Jewellery success backed by moral consciousness

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Elizabeth Lee, Margie Abbott, Betty Lee at the Deb Bailey Foundation Fundraiser, Kirribilli House

A self-funded investment of $5,000 kick-started what would become a fixture in the jewellery sector,Bowerhaus. The homegrown company’s future would see worldwide expansion, a loyal following, a focus on charity work, and a partnership to bring a fundraising event to Kirribilli House.

Upon graduating from design school, Elizabeth Lee joined her sister in a company that specialized in corporate identity and packaging. It wasn’t long before the sisters decided to focus on what they had always wanted: their own brand.

“It was a natural progression for us, from helping our clients create their own brands. We had the confidence and the knowledge,” Elizabeth tells Dynamic Business.

“The brand was inspired by our years of travel together, hunting and collecting trinkets from around the world. We both grew up with an obsession for our father’s vintage coins and mother’s pearls and the brand has elements of this throughout. Bowerhaus is about old-world charm, playful wit and understated confidence.”

The sisters invested $5,000 to get the business moving, spending half of it on raw materials and the other half on branding. Their first look book was a huge success, the 1,000 copies they printed gone within a month – as was their first order of stock.

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Elizabeth says they ensured all profits in the first stages were put directly into building the business and kept their day jobs to help with cash flow. Their parents, Elizabeth says, played a huge part in creating the brand.

“If you count our parents taking us on their travels around the world to be inspired to create the brand and our family holidays turning into a gemstone-buying trip… then our mother and father would be our number one investors.”

It’s these world trips that cemented what would be Bowerhaus’ point of difference in the crowded jewellery sector. Fresh water pearls and gemstones are sourced from all over the world, with individuality as the focus.

“If you view one style of necklace to an identical design you will see how unique each pearl and stones are, even though it’s from the same cut of gemstone slab or harvested from the same pearl family. Individuality is embraced within every piece of jewellery,” Elizabeth says, clearly passionate about her product.

“Quality control and customisation is a very important factor for us and every piece of jewellery is hand-knotted to order. Because of this, our entire collection can be adjusted to get that perfect fit. Our customers love that we can customise their pieces. It can take up to two hours to make one necklace and if a mistake is made towards the end, the necklace must be taken apart and re-knotted.”

This is the sort of customer focus that has seen Bowerhaus catapult from a home-run business, using the occasional jewellery party to attract customers, to an international business with offices in Sydney, Borneo and Kuala Lumpur.

Elizabeth says everything changed when Bowerhaus launched its online store, which used free worldwide shipping to incentivise online shoppers. Stockists soon came knocking, along with tradefairs and an expansion into Australian boutique stores.

“Our expansion was so overwhelming we needed to start hiring more knotters and a logistics team to continue the growth,” Elizabeth says.

“We have around 100 stockists in Australia now and have opened up multiple pop-up stores in Kuala Lumpur to test the market in Asia. This resulted in us opening our first flagship store in Kuala Lumpur last year and we now have a second on its way.”

Clearly, business is booming.

While it’s easy to get caught up in all things business, with expenditure and revenue at the forefront of a business owner’s mind at all times, Elizabeth and her family have made sure Bowerhaus has its moral compass pointing in the right direction.

“There are many charities that are out there in need of funding and awareness. In this day and age a lot of people don’t take enough time out of their lives to see different charities that are not closely or directly related to them. When different charities approach us we always try our level best to help in some form or another,” Elizabeth says.

“Currently we work with just under 20 charities on various fund raising events. All of this is driven by our mother, Betty Lee, who is a firm believer of giving back – no matter how big or small it may be.”

Bowerhaus was given the opportunity to launch an exclusive jewellery range for the Deb Bailey Foundation, created after motor neurone disease claimed the life of Sydney journalist Deb Bailey – a good friend of the Abbott family – in 2001. Margie Abbott opened up Kirribilli House for a fundraising event, which saw proceeds from all Bowerhaus products sold go directly to the worthwhile charity.

“With our father being a doctor in the medical industry, my sister and I have grown up with the awareness that being completely healthy is a blessing and that not all are so lucky.

“Continuous funding is needed for development and progress in any charity. Every dollar and person willing to help in any matter is one step closer to finding a treatment or better way of life for those who suffer. In terms of a business decision, there is exposure in aligning your business with charities, but I think a greater moral conscience by helping others far outweighs the exposure.”

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Guillermo Troncoso in Entrepreneur, Featured, Profile, Profiles, Women In Business

Margie Abbott opens Kirribilli House for a Bowerhaus fundraiser

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MARGIE Abbott will open the doors of Kirribilli House today and welcome guests into the official Prime Ministerial residence to help raise funds for research into motor neurone disease.

In 2001, the debilitating and deadly disease took Sydney journalist Deb Bailey, who was a friend of the Abbotts.

“Deb and her husband David (Armstrong) were at dinner with Tony and I on our very first date,” Mrs Abbott said.

Mr Armstrong and Mr Abbott worked together on The Australian in the early 1980s.

Mrs Abbott remembers Bailey — who died aged 48 — as a “feisty and strong” woman who was “wonderful to be around”.

“For me that personal connection is very important and we need to understand this insidious illness that took Deb.”

