{Guest Post} Unlocking Her Passion By Following Her Heart: Meet Lauren Bradford of Heartsmith

This is a sponsored post.

In 1998, Lauren Bradford was a busy stay-at-home mom in Northern Bergen County, New Jersey. With her husband’s business floundering in the changing economy, she began thinking about developing a business that would help sustain her family financially as well as appeal to her creative side.  Ideally her business would have to allow her time to continue to stay at home and yet generate some extra income.

Tapping into her knowledge of the jewelry business (her father was a diamond sawyer in New York City) along with her fascination with everything lockets, she created Heartsmith, LLC. With a business plan in her head, and a few dollars in her pocket, she listened to her heart and moved forward with her dream.  She taught herself basic web design.  She then bought her initial inventory from both artisans and established US manufacturers to create a unique product line of quality lockets.  She took a deep breath and launched Heartsmith.com  in 1999.

In her personal account below, you’ll see why the last 15 years have been both a rewarding and wonderful experience in her life….all because she followed her heart.

If you have ever shopped for a locket, you will agree that they are not easy to find.  Most jewelry stores do not carry them or if they do, their selection is very limited.  My idea was to create a collection of lockets that would run the gamut from affordable to extravagant. Artisan hand-made to consumer variety.  I wanted to offer them in different sizes, shapes, designs and metals.  My goal was to have Heartsmith be a one stop-shopping place for this very specific piece of jewelry.

Why do I love lockets?
My fascination with lockets came from the idea that lockets tell stories if you keep photos inside to share, and can hide your secrets if you choose not to share.  I love the idea that you can keep a charm or token inside the private compartment. The locket then becomes a personal talisman that can provide the wearer with an intention they choose.  Through the years, I have sold lockets to people during their happiest and most sorrowful times. The celebration of a wedding, the birth of a baby or the death of someone near and dear.  I enjoy the sentimentality that a locket provides to our customers.  I love the fact that a locket touches people’s hearts. Enriching their lives in some way. And I have found that talking with our customers on a daily basis, has enriched my life and those that work with me.

We enjoy their stories such as this one: A few years ago, a young man called us to place an order and told us that he was going to propose to his girlfriend with a locket on Valentine’s Day.  He asked us to engrave “Will you marry me?” on the back, in beautiful script.  We did as he asked on a simple large sterling heart locket. We were so happy to hear afterwards that she said “YES!”

Unlike any other piece of jewelry (except for maybe an engagