Dune’s 8th Anniversary | Reflecting on Dune’s History with Holly
I can’t believe it’s been eight years since my husband, Eric said to me, “It’s now or never babe, you’re either all in or not. You can keep making jewelry as a hobby and continue your real estate career, or you can jump in with both feet and launch Dune Jewelry as a real business.” I needed those words of encouragement, in the beginning, to help me realize the potential of Dune.
I began making beach sand jewelry at my kitchen table in 2007 with my best friend who’s an amazing artist. Over the years, I realized that my passion for travel, jewelry, and business needed to be explored. On September 28, 2010, (my birthday) I launched Dune Jewelry and never looked back.
I worked in real estate part time for the first 3 years to fund Dune and I really enjoyed the dual role of real estate agent/entrepreneur because I would bounce the new designs and concepts off of my real estate clients which gave me practical insight into what people connected with. I remember distinctly that on my 2012 tax return, I only had three real estate commissions and nothing in the pipeline. It was a “woah!!” moment and I immediately had clarity about my future and what I wanted to pursue. I remember telling my real estate assistant, Dustin, that I wanted Dune Jewelry to be a household name. I actually think I (half) jokingly said I was working toward “world domination” and “changing the perception of “precious jewelry”.
Well, fast-forward eight years and Dustin is now Dune’s jack-of-all-trades (master of most) Marketing Director and Dune is evolving into the world’s first Experiential Jewelry® company. Plus, I get to work with friends who were friends before Dune was Dune – Sara, Moira, Sam, and Kate, AND I’ve made so many new friends that mean the world to me. The entire Dune team is so special and quirky and extraordinary. They’ve become family to me. I find it exceptional that every team member is just as passionate as I am about creating jewelry that will capture memories and last a lifetime. We take great pride in every design that ships out the door on a daily basis.
Dune’s growth has been fun, exciting, terrifying, exasperating, fulfilling and largely my life’s greatest adventure.
Thank you to all of you who continue to spread the word about Dune Jewelry and especially for allowing us to celebrate your life’s greatest adventures.
With Love & Sandy Hands,
Holly
