Hyde Park-based Dune Jewelry Positioned for Growth with Boston SCORE and SBA

Born at her kitchen table in 2007, Holly Daniels Christensen took Dune Jewelry from a sole proprietor to a thriving small business that has created over 30 jobs - employing sand artists, jewelry-makers, packagers, marketing, and sales associates all across the country.

Dune Jewelry uses sand from thousands of locations around the world to create handmade bracelets, cuff links, necklaces, earrings and other keepsakes.  Using a unique and patented manufacturing process, Dune Jewelry captures special beach memories for you to cherish in the form of custom jewelry.

As Holly started making beach sand jewelry for friends and family, she learned that nearly everyone she knew had a special memory or an emotional attachment to beaches all over the world. “I’ve had customers tell me time and time again, that the recipient of our jewelry cried when they opened the box because it brought back such intense memories,” shared Holly.

In 2012, when Holly realized the potential of Dune Jewelry and the need for outside support - she Googled for business help and came across “SCORE”.  Holly matched up locally with her mentor Rick Blank from the Boston SCORE chapter and began tapping into industry expertise that proved to be invaluable to propelling Dune Jewelry’s long-term growth plan.

“With Rick’s operational, management and sales guidance, we have focused the business on not only selling jewelry, but selling memories.  We have been issued 3 U.S. patents for our unique manufacturing process.” said Christensen, “We’ve also been able to create jobs for so many talented Bostonians along with capturing memories for thousands of people who collect and wear Dune Jewelry every day.”

All of Dune Jewelry’s success did not come easy to Holly, in 2014 she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease after the birth of her second daughter and had to undergo 4 surgeries to save her eyesight. Holly continued to work every day and stayed positive throughout her personal situation, inspiring her team to achieve record-breaking sales that year.

Today with the help of Boston SCORE and SBA, Dune Jewelry is well-positioned for sustainable long-term success.  Unlike other trendy products in the marketplace selling fads, implied messages or unproven health benefits – Dune Jewelry is focused on creating tangible memories through a natural resource that almost everyone has an attachment to.  Holly’s team has been growing their online following on Facebook (75K likes), Instagram (15K followers) and their blog hosted on their website; and also forging new partnerships with high-end retailers like The Ritz Carlton and The Paper Store to bring more brand awareness to high-end consumers.  Dune Jewelry continues to grow out of a 2,000 sq. ft. converted mill building in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, where they achieve year-over-year positive revenues due to increasing demand for their products.  Holly was also approved for SBA’s flagship 7A guaranteed loan program with Rockland Trust, providing her with the access to capital she needs to support growth of her business. 

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READ MORE ABOUT DUNE JEWELRY:

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SBA recognized Holly Daniels Christensen the 2016 Woman-Owned Business of the Year for Massachusetts and New England.

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Resources for Women:

• Get Certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business or Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business on the NEW website: certify.sba.gov! 
• National Women's Business Council
• Center for Women & Enterprise Class Schedules
• 2016 InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business Summit and Challenge
• 2015 AMEX State of Women Owned Business Report
• Women Owned Business Fact Sheets