Jane
Cameron, Luke, Levi
President/Designer of No Whining - recycled cork jewelry, key chains and bottle charms
nowhiningdesigning.com
You have an accessory line called, “No Whining”. Tell us about your inspiration for creating a line of jewelry with this creative dimension.
My idea of the No Whining™ Collection essentially came from a love of wine. I keep corks that have special meaning to me like my wedding at Napa Valley. A girlfriend of mine keeps corks in a display glass jar for the sentimental times she has spent with her husband. I know of friends that have a cork or two from an anniversary or birthday where they’ve treated themselves to a nice bottle on a special day. With “No Whining”, I developed my first necklace prototype after recent visits from my sisters who live on the East Coast. I treasure those moments where I can sit across from one of them, have a glass of wine and gab. This summer I picked up one of my sister’s favorite wines from Napa, she was thrilled! The wine cork from the bottle we shared was engraved with “The Joy of Wine”, I kept the cork. After she left, I had glanced at the cork and it immediately brought me back to the recent memories we had just shared. I actually got a little weepy after picking up the cork and soon after is when I put my first necklace together.
What is your background education?
I grew up north of Boston and attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing.
What else did you do prior to creating “No Whining” jewelry line?
My first job right out of college was traveling to all the department stores in New England merchandising window and jewelry displays. I ended up working for a fantastic boss and mentor Suzanne Akerley, whose guidance gave me the confidence to start my own design company in San Francisco. I became co-founder of Respect Inc., it was an accessory company based on a philosophy of individuality and diversity. Our company grossed well over a million dollars within a couple of years landing us at the top of Entrepreneurs’ fastest growing companies’ list.
You said that once you had 3 boys, you learned a different view of fashion. What did you learn?
Being a Mom of three active boys, taught me a different side of fashion, Practicality! The reality is you just don’t have the extra time or money to pamper yourself or buy expensive items. With a hectic schedule, I’ve needed to lean on styles that are easy, comfortable and affordable. However, I still want that standout trendy item of the season, and one accessory can really make an outfit stand out like an interesting piece of jewelry.
What would be your best words of advice to a female wanting to become an entrepreneur in the business world?
First, find your passion. In my view, most entrepreneurs whom become successful focus on what they love and when we put in ridiculously long hours it doesn’t seem like the doldrums of work there is an element of excitement.
Second, network, network, network. Ok, I may sound like a broken record but this is fundamental to becoming successful and it isn’t that hard when you talk about a product that you love. Talk to the professionals in your field and surround yourself with people who have the same interests. By making connections, bartering tends to come into play, for example, I can provide marketing direction to an associate and they may setup my website or I allow a professional photographer to do my photo shoots as long as his or her name is used. The old adage “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” has always come into play for me. Give credit where credit is due and professionals are willing to pitch in.
Third, support organizations and resources. For one, there are some wonderful women entrepreneur organizations such as National Association Business Owners that can support in developing a business plan or assist in getting a low or no interest loan. Raising capital can be challenging and perhaps the biggest obstacle. These types of organizations provide direction and relay the pitfalls of getting a business started. These are people who have “been there and done that” and really can give great insight in starting out. These organizations have proven to be invaluable to me.
Lastly, find a mentor. For me, I have had a couple of standout individuals and fortunately I met them through work. If you are really starting out on your own, during the process of making connections as I mentioned above, you will meet someone with whom you click with. See if that person has been in an established business and determine their breadth of experience. Be upfront; let them know you respect their work or business. From my experience and experience of others, people tend to honored by that gesture and provide great support during this growing period. Once you have an established a mentor who is willing to work with you, be prepared. Use their time and yours constructively.
This line was newly created in 2009. What do you see as your future endeavors with your line? Do you plan on adding additional accessories to your collection?
My future plans are developing custom design and products for the Non – Profit Sector. I love the idea of a customer sending in a cork from a special day. I look forward to designing that special piece for a client that will be memorable and stay with them for the rest of their lives.
I’m also planning on working with some non-profits, which are dear to my heart. Recently, I donated Products to the Bikini’s vs. Breast Cancer fundraiser in Stillwater. In addition, the foundation for Autism Speaks is especially personal to us as we are raising a son on the Autism Spectrum. I hope to work with them in some capacity to help autism awareness.
What would be your best words of advice for a mom when it comes to accessorizing?
I wear a ring I designed a few years ago that has my husbands name in silver at the top with my boy’s names following in gold underneath. I wear it almost everyday. I think having one piece that represents your loved ones weather it’s a bracelet, necklace, or ring is always a winning accessory. Even when you may not feel great about the outfit you’re wearing on particular day, you always have that memorable piece to lean on. That simple touch of the piece always reminds us Moms how Lucky we are.
Where would we be able to find your jewelry line?
The No Whining™ Collection can be found in a variety of different venues, Retail Stores, Wine Shops, Restaurants, and Specialty Stores. Some of our local clients are Kowalski’s Markets, Bacchus Wine Shops, in Shoreview, and Autumn Cottage in Stillwater. My faith-based line is sold at St. George Bookstores in Blaine. I also sell my line to several Minnesota Wineries in which I use the wineries corks with my Designs.
Do you have any favorite books or websites that fostered your business plan or design ideas?
Yes! “Believe” it was a book I was reading during the creation of my line. The complete title is “Believe: a young Widow’s journey through Brokenness and Back, by Jennifer Silvera. Jennifer writes of her husband who was tragically killed in the line of duty. Her words “anything is possible, if you believe” which sadly derived from a place of sorrow was awe inspiring and her words stayed with me for weeks after I read it, still does today. I think anyone who reads it will come out with a different impression because there were so many lessons you could take from her painful story. For me, a sense of gratefulness and a reconnection to my faith and from there is when I decided to develop my Faith line.
What are some of your favorite activities to do with your kids? Believe it or not, I love taking road trips with my kids. I’m one of those lucky moms where my kids are really good in the car and no carsickness! A memorable road trip was this recent summer. My two oldest boys were going to summer camp and I was just starting to create the No Whining line. We set out to camp, which I thought was in Pine City about an hour from home. Well, we started driving and my husband kept telling me that the GPS was telling us to take a U-Turn, he suggested I call the camp to see exactly where the camp was, it turned out to be in Pine River, six hours from the house! To say the least, I was just beside myself, but my kids were great. They were completely calm and so supportive. They kept telling me “Mom, we’ll get there, don’t worry!” and during the trip we didn’t have any electronics so my husband and I were singing songs from the 70’s which my 4 year old still sings today! What can I say, it was a trip!
What is your definition of a Hot Mama?
A Hot Mama is someone who embodies courage and support to others in need, a woman of resilience. A Hot mama can take on challenges and be tenacious enough to persevere through them. A Hot Mama always has a sense of gratitude especially to others. She is complicated and uncomplicated and her fashion sense is derived from that. She isn’t driven by trends but always seems to be in style, she isn’t afraid to take risks in what she wears. A Hot Mama isn’t defined by fashion but can pick and choose what she is drawn to and always looks fashionable for it. A Hot Mama is a breath of fresh air…
My mom is one Hot Mama, Louise Barry, whom always encouraged me to pursue, never give up and take chances all while wearing a shift dress and she looked fabulous doing it.
