In 1997, Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh officially launched Silpada Designs—a jewelry home show company that offers handcrafted sterling silver pieces. The company’s unique and beautiful designs, sold by 19,000 women across the country, doubled its sales year after year by word of mouth. Today the company is poised to top $250 million in sales for 2007. We at Mom Inventors interviewed Bonnie and Teresa to discover how they launched their idea into the marketplace and what they learned along the way.
Q: Why did you start the company and when?
A: We first met in 1985 when our oldest of three children started first grade. We had both signed up as room mothers and immediately became the best of friends. After chatting about how we could earn a little extra cash, we tried a few new business ideas. We had a lot of fun, but it wasn’t until we each took twenty-five dollars from our grocery fund and pursued our passion for sterling silver jewelry that we really began to love our ‘jobs.’ We started designing our own jewelry creations and hosting what we called “A Fun Ladies” Night Out Playing Dress-up with Jewelry!” Quickly, one party to led to another, and it wasn’t long before hostesses and customers began telling us, “You look like you are having so much fun-we wish we could have your jobs!” After hearing this again and again, we decided we would start a company to offer other people the opportunity to build their own business while balancing family life.
Silpada Designs began officially in 1997, and we created our exclusive line of Silpada Designs Sterling Silver Jewelry and our very first Silpada Designs Catalog. Friends and customers became independent Silpada Designs Representatives, and we realized our dream of running our own business.
Q: What were your initial goals?
A: We were having a lot of fun selling jewelry at in-home parties, and through this experience, we met so many wonderful people who touched our lives. We loved what we were doing so much that we wanted to share it with other women. Empowering other women by building their self-esteem and creating opportunities for friendships and financial freedom was so important to us.
Q: Describe yourself and your family. What is your background and how does it relate to your company?
A: Our background is built around having fun! Before Silpada, we were both stay-at-home moms with three children looking for a way to juggle family life while earning some extra money. Yes, we had a passion for sterling silver jewelry, but we also loved having fun and spending time with friends. (Bonnie is married to Jerry Kelly, who serves as CEO of Silpada and is a co-owner, and they have three children. Teresa is married to Tom Walsh and they have three children.)
Q: Have you ever experienced an epiphany that changed the direction of your life?
A: After hearing from people, again and again, that they’d like to do what we were doing, we discovered that our two-person start-up business could evolve into a fun, life-changing business opportunity for other women. This changed our lives forever.
Q: What process did you follow to develop your jewelry? Did you source all your pieces or create them yourselves?
A: We work with artisans from around the world to design original jewelry that meets Silpada’s high standards.
