care as long as I had a foot in the door I was going to pave the way for anyone like me to be respected in any industry. It just so happens my industry wasn’t so diverse when I came along.
I ended up through all the challenges at each place becoming a top salesperson until Covid happened and I was out of work for about eight months and that’s when I picked up skateboarding it was so awkward at first but of course the more you skate around the more comfortable you are with it then you start to push your limits and see what you can do and so it been a little over a year and I’ve learned so many more tricks than I ever thought was possible.
Trust me, it was not easy though, I spent nearly five hours on two tricks in one day constantly beating yourself up to its exhausting, but once you land that trick the feeling is unreal.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a jewelry designer! I specialize in custom pendants and engagement rings! I’m known for my jewelry and Skateboarding! I’m most proud of my latest accomplishment of seeing my own design sitting in our cases and selling it to someone who was inspired and treasured the design as much as I did!
The fact that I’m one of the Youngest Jewelry Designers/Skateboarders from STL, paving my own way, staying in my own lane!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that there are amazing ways to be successful here. I hate that in certain places opportunity is more scarce.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Trent_the_jeweler
Image Credits
Dimitry Baumann Photography
