How do you sell jewelry in a recession?
Make a woman feel like a million bucks - for about fifty bucks.
Just ask Whitney Wilkening.
She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in retailing and consumer sciences in 2008 and now owns a successful jewelry line in New York, Bling By Wilkening.
She stopped by the campus on Tuesday for a show and scholarship fundraiser. She even sold some sparkly pieces to her professors.
"I use what I learned in classes absolutely every day," she said.
She talked to the Star about her business and giving back:
On starting a business from a hobby
I started the company because I was frustrated, not being able to find jewelry pieces that were affordable and high quality that were really cutting edge. I started it senior year of college as a hobby, and I asked my professors how to go about obtaining my business licenses and all of that.
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I collaborate with specialized showrooms in New York to offer pieces about three months before the magazines report on the trends.
On her favorite Tucson hangout
As a student, I would go up to La Encantada and look at the Tiffany windows and think about theories I learned in my display class.
On selling jewelry in a recession
We're in the luxury affordability market. It's going great in the recession because women want to feel like they're wearing real diamonds, but they can pay $50 and get a beautiful pair of earrings. It's perfect for this economy.
On giving back
We are founded on the three pillars of outstanding quality, great price and charity. Every event we do, a percentage of it goes to charity. It's a way I can give back. It's very important to me. Today a portion of sales goes to the Future Retail Leaders Scholarship at the UA. Autism research was the first thing, and we're going to be supporting breast-cancer awareness month.
On the web
Bling By Wilkening
• UA Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 807-8012.