Hyo Silver Founder and President Jo Symons during her time as Miss Rodeo Australia.
It’s amazing how fast time flies and how much you can accomplish through the years.
Jo Symons never imagined her journey would take her halfway around the globe and land her in the “Cowboy Capital of the World” heading up a leading western jewelry company. Yet, Jo still just considers herself a “country girl from Queensland, Australia.” Her accomplishments tell another tale. On the occasion of her birthday we celebrate her creative spirit and the legacy of Hyo Silver. Happy Birthday Jo!
Can you tell us about the early days of Hyo Silver and how you grew the business? What are you most proud of?
As a newly single mother of three young children, my family overseas in Australia, and nothing but debt to my name, it was scary and arduous, yet exhilarating and rewarding. I worked trade shows to promote Hyo Silver and always kept customer satisfaction as my number one goal. I never looked at the mountain ahead, just the next few steps I knew I could accomplish. This sometimes involved getting the children up for school, commuting one hour, working a twelve hour day, then commuting back an hour making home past midnight for weeks on end. I gave it everything I had, as I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Word of mouth and referrals from our customers helped our business grow. I’m lucky to have a very talented artist and beautiful person as my best friend and Creative Director of Hyo Silver of 14 years, Karen Reinartz-Haile. My eldest daughter, Josie, joined the family business in 2011 and together we have grown a truly amazing team over the years. Our staff is incredible!
You started in rodeo at age 13 and eventually won the title of Miss Rodeo Australia. How did rodeo influence Hyo Silver and the jewelry you produce today?
The first buckle you ever win is a momentous occasion and we honor this feeling in our product line. When someone is gifted a Hyo Silver jewelry item or awarded their first Hyo Silver buckle, we want the experience to be memorable and one-of-a-kind.
As President of Hyo Silver, what are you most looking forward to this year?
I am very excited about our pearl collection that will be coming out in early Spring! Pearls have been gifted to the women in my family for generations. My grandmother, Joan Marshall, gave me a chevron shaped pearl ring for my 21st birthday. It’s a gift I cherish to this day. Pearls are very sentimental to my daughters and myself, so we are thrilled to introduce them to the collection.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday? Are you doing anything special this year?
The time I get to spend with my family is most precious. We are expecting some icy weather this week, so this year we are playing board games and maybe some ping pong by the fireplace at our ranch in Hondo, Texas. Our first grandbaby turned one in December of last year—having him at our get togethers makes the day that much more special.
Happy Birthday Jo! Here’s celebrating you and all that you’ve achieved. We can’t wait to see what the new year will bring.
