Jewelry Design

Jewelry Design -

Jewelry Design Hobby into a Business

Detours in life sometimes present new opportunities. After the death of her parents, Mukamwiza Collette dabbled in jewelry design, which was a passion of her mother. A farmer and a house maid, Colette never thought of becoming a jewelry designer. Working on the beans to create gorgeous jewelries was her way of coping with the grief, and celebrating the life of her parents.

he initially thought that jewelry design will just be her hobby. But the jewelries she created proved to be sellable, and that opened her mind to turn it into a business. She launched a small shop in her village with only 20,000 Rwandan Francs (35$).

What inspired you to start designing jewelries?

Life is a journey that takes us down many paths, both professionally and personally. It was personal loss that led me to launch my small shop, and a jewelry design business.

I’m a small farmer and a house maid since 1994 after the horrible genocide of Tutsis. When my Mother passed away in May 2001, just two years following my Father’s death, I found it very hard to stay in farming. In fact, I wasn’t interested in taking on any new client projects. Mom was a talented artist as well as a homemaker. As I looked through her craft supplies and other treasures, I came across a box of jewelry made from beans. I literally fixated on the jewelries – the colors and different shapes and textures. Looking through books on the history of beans jewelries, and reading craft magazines, helped me deal with the grief, and feel closer to Mom.

Maybe it was fate, and maybe my entrepreneurial spirit returning, but I began crafting jewelries made from beans. I thought it would be a hobby. But in 2005, with some prodding from my soul mate, I showed a couple of the products to the owner of a local art gallery and gift shop. Would she consider carrying a couple of jewelries in her shop? Imagine my delight when a week later, “Pili pili,” a popular boutique in Kigali, was displaying my products. So here I was at the age of 31, suddenly starting an entirely new home-based business – this time, one inspired by my parents.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

Price all services and products in a manner that shows you value your talent and time. Budget your time carefully between creativity, production, and managing the business – and leave time for networking, marketing, and direct sales.

What tips can you share to other women entrepreneurs?

What I can tell to other women entrepreneurs is this “we don’t live in a vacuum. By understanding how others see you, as well as how you see yourself, entrepreneurs can begin to take control and create a more honest and satisfying professional showcase that will move their careers forward” What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What is it you want people to know about you and your skills or talents? How does that relate to your company, your product, or your services? It also helps to take a critical look at any previous communications efforts you have made, and the results. Then look closely at your achievements and skills, and how they can be distinguished from other similar professionals in the marketplace. That’s how to get started!

For the whole story:

Contact telephone : 0783185611

email mukamwiza.coletta@yahoo.com

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