Notable recently caught up with a Young Professional and entrepreneur named Jennifer Kluger, she is the Co-founder of jewelry design company, Foxy Originals. Foxy Originals has made its mark on the jewelry design industry in a big, big way. Read on to get to know Jennifer Kluger, and her story.
Notable: What is your Name and age?
Jennifer Ger: Jennifer Ger, 31
Notable: What is the name of your business and what industry is it in?
Jennifer Ger: I am the Co-Owner of Foxy Originals, with my business partner Suzie Chemel. Foxy Originals is a jewelry design company, our website is: www.foxyoriginals.com.
Notable: Elevator Pitch (we just met on an elevator, we have 30 seconds together in the elevator, please describe your business):
Jennifer Ger: Foxy Originals creates fun and fashionable jewelry at accessible prices. Foxy counts popular celebrities and fashion influencers among the women who make up the cult following for their iconic pieces. With each new line, Foxy evolves and reinvents itself. It continues to set the trend with fashionable lines, as well as ethical business. All pieces are designed and made in Canada. To see how the jewelry is made, visit our behind the scenes video at http://www.videobio.com/foxy-originals/
Notable: Why did you start your business, what was the inspiration?
Jennifer Ger: Since I can remember I always made jewelry for my friends. One day, when I was 15, one of my friends wore a necklace I made into a store at Avenue Road and Eglinton and the buyer asked who designed the piece. I went in to meet the buyer and she instantly placed an order for my designs. Soon after I was selling to Over the Rainbow and a number of other Toronto based boutiques. In 1998 I met Suzie at Western where we were both at school. She also had a background in jewelry design and together we decided to create a business. Within weeks we launched Foxy Originals with the vision of creating designer jewelry at accessible prices. We sold to friends on campus and also to boutiques. By our fourth year of school, our designs were selling in 30 stores. Today our jewelry is found in over 600 boutiques including Shopper’s Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques.
Notable: What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis?
Jennifer Ger: The best part is the joy of creation, and the ability to have a positive impact on people’s lives by creating jewelry pieces that bring sparkle and shine to customers’ wardrobes and lives.
Notable: What is the most challenging part of your business?
Jennifer Ger: The most challenging part of our business is predicting demand. If a certain piece of jewelry gets a press hit, the sales could sky rocket out of nowhere, and with very little notice, you’ve got to ramp up production. Our Coca earrings were recently featured in ‘O’ magazine’s Favourite Things issue. Orders started coming in from all over North America and we had to rush to keep up. The great thing about making jewelry locally is that we don’t have long lead times for production so we get through these type of situations much more quickly than some of our competitors.
Notable: Where do you see your business going in 5 years?
Jennifer Ger: We see ourselves launching new products and projects in the next few years. Our latest new initiative is the launch of a consumer show called Love Local. We have met many wonderful designers and creators through our experience with Foxy Originals. We wanted to create an event that showcases the products of all of the talented friends we’ve made. Love Local takes place on June 4th at the Evergreen Brickworks and will be a curated collection of local craft and culture. We look forward to building the show year over year. For more info visit www.lovelocal.ca
Notable: Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Jennifer Ger: Running your own business has many benefits, but it if was easy everyone would do it. You have to go the extra mile to stay relevant to your customer. Perspiration is the perfume of success!
What is your greatest asset as it relates to business?
Jennifer Ger: I’m not afraid to pick up the phone to build connections, or ask for advice.
Notable: What does success look like to you?
Jennifer Ger: Having a career that lets you live your passion and lead a life that is the ultimate manifestation of your best self. That means loving your work, and also having enough spare time to travel the world, and spend time with friends and family (oh, and squeeze in the gym when you can!)
Notable: What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Jennifer Ger: All of our design commissions have been very memorable. We are fortunate to have been asked to design collections for Barbie, Hello Kitty and Umbra.
Notable: Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Jennifer Ger: Foxy has worked with many charities to design custom pieces as fundraising initiatives. Most recently we have worked with CBCF, Bloorview and Pogo. We also donate annually to the Corsage Project, an organization that helps provide prom dresses to girls who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to attend their highschool prom.
Notable: What is Notable to you?
Jennifer Ger: People who follow their passion are notable. Other notable things are my husband’s cooking and the view from the mountains in Positano on the Amalfi coast!
Notable: Anything Else?
Jennifer Ger: Thanks for the opportunity to share my story!