Featured Member - Cathy Gins

Designer, Marketer, Entrepreneur, Consultant, and Teacher

EXPERIENCE:

I am grateful for the experience I have gained in my many years in the jewelry industry. In my opinion; however, experience is a mixed blessing. On one hand, you can accumulate and refine skills, develop resources, acquire practical wisdom and build credibility. On the other hand, I have found that experience can limit creativity by giving the impression that there are no other options other than the ones that have already proven successful. I often see the tendency to fear the unknown in suppliers, merchants, and myself! The one place I rarely come up against this limited thinking is with the students in the Fashion Jewelry Design and Marketing course I teach at the F I T. I got this teaching job because of my "experience" as both the Global Director of Avon's Jewelry business and the Vice-president of Merchandising at The Monet Group. I love this job because my "inexperienced" students consistently surprise, inspire and refresh me with their creativity, unburdened with the self-editing that will ultimately manifest as they learn more.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

My "experience" told me it was too risky to launch my own wholesale and retail business. But every year I teach my students to create a vision for themselves and their work, and to fearlessly go for it! . I had once heard that "people teach what they need to learn"..and in my case this has proven to be true. In September 2007 I launched the AROMAWEAR Collection at www.aromawear.com This collection is another manifestation of my vision to combine a passion for beautiful jewelry with my commitment to provide others access to their highest potential and well-being. It is a line of sterling silver and vermeil aromatherapy jewelry and accessories that diffuse therapeutic essential oils. When inhaled, these natural oils have been proven to reduce stress, increase focus, boost energy, improve mood, support the immune system, kill germs, speed healing and much more. Putting therapeutic aromas in decorative objects is not a new idea, in fact, this collection was inspired by 19 Century English scent lockets called "vinaigrettes".

I had the confidence to go forward with the line because I acquired a lot of expertise with scented jewelry during my years at Avon. All of the rest was out of my comfort zone. The learning curve from being a buyer to a seller was the least of it. Nothing about my line was "stock" and almost everything required more development than most companies want to do for a start-up. Many components needed to be tooled, and required large minimum orders. Even though I am an 'experienced" direct marketer, the Internet is new to me and there is so much to learn. How is it to be back on the learning curve? It is exciting. I haven't felt so scared or so alive since I left the corporate safety net over ten years ago!

FUTURE PROJECTS:

In addition to expanding AROMAWEAR sales into retail channels, I am currently involved with a partner on another unique jewelry collection, and look forward to continuing consulting with colleagues on their businesses. I welcome opportunities to collaborate with you when your own experience is limiting your view, or if you just want to have more fun.