Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary O’Modhrain and Danielle Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Hillary and Danielle. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Back in the spring of 2015, after a long spontaneous road trip across the country Danielle and I realized all we had left from the adventure we had gone on and the people we had met was a pile of our spare change. We wanted to save the coins from our trip as a memory but soon realized that if we did, they would begin to collect dust in a box under our bed. What if we could create something from these coins that told the stories of the people that passed them along to us?
That next week, Danielle, the more creative of us sisters, had handcrafted a jewelry line using our spare change. It didn’t take long for friends and family to begin asking if we could create them pieces and before we knew it, we had a small business selling this handcrafted “coin jewelry” around the country.
While we loved creating jewelry, if we were honest, it was not jewelry that primarily inspired us. Instead, It was the stories that began flooding our inbox.
About a year later, Our Spare Change had been an established company we quickly needed help in the creation of all our jewelry.
A penny lying on the ground is not worth more than 1 cent. Many people don’t think twice about stepping over it to get to where they are going. Most of the time, it isn’t worth the trouble of picking up.
Instead, we based our company on the value us sisters saw in this same coin. We had always believed that this penny could be picked up, and invested with time and love, be handcrafted into jewelry that showcases its worth.
This coin could be used to bring joy and life and beauty to others around the world.
We believe that people are the same way. Some have hard stories that leave them in places where others don’t see their value and worth. We believe that there is no circumstance or situation that takes away the worth of a human being, sometimes they just need to be picked up where they are at and invested in with love.
This is why we knew our first workers were ones that could not find work easily in our society.
Our first team member joined us in the spring of 2016 after coming out of jail. She is to date one of the most incredible and hardworking we have ever met.
Today, we work with many others, similar to our first, who have had a hard time finding work because of their circumstances and stories. They inspire and encourage us by their courage and hard work and have become our strongest team members and dearest friends.
We are still growing and have a ton left to learn, but we do know this.
Simple coins can do a whole lot more than we could have ever dreamed of. They can tell the untold stories of people around the globe. They can provide opportunities for you and me to hear about world-changing organizations and give tangible avenues to advocate and partner with them. They can provide work to those who may not have an opportunity without them. And they can create beautiful jewelry.
Jewelry that looks good and does good.
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?
Starting a business in college has its strengths and hard spots. While we had the freedom of not yet having the financial responsibilities that come with marriages and families, we also lacked the experience that comes with time. We have always struggled with managing the seasonality of our company – with the fall and holiday season needing upwards of 60 hours a week and the lower seasons requiring much less. Additionally, we have experienced struggles in training and hiring employees, and this is such a major part of our mission and requires a large amount of time and energy.
Owning a business with your sister always has its fair share of difficulties as well. It’s wonderful and amazing that we get to work together every day, but challenging at times.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Our Spare Change – what should we know?
We firmly believe jewelry can look good and do good.
Our Spare Change is a social enterprise creating jewelry out of metals and coins as a way of storytelling, empowerment, and sustainable change. We value people and want to see communities transformed through the art of sharing untold stories and providing a tangible way for individuals to do good. We believe that every human has a story to share, has inherent dignity and worth, and has the ability to create change in this world.
STORYTELLING
We exist to tell the untold stories of individuals and non-profits in communities around the world because we believe hearing and telling stories truly make a difference. We give individuals and organizations a voice and an opportunity to make their story known. We believe that when stories are shared, change starts to happen.
EMPOWERMENT
We exist to empower people to be apart of something bigger than themselves. We believe people want to do good, but don’t always know how. Our jewelry is a tool, allowing people to hear the stories of world-changing organizations, giving them a tangible way to donate to their cause, and empowering them to join in.
SUSTAINABLE CHANGE
We exist to change the way people view employment. We believe everybody was created to work and deserves an opportunity to do so. Therefore, our products are handmade in California and Texas by talented and hardworking artisans who are working to raise themselves out of poverty. With every purchase, you are helping create work for those who may not have any without you.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We believe authenticity and empowerment are most important to our success. We want to be authentic with our customers about who we are and what we do while empowering them to participate in the process.
Pricing:
- Skinny Cuff: $28 (Custom Word)
- Gold Filled Ring: $45 (Custom Word)
- Necklace: Starting at $36 (Custom Word or Symbol)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oursparechange.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @oursparechange
Image Credit:
Sara Tober
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
