Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Dunitz.
Nancy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had worked at the studios for several years. I had been involved with financial planning in the home entertainment divisions, first at Warner Bros. and later at MGM/UA. Most people thought I was crazy to leave what was a promising and lucrative career. I wanted to design and be more artistic in my every-day life. I wanted to travel more to third-world countries I’d always enjoyed exploring. And, I wanted to have my hands in more pots. In corporate, your function can be narrow. Of course at the time, I had no idea how to develop a wholesale fashion or gift business. I always joke that the first five years of my business was ‘tuition.’
When I first started my business, I decided to create my first collection in Guatemala. I did this because Guatemala is fairly close and I knew there were fabulous artisans working there. I figured while I was learning about product distribution in the USA, I’d initially work in a country that didn’t require 30 hours in transit to get there. I was young and naive and didn’t realize Guatemala was in the midst of civil war. I was heading down there a lot and at the time wondered why there weren’t zillions of people like me there exploring opportunities. What I found there were a lot of artisans needing opportunities. Once I started working with a community of artisans in Guatemala, I never left to work anywhere else.
Has it been a smooth road?
As I joked before, I say the first 5 years of my business was tuition. When I first started my business, my focus was on home accessories. I remember an artisan I’d been working with successfully surprised me with an order of very poorly sewn pillow covers. And they were for a prestigious catalog. I managed to find some seamstresses in Los Angeles to repair them all for me so I could fill my order. I’ve been designing and wholesaling fair trade fashion jewelry exclusively since the mid-90s. I’ve had designs copied by larger manufacturers. During the early years of building my business I had a major mishap. My New York trade show booth burned down the night before the show opened. It wasn’t my fault but it almost put me out of business. I think when you are an entrepreneur there are all sorts of obstacles. We just keep plugging along. I’m always learning.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dunitz & Company – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Dunitz & Company has been wholesaling hip fair trade beaded and fused glass jewelry since the early 90s. Beading is not indigenous to Guatemala. By collaborating with a couple of ex-pats living in Guatemala, we were able to create beautiful and unique designs that retailers wanted to sell all around the USA. Our line can be found in cool boutiques and many museum shops. What I’m most proud of is having been successful at what I do while treating artisans with the respect they deserve. Our artisans earn living wages. Women can work at home and care for their children. Dunitz & Company is a proud and vetted member of Fair Trade Federation and a gold-certified Green America business. I always say we’re all about fashion first. And, we’re always fair trade. Recently we launched a retail website, this has allowed many customers who couldn’t previously find us at a brick & mortar shop in their area to purchase our jewelry.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
That’s easy! The weather. I grew up in Michigan. How could the weather NOT be the best thing about the city? I pray for bad weather on January 1st (Rose Bowl) so 100,000 more people don’t move here to clog up the roads. Other than that LA is great for food and museums.
Pricing:
- Our jewelry line retails from $12 – $100 and everything in between.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2142 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90068 - Website: www.shopdunitz.com (retail) www.dunitz.com (wholesale)
- Phone: 3237698600
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopdunitz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dunitz
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/shopdunitz
- Other: www.pinterest.com/shopdunitz
Image Credit:
Nancy Dunitz
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