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Early in 2013 I decided it would be beneficial to make an investment in growing my jewelry design company. I wanted to learn everything I could about the wholesale and retail jewelry worlds and make sure I was doing everything correctly. The jewelry world is a far cry from the art instruction studio I ran for fifteen years and, honestly, I didn't know what I didn't know!

I started taking online classes through Flourish & Thrive Academy in the fall of 2012. These classes are geared towards helping independent jewelry designers run their business like a business. The course is run by Tracy Matthews, a successful bespoke jewelry designer, and Robin Kramer, a rock star independent sales and marketing consultant. The courses included online seminars, conference calls, worksheets, guest speakers with famous designers and business professionals, lots of ‘homework’ along the way. One of my favorite parts of the course was connecting an active community of likeminded jewelry designers through a private Facebook group. Any time you had a question the members of the group were there to help you out and provide support. Just fabulous. Great connections with designers from all over the world were formed.

The information that I learned during the first few months prompted me to enroll in Flourish & Thrive’s ‘Mastermind 2013’. The Mastermind participants consisted of six other amazing jewelry designers so it was an intimate group. We each received private business coaching calls with both Tracy and Robin every month throughout the year, as well as a group call and a guest speaker call. I have to say that working with these women was the best investment I have ever made. Garden of Silver had a phenomenal year and now, with all of this intensive individual business training, the best is yet to come!

Here is a photo of Robin Kramer, Colleen Marie Mauer, myself, Tracy Matthews, Sarah Magid Swift when we got together in NYC. Missing from the photos are our west coast Masterminders, Nina Forrest, Kathy Loewenstern, and Christy Natsumi Comstock. Check out all the websites of these creative ladies!