From Bracelets to Stories: Sophia Yuan’s Journey with SoophisScribbles

It’s been such a joy getting to know Sophia and learning about her journey. We’re excited to share it with you below. You can support her small business here.

What inspired you to start your business? What’s your story?

​​For as long as I can remember, every year on my birthday, I’d ask for a jewelry-making kit. Some were rubber band bracelet sets, some were knitting string bracelets, and some were just beads in a box. It wasn’t until 5th grade that I started playing around with wire. I’d loop each bead onto a piece of wire, curving the ends into little circles to link them together. But back then, I never thought about starting a business.

That idea didn’t come until I visited my cousin in China for the first time. We’d never met before. I wanted to give her a gift — something that actually meant something. Not just a last-minute Amazon order, but something made by hand. So, I made us matching bracelets inspired by my favorite artist, Laufey. And that became our conversation starter.

I spoke English and some Chinese. She spoke Chinese and some English. And somehow, even with our language differences and living on opposite sides of the world, we connected. Now that I’m back in the States, that bracelet reminds me of those few days we spent together — talking about Laufey, riding around a flower garden in a golf cart, wearing our matching bracelets.

That’s when it clicked. I wanted to share that same feeling of joy, connection, and memory with others. So, I started SoophisScribbles.

What's your business all about? What makes your business special? How does your business make a difference in your community or industry?

Every bracelet and phone charm I make is handmade. I hate to admit it, but you’re not going to find a perfectly round silver looped bead like the ones you find on Amazon. Some loops are wider, some are tighter, and some are so wonky they look more like raindrops. But every now and then, if my fingers are feeling extra lucky, a perfect silver wire circle is made. But in my eyes, it’s not those little imperfections that make my pieces special. And it’s definitely not why people choose my “imperfect” bracelets. 

They buy them for the story, for the meaning behind them. Like the time a customer reached out and asked me to include a surprise note for their long-distance best friend in a matching bracelet set. Writing those little notes makes me feel how much it mattered to them. Times like those remind me why what I do means something. It’s not just about the beads and wire. It’s about the stories beneath them. And that makes it all the more worth it.

What are your thoughts on the importance of sustainable earth practices for small businesses?

If you had asked me two years ago, I probably would’ve shrugged and said, “I don’t care—I can’t afford that.” Back then, I was all about saving as much money as possible. I’d always been told that being frugal was a good thing — that saving money meant being smart and responsible. And honestly? I got way too excited when I found a pack of 100 plastic bubble mailers for just $5 on AliExpress. It felt like hitting the jackpot.

But over time, I started realizing I was saving money in the wrong places. Though I was cutting costs, it was at the expense of the environment. Those 6 cheap mailers I shipped out every week might’ve seemed harmless, but they add up. Not just for me, but for every small business trying to cut corners the same way.

That’s when I decided to make the switch. I started using honeycomb biodegradable mailers and packed my products in glassine bags. And lately, I’ve even started making my own mailers. I get rolls of honeycomb paper and reuse whatever I can find — cereal boxes, oreo boxes, random packaging lying around the house. I flip them inside out, tape them up with kraft paper tape, and just like that — a reused, recyclable, new mailer.

It might seem like a small business like mine doesn’t really make an impact compared to companies like Nike. But honestly, every little choice matters. Real change starts with small steps. And all of us can be a part of that.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own business?

Find something you really love. Something that keeps you excited to keep going. You don’t have to chase every trend. Just stay true to what you enjoy, and the right people will find their way to you and your business.