We recently connected with Dr. Monica Lara and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Monica, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
I really like those names that are “something & something” Like Metal and Smoke, Willow and Oak but nothing described my business. I am a biologist so I thought something in Latin because scientists give everything a 2-part name in Latin. Again a fish name didn’t make sense ( I am an ichthyologist and worked on fish but it had nothing to do with jewelry). I woke up from a dream one morning and had it! Argentum et Aurum means Silver and Gold. Now everyone refers to my shop as “ the shop whose name I can’t pronounce” Haha best laid plans! Well anyway everyone knows the one they’re talking about and it starts a lot of conversations.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have a shop in Fond du Lac WI where I make and sell my jewelry line created of recycled silver and gold. I use the ancient process of Lost-Wax to transform little wax sculptures into pieces of fine jewelry set with precious stones. What sets me apart from other jewelry is both the fact that I cast the pieces and set the stones myself. The metal is not obtained from a commercial source but I acquire used jewelry and silverware and melt it down myself in my shop. I also use jewelry provided by the client so that their Mom’s, Grandma’s, Dad’s gold is actually used for their piece. As far as I am aware, I am the only goldsmith in the country that does. In addition the look of my jewelry evokes the ancient. My pieces have been described as unearthed pirate treasure and I am happy to own that!
My boutique also carries sustainable clothing, perfumes and personal products that I research to support local businesses. Woman-owned, fair trade, organic and natural. This is in keeping with my ethical standards in running my business.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I was a full-time Associate Professor of biology. when covid drove education online I found I was quite dissatisfied with the quality of education under this new paradigm. I took a job as a bench jeweler for a big company but that was unsatisfying as well. I had been selling my custom jewelry online and wanted to find some studio space. In the new town I had just moved to a lot of the Main St. businesses were shuttered. A number were for rent and with a shove from my boyfriend I agreed to rent one. The location offered the possibility of opening a storefront along with my work studio. I received a Mainstreet Bounceback grant from the state of WI and it allowed me to get off the ground. Two years later I was able to finance a building with my shop on the ground floor and apartments to rent above, in a beautiful historic Italianate building from 1890 with most of its original features intact.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I am very frugal and I have used this caution to start my business. The gemstones I have are mostly from my stock collected over many years and I have enough to last three lifetimes of making. The fixtures in my store are antiques I bought for a song to furnish my original home or from Facebook Marketplace. I have never taken out a loan or borrowed money to run my business. I used my grant as a credit line to myself and don’t spend money unless the business has made that money. I didn’t splash out in a big way when I set up my boutique. I ultimately used the grant as a downpayment on my building so now I pay a mortgage instead of rent and the building will ultimately be mine. My boyfriend and I do most of the repairs and upkeep of the building and I believe telling our stories is the most valuable and affordable marketing tool out there!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Phbeadsjewelry.com
- Instagram: ArgentumetAurum and Phbeadsjewelry
- Facebook: ArgentumetAurum and Phbeadsjewelry
- Yelp: ArgentumetAurum
- Other: Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/phbeads?ref=si_shop