We recently connected with BreAnna Jauregui and have shared our conversation below.
BreAnna , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Growing up I’ve always loved gift shops and little boutiques. I could spend all day going in and out of those cute shops, and I’ve always thought about how much fun it would be to have one of my own. Fast forward many years, I found myself going to school to become a Graduate Gemologist and started working in fine and high end jewelry. Jewelry has always been a passion of mine and I’ve always wondered about having a gift shop/jewelry store. But then the question arose is that too weird of a concept? Would people like it or be confused by it? Has anyone done it before? Having over 17 years of experience buying, selling, and doing inventory management, I knew that it was something I was capable of doing. I took a leap of faith, with much love and support from my friends and family, and opened Agate & Herb in June of 2021.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As mentioned previously, I am a Graduate Gemologist. My love of jewelry has always been around. I loved seeing the jewelry that both of my grandmother’s had, along with every other member of my family, and always asked to try it on or look at it. I don’t know what it was that drew me to it specifically, but I’ve loved it ever since I can remember. When I was in college I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do but decided since jewelry was always a passion of mine, why not get a job in that industry? So I applied to the Gemological Institute of America and moved from Michigan to California to go to school. It was the best decision, lots of hard work, and so much fun.
After more than a decade of working in fine jewelry, I took a break from it and started working at a small gift shop and a shoe store. Working in those two places solidified my long time dream of wanting to have my own store one day. I eventually left those shops and made my way back into the jewelry industry, as I had been missing it. Shortly after, Covid hit. During that year, my husband and I started to really reevaluate our lives. What do we want to do and where do we want to live? We decided it was time to leave California and move back to Michigan, so we packed up our pets and headed home. Soon after the move, the urge to open a store was in full force. It was all I could think about doing and the only job I wanted to have.
Agate & Herb (pronounced ae-get) is full of charm and items that I love. I sell everything from fine jewelry to crystals, art, skincare, greeting cards, tea, pottery, and more. I’m often told by customers that the store has a cozy, boho-chic vibe to it. There’s even a cute lounge area where customers are welcome to sit and relax, along with some toys to keep little ones occupied while their parents/caregivers shop. I wanted to create a space where everyone feels welcome while shopping for themselves or looking for a gift.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media is one of the best ways to promote your business. I’ve had a couple of friends who are successful on social media say that the key is to post content everyday. I do one main post everyday, then do multiple stories throughout the day, and my posts range from still images to videos. I also follow several small business marketing and social media accounts that give great advice on how to attract more people to your page. Social media is constantly changing, so it can feel daunting trying to keep up with it, but I try to be as authentic as I can on my page and so far it seems to be working well.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I feel that several factors have helped build my reputation. I am a social, friendly person, and love to get to know my customers. I remember just about everyone that has come into the store and what they’ve purchased. I also believe that my background in the jewelry industry makes people feel comfortable with the jewelry that I sell, and know that they can trust the quality of my products and trust my pricing. I even make some of the jewelry myself. I try to be as authentic and honest as I can with every aspect of my life and I feel like that definitely comes across in my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agateandherb.com
- Instagram: @agateandherb
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agateandherb
- Other: TikTok: @agateandherbgr