Sometimes apples don’t fall far from the tree! Jewel Lantz, 10, daughter of Eloquence Fine Jewelry & Gifts owners Dan and Jen Lantz, has made big strides in the jewelry making business. Her company is called Bijoux Beads and she donates a percentage of the sales to animals. She sat down with East Greenwich Monthly for an exclusive interview!
Jewel Lantz, age 10, has started her own jewelry business called Bijoux Beads. Her beautiful pieces are available at Eloquence Fine Jewelry & Gifts in East Greenwich, owned by her parents. A percentage of sales of Bijoux Beads are donated to the East Greenwich Animal Protection League.
Here are all the details:
EGM: How did you get interested in designing jewelry?
JL: I wanted to grow up and be like my Daddy and make jewelry so I started small.
EGM: Do you work with or bounce ideas off your Dad about your designs?
JL: I sit a jeweler’s bench next to my Daddy so I can ask his opinion.
EGM: Do you and your Mom work together or bounce ideas off of each other, too?
JL: Yes, we do. We try to find beads with good color combinations.
EGM: Do you make sketches of your ideas or do you look at the beads and mix and match them before stringing them together?
JL: No, I don’t sketch. I lay out the pattern and mix colors until I find a combination that I like. Then I string the pattern to make the bracelet. Sometimes it takes a while to find a design that I like. I have to remember to make a bracelet that our customers will like so not for children. I have made some for myself and for cousins in a smaller size and with fun charms.
EGM: Are all the bracelets original or do you have lines of jewelry that people can choose from?
JL: All of my bracelets are original but I can take requests. I made a necklace for my Mommy to wear to an event with a matching bracelet.
EGM: How many different designs have you created so far?
JL: Probably over 30 different designs. When I sell one I try to make a new design and not copy the others.
EGM: Do you buy the beads before or after you create designs?
JL: I buy the beads before I make the bracelets. Sometimes I design them at the store when I see color combinations that I like.
EGM: How do you choose which beads to buy?
JL: We go crazy picking colors that we like! We have bought 20 different styles at a time. Charms too.
EGM: Once you decide on a design, what are the steps you take create the actual piece?
JL: I have a foam tray that I lay the beads on and switch sizes and colors until I find a design that I think will sell. I have to remember that it isn’t always what I would like because I’m not a grown-up.
EGM: Where can people see your jewelry displayed?
JL: Just at my Daddy’s shop, Eloquence in East Greenwich. I will be making more for his South County store when I have time.
EGM: What is the price range of your bracelets?
JL: They are $15 all the way up to $75. I made some with real gemstone beads so they were expensive. Most of them are about $30.
EGM: What have you learned about running a business?
JL: I have learned that I have to work hard and I have to keep track of the bracelets that I sell for the donations.
EGM: What is your favorite part about creating Bijoux Beads?
JL: That I can make bracelets and sell them to help animals.
EGM: Why did you choose to support the East Greenwich Animal Protection League with a percentage of your proceeds?
JL: I love animals and I want to help them.
EGM: Do you have any pets?
JL: Yes, we have two miniature dachshunds, Moxie and Harley.
EGM: Is there anything else you’d like the public to know about Bijoux Beads?
JL: They are made in the USA and are one of a kind!