Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendi Boedigheimer.
Hi Wendi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been enchanted with all things old. Vintage luggage, picture frames, antiques, even things many people may say are “junk”. From hardware, to keys, to tool tags, to jewelry, I’ve wondered where it all came from. What is its story? Who wore or used this? How can I give it new life? So roughly 15 years ago, I decided to take all of these things I had collected and turn them into wearable jewelry pieces. I sat down to make a pair of earrings after taking a class at a local bead store, and from there I was hooked. I loved giving these vintage skeleton keys, brooches, earrings, keyholes, and so many other things new life. Friends and family began asking for my handmade jewelry, and local interest grew enough that I began doing trunk shows to showcase pieces I had crafted. From this, I was discovered by a local boutique that has 80+ franchises all across the United States. I then trademarked Belle Via Jewelry Company and dove head first in to the wholesale world! I loved it, but I wanted more. A direct connection to the end-user, the customer, the women wearing my creations, so I invested in a retail studio where we create and sell our collection at 129 Main St. North, in the charming, historic city of Stillwater, Minnesota. I am eternally grateful I took the leap so that Belle Via Jewelry could reach even more people. Today, my custom, one-of-a-kind, hand crafted jewelry collection is in our studio and stores and boutiques all across the US; a dream I never even knew I had when I sat down to make that very first pair of earrings. My daughter has since joined me in this venture and we are a two-woman team ready to take on the world of vintage jewelry. Belle Via Jewelry roughly translates to “beautiful pathways” and that is exactly where my journey has taken me. Endless beautiful pathways to where I am today, doing what I love with such wonderful support and enthusiasm from my team and my customers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I started this venture with no real business plan in mind; I simply had my creative juices flowing. This started as a fun hobby and I was working out of my home for the first several years. It began in the kitchen, and spread throughout our house very quickly – to the dining room, office, guest room, and more. It became very difficult to separate business and home life when it was all around me 24/7. I would be asleep in the middle of the night and wake up to a design idea popping into my head, and I would get up to go make it at all hours of the night. Finding my beautiful studio space has been my saving grace and has allowed me to find some balance in my work + home life. Yet being a small business owner is no easy task, which I have learned from owning and operating a full-service salon for over 30 years. You always have to be “on” and there is no choice but to wear all the hats. It is not a 9-5, and I never truly clock out, but that is oftentimes what I love so much about it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in true vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces. While we are able to have a wholesale line sheet and recreate certain things for our stores to carry, the true core of Belle Via Jewelry is the unique pieces that no one else has. Our customers love knowing they are the only person who wear our piece and the history they get to carry with it. We are also known for our custom work with heirloom jewelry. Women will bring us their mother’s, grandmother’s, sometimes even great grandmother’s old jewelry that they want turned into something new and wearable. We love the sentimental value and hold that close to our heart when we work together with our customers to create the perfect blend of new/old that we know they will love and cherish! The care that we put into each piece, whether it is a simple or a one-of-a-kind creation, sets us apart from others. My daughter and I are so proud to make every woman who walks through our door feel truly special.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Creating. My jewelry studio is my happy place, and I cannot wait to arrive there every day to create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.belleviajewelry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belleviajewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belleviajewels
