The Branson Centre is propelling small businesses into the big time...

Entrepreneur: Bianca Barkley

Peace-is of Bianca

"I offer each of my customers a unique piece – no-one else will have one the same."

Meet the maker:
Artist and businesswoman Bianca Bartley likes people to be daring and bold. Her striking jewellery brand Peace-is of Bianca matches this philosophy. And so do her ambitions for her business.

Bianca wants her brand to “develop other art forms in an effort to enhance the physical, spiritual and emotional makeup of mankind through the creation of jobs, outreach and charity.”

The golden opportunity:
The global fashion jewellery industry has grown at a rapid pace.

At the end of 2006, official figures show the industry was worth around US$146 billion. Since 2000 it has expanded by around 5.2% every year. Bianca decided to take advantage of this rising market, launching a brand aimed at businesswomen, celebrities and socialites.

“I decided to invest my passion for business and creativity into something I was interested in and good at,” she says. “I offer each of my customers a unique piece – no-one else will have one the same.”

Bianca wants her customers to become collectors”.

The business in a nutshell:
Peace-is of Bianca is a line of handcrafted jewellery. Drawing on the natural world for inspiration she creates one of a kind pieces, in limited edition collections and haute couture lines. The pieces are mainly copper intertwined with semi-precious metals, stones and other natural materials. Each piece has its own name and tells a story or represents a theme.

“We sell more than a product, we sell a story that imbues each piece with significance in what it represents or means to me, the artist,” she says. Bianca sells her pieces in an upscale boutique, a salon and spa, as well as through online store etsy.com.

She says: “My small brand prides itself on taking the steps from day one to build an image with appeal and footing to compete successfully on an international level.”

	By nature, I’m an artist. However, I fully understand the importance and value of having a firm foundation and grasp of business and management skills.
	- Bianca Barkley

How it’s helping the community:
Bianca wants to use her brand to create jobs, including employing skilled goldsmiths, and to enhance her charity work. She works with a range of charities, particularly those that educate girls and help exploited women, and already donates a portion of Peace-is of Bianca’s profits to worthwhile causes.

Bianca’s business also supports her local economy. She buys as many raw materials as possible locally.

The future looks bright:
Bianca has secured impressive press coverage in a range of Jamaican magazines and newspapers. Her designs are used in many of their fashion shoots.

She already has international clients through Facebook and is planning to have her own website and online shop up and running by the end of the year.

At the moment, she’s concentrating on marketing and raising her profile. She’s targeting boutique hotels and aiming for a wider distribution. “I’m doing things steadily and smartly,” she says. “This is my passion, and I have a burning desire to grow my business to the next level – both nationally and internationally."

Fast Facts:

Current number of employees: Three
Expected number of employees in three years’ time: Seven
Current annual turnover: $4 million (Jamaican)
Expected annual turnover in three years’ time: $11.3 million (Jamaican)
Investment to date: Savings, short and long term loans
Location of headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica