While the pandemic is still not letting up, many in the jewelry industry are finding ways to stay busy in quarantine. One such person is jewelry designer Graziela Kaufman, founder of the Graziela jewelry collection.
"It’s craziness but in such a good way!" said Kaufman in an interview with JCK regarding her work-life during the quarantine. "I’ve never worn so many hats! I’m the chef, the cleaning lady, the business owner, the designer, the boss, the wife, the activist, the dog walker. I work literally everywhere in my house: from my home office, my family room, laundry room, and outdoors when I meet with clients. My work hours are literally 14-hour days from the second that I open my eyes in the morning to the time that I close them at night."
Kaufman was then asked about how her business's future plans have changed due to COVID-19. "I feel that the biggest difference has been not having large trade shows and really planning new collection introductions in a different way," she said. "We pushed the launch of our larger collections forward toward the fourth quarter. In the meantime, I’ve been launching one-of-a-kind pieces and under-$3,000 collections including the Pawsitivity collection and the new men’s collection, which we’ll be launching in a couple of months—pieces are under $1,000. Another big difference has been not traveling to do trunk shows at our retail partners. I want to make sure that my retailers have what they need to succeed, and we are in constant communication with them and supplying them with marketing materials and special pieces. My main focus throughout the pandemic has been to take care of them and, of course, my employees. We also have been focusing on our private clients and making lots of custom-made pieces, really making dreams come true! It’s a time where we have to be thankful for the love of our loyal customers and friends."
When asked about the methods she uses to relax and stay sane during quarantine, Kaufman said, "I make sure to exercise one hour every day to keep me sane. I’m obsessed with my Peloton, and it really helps me mentally and physically. I have a little garden I’m very proud of that I work on to relax. I also walk my dogs and my cat through a path that is all nature and ravines on the way to the lake close to my home. I enjoy the fresh air, take very deep breaths, and take a moment to feel gratitude for every single thing in my life."
Information originally sourced from JCK.