We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Chamberlain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, appreciate you joining us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

I don’t outright ask my family or loved ones to support my brand unless it’s in the form of prayer. I try to keep my personal relationships separate from my business. If my jewelry business was ever in a place that solely relied on my loved ones for support then I either need to work harder or go do something else.

Now if there’s a Pop Up Shop Event I will reach out stating that I’d really love to see them attend and I do so without expectations.

Fortunately I’ve been blessed with a very supportive network. Most people in my life are artists, small business owners or retail workers so they understand the grind and naturally want to support if they are able. I don’t need to ask or place any pressure on them. I’m confident that the jewelry speaks for itself.

I strongly believe if you consistently put in hard work the universe innately gives back. No one is going to build my dream for me. I have to do it and if people decide on their own they want to support it then AMEN TO THAT!

My Grandmother Eileen Tronnes recently wrote a collection of eight books relating to genealogy as apart of her legacy to our family. She did so without having expectations of support from family or friends. I think that’s so admirable. She’s so strong and absolutely brilliant!

Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Nicole Chamberlain. I’m a jewelry Designer and founder of the brand Urbane Cole. I started my jewelry business seven years ago just outside of Dallas, TX.

I specialize in up cycling vintage jewelry, creating bold statements and focus primarily on exclusivity and sustainability.

Most recently I’m pulling from my Scandinavian roots and found that rosemaling on vintage wood beads is both challenging and satisfying. I’ve got my hands on some exquisite pearls, ethically sourced gemstones and plan to mix traditional styles with bold nuances for my upcoming collection. I’m excited to see how it will all come together for the Spring 2024 launch.

The clients and boutiques that appreciate the Urbane Cole brand are bold wearers, trend setters and love exclusivity. I curate collections that are one-of-a-kind and just for them. When I say it’s just from them I absolutely mean that. No duplicates baby!

In 2023 I did an exclusive collection for Botanical Mix located at Dallas Market Hall. Working with them was an absolute honor as they are an inspirational powerhouse by design in Dallas! I’m so grateful for the experience, opportunity and the creative freedom that came with it.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There’s power in integrity and being authentic. I had two women bosses in my first retail job that really demonstrated the significance of those values. If I’m being authentically me people know they can feel it. This in turn helps with making real connections and maintains long term relationships and loyalty.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I have my own website at www.urbanecole.com. I used to sell on Etsy but often felt discouraged by the lack of traffic and all the fees. I decided to take the risk and build my own website.

Yes, it is challenging and time consuming to gain traffic organically using SEO but I’ve found that I can price my jewelry more adequately when selling directly to consumers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.urbanecole.com
• Instagram: urbanecole
• Facebook: Urbane Cole
• Linkedin: Nicole Chamberlain
• Twitter: Urbane Cole

Image Credits
Photographer: Leigh Michael