The event will launch a range of necklaces and earrings created exclusively for the Deb Bailey Foundation by Australian jewellers Bowerhaus.

A proud patron of the foundation, Mrs Abbott hopes to raise awareness of motor neurone disease as sufferers barely have a chance to establish a profile.

“It is a very quick end and sufferers aren’t often here to fight for the cause or to present a face for the cause,” she said.

The foundation will reap all profits from the necklace and earring sets which retail for $220 and can be bought online. The money will go to the MSD Research Laboratory at Macquarie University, the foundation’s president Robyn Paine said.

“I’m particularly thrilled because we pride ourselves on running as a business but the jewellery collection has a bit of Deb as there is a warm femininity in there,” Ms Paine said.

The 115 guests are either fans of the brand or friends of the foundation, she said.

“There are a lot of people coming and some very supportive Greek ladies who always fundraise for us. It is a lovely collection of really good people,” she said.

Researchers believe a cure for the unconquered disease could go hand in hand with cures for a range of other neurological diseases including Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis, Mrs Abbott said.

She isn’t the first prime ministerial other half to dabble with philanthropy; Therese Rein was the patron of The Australian Common Ground Alliance and Tim Mathieson was involved with mental health group beyondblue.

“These practical ways of flying the flag are worthwhile and I see myself as a pretty practical person,” she said.

Tomorrow Mrs Abbott will tackle a 55km walk with her daughter Bridget to help raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation.

“Like anything, if it was easy it wouldn’t be half as much fun or as memorable,” she said.

The collection can be purchased directly from the foundation. For more information please email [email protected] or call 0419143394

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Source: News Corp Australia

The Deb Bailey Collection

Bowerhaus is honoured to be appointed to create a Deb Bailey Collection. To capture Deb’s inimitable style, we look to the four seasons to capture her individuality. Like the bubbly and distinctive personality of the effervescent lady herself, The Deb Bailey Collection exudes her vibrant personality and vivacious spirit. Bowerhaus created one-off pieces where no two necklaces and earrings are alike to reflect Deb’s individuality and passion for life.

Each necklace has a slice of a naturally formed agate nugget attached to alternating oval and round freshwater pearls surrounded by sparkling rock crystals. Each agate nugget is unique and every pearl has a personality all of its own. Each necklace has been individually hand-knotted and lovingly secured with a Bowerhaus charmed S hook.

Bowerhaus is proud to present The Deb Bailey Collection: an item that is chic, elegant and full of panache. 100 percent of sales of The Deb Bailey Collection today goes to the Deb Bailey Foundation. The necklace and earring set is priced at $220.

Charities that Bowerhaus Supports

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We are proud supporters of many charities from Australia to Kuching and even Madagascar. Behind every fundraising event there are many men and women working tirelessly behind the scenes. There are too many to name but we wish to thank every single person who has worked with us to help raise funds for those in need.

Australian Red Cross Red Ribbon Committee
Vision Australia
Guide Dog Association of Australia
The Deaf Society of New South Wales
The Black and White Committee
Greek Orthodox Parish of Saint George, Rose Bay
Hellenic Lyceum, Sydney Bureau
Greek Young Matron
Greek Welfare Centre of Australia
The Castellorizian Ladies’ Auxiliary
Catholic Care, Sydney
australian Breast Cancer Foundation
Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation
Prince of Wales Foundatoin
St Vincent de Paul
Australian Youth Orchestra
Woodbury School for Children with Autism
The Peter Pan Committee in aid of Barnardo’s Australia
Friends of ICJM, Australia in aid of education projects in Mauritius
Brainwave Australia
The Kids’ Cancer Project
Cure Brain Cancer
Giant Steps
Sydney Neuro-Oncology Group (SNOG)
Mirabel Foundation
AHEPA Medical Foundation
Father Jan of Madagascar
Cross Road, Hong Kong
Rotary Club of Kuching
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College
Greek Welfare Centre
Hellenic Lyceum Sydney
Aristotelion Academy of Greek Traditional Dances
Greek Orthodox Parish of “Saints Constantine & Helen”- Newtown
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community Of “St. George”- Rose Bay
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of “St. Spyridon”- Kingsford
Greek Orthodox Parish of “St. Nicholas”- Marrickville
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community Of Kogarah
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of “St. Nectarios”- Burwood
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community Of “Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene”- Liverpool
Greek Orthodox Parish & Community Of “The Holy Apostles”- Hamilton, Newcastle
Greek Orthodox Monastery “Panagia Pantanassa”- Mangrove Creek
Greek Orthodox Archdioses of Australia
“ESTIA” Foundation Of Australia
The Athenian Association Of Sydney & NSW
Hellenic Women’s Club
Greek Young Matrons Association
OEEGA Cyprian Organisation Of Australia
Kytherian Association Of Australia
Kalymnian Association Of Australia “Kalymnos”
Zakynthian Association Of Sydney & NSW
General Donations to the Greek Community of NSW
The Egyptian Women’s Association In Australia
Community Fundraising Committee of Concord Cancer Centre
The Kalymnian Association (KALYMNOS) Sydney NSW Limited
Kytherian Association of Australia
St Spyridon College
The Peter Pan Committee In Aid of Barnardos Australia