A designer of unique jewelry opened an e-commerce site focusing on gift pieces.
Stacey Krantz, a 1988 graduate of Frederick High School, has been designing original custom jewelry pieces for seven years.
These pieces, which are never duplicated, are made of silver and 18-karat gold and inlaid with gemstones and pearls. The jewelry is subtle, designed in a fashion to not overpower the wearer.
Krantz designs all the jewelry at her 33 N. Market St. studio. She sells the pieces next door at Zaruba & Zaruba, a jewelry gallery owned by Doug Zaruba and son, Andrew.
Krantz also sells gift jewelry — her creations replicated by hand by manufacturer Richards and West of Rochester, N.Y.
Krantz started InBloom Jewelry — the name of the website where she sells her gift jewelry — a few months ago.
Her need to increase sales volume while at the same time having the flexibility to raise her sons, Zachary, 5, and Ryan, 2, figured into her decision.
"I'm married now, and if I want to parent as I am currently doing — working part time — the web is a nice fit because people can buy products any time they want," Krantz said.
Krantz also wanted to eliminate the preparation, time and travel involved in attending trade shows in New York City and Philadelphia.
InBloom allows Krantz to make gift jewelry and reap the benefits of selling it online at a much lower production cost.
Krantz's websites will soon reflect her two types of jewelry.
The other website she operates, Stacey Krantz Jewelry Design, displays her collections of gift jewelry, but that will change.
"After the holidays, the site will focus on my couture pieces," Krantz said.
Couture is the unique, hand-made jewelry pieces the designer-artist creates. The InBloom site allows Krantz to sell gift jewelry at retail prices, and one piece can be duplicated as often as customers want to buy it.
Once the jewelry is duplicated, it is sent back to Krantz for shipping. The whole process takes a few weeks, according to the InBloom site.
"It is going to take a few years to build," she said. "Right now, I ship everything I sell. I want to take care with the packaging. If there is ever a day when there are too many to ship in a day, there are shipping companies in Frederick I can turn to," Krantz said.
To increase awareness, Krantz participated in the First Saturday Gallery Walks in September and October.
"Potential customers can't touch the jewelry online," she said. "The Gallery Walks were a nice way to introduce people to my work and explain the idea behind InBloom."
Krantz is putting 10 percent of all InBloom sales into a bank account for charitable causes.
"Because I am selling at retail prices, I have room to do this," she said.
Krantz's first career was as a social worker.
Her InBloom website details her extensive career, which includes working for Special Olympics, as a domestic violence counselor, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa.
"I notice the trend among Frederick businesses to give back; it's a trend I want to join," she said. "Business is a money exchange. This gives me another level of excitement for my business."
If a person has a social project in mind but needs some funding, this is a way to help, she said.
"I like creativity in solving social problems as well. I'm open to suggestions. I love to brainstorm; it's enjoyable."
Source: fredericknewspost
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