We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariel Bluman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariel below.

Ariel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was shopping around and saw a necklace i really liked but the price was higher then i thought it should be. I went back the next day because i decided i really liked it and was going to buy it anyways but it was gone. So i decided to try to make it for myself. So i did and then i had a few friends ask for one so i started making more. Then it sort of evolved from there. It was totally a therapeutic outlet for me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Ariel. I have 2 small kids and a husband who is a professional showjumper. We travel a lot of the year so having a steady job was not so much an option for me. I studies fashion and design in college and loved interior design. I also did some real estate when I was in Florida all as aid for clients of ours during our seasons there. Once i started to make necklaces it was so fun for me and i loved having something of my own. It was a creative outlet i didn’t know i needed. As i do this for pure fun, i don’t treat clients in a way most companies do. I am not in this industry to make a killing, because it’s not possible with my lifestyle. I truly do it because it is fun for me. And i love creating things for all different people. And letting them express themselves through my creations. My main focus is beaded necklaces, custom rings and earrings. I carry gold chain jewelry and charms as well but that is secondary to my handmade creations.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My audience on social media is quite small. My business is really only known by my personal followers and people in the equestrian business where i have done my pop up shops. Since the start, i have now started to do pop ups in local places that is expanding my brand recognition but still is quite small.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

My husband was born and raised in Colombia. When i started this business i had started to sketch some designs for thing Aj wanted to create on my own instead of sourcing so he told me to try to do this in Colombia where the material and labor might be less costly for me! I actually started this project with a friend of his from middle school! It is definitely a work in progress since i am not there frequently to check on production. But since my business is very small and quantities are small, i am able to speak directly to my manager there and i trust her 100%. She realizes that i am very anal about things and she will not send me a product unless she thinks it is to my standard

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Curatedbyab.com
• Instagram: @curated_byab