Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Berg.
Colleen started her business over 17 years ago when she was pregnant with her first daughter. She was working in advertising but wanted to work from home when her daughter was born. She managed to sign several agreements with different ad agencies to work freelance from home. September 11th happened and Sofia was born 3 days later. Businesses were worried about the economy and within a couple of weeks, the jobs she had contracted were canceled. Knowing her family was a 2-income family, she was still hoping to work from home. Jewelry making had always been a hobby and she decided to turn it into a business.
Colleen designs personalized jewelry based on the people you love in your life. Her most treasured piece has her dad’s handwriting featured. She remembers starting this line and looking for her dad’s handwriting. He passed in 1979 but her “love, dad” necklace makes her feel very connected to him. (https://instagram.com/p/BBBKyJbwp73/).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Gosh. Everyone has struggles whether they are a small business owner or not. Yes. I struggled in 2009 when the economy was at a low. I had had a brick and mortar store for several years and made the decision to move my business completely online. It was scary to make such a momentous move but it was a great decision. Years later, my business is still going strong, I don’t have the overhead of a storefront AND I’m home more often with my family.
Colleen Berg Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Everybody knows a jewelry designer, right? I also design pretty jewelry but my pieces are unique in that I design jewelry based on your loved ones. Using their signatures and thumbprint impressions, I tell your family stories in gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces that you will cherish for a lifetime. Each piece is made to order based on the people you love in your life.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m proud that I’ve been featured in several news shows including CNN, Good Day LA, KTLA, and a few magazines including InStyle, Parenting, RedBook, US Weekly, and BARK.
The moments that stay with me the most are the many times I’ve worked with families that are suffering. I started this emotional line when my brother was dying of cancer many years ago. I wanted to immortalize some part of him so his young kids would always have a connection. I work with many families to celebrate everyone they love, whether it’s immortalizing a signature or a thumbprint. It’s hard to work with a family that has a terminal family member but I know, my jewelry offers comfort to them. It’s very rewarding and emotional to do what I do in that regard.
Pricing:
- Prices start at $120 for a charm
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.colleenberg.com
- Email: cb@colleenberg.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/colleenbergjewelry
- Facebook: Facebook.com/colleenbergjewelry
- Twitter: Twitter.com/colleenberg
Image Credit:
Danette Mitchell
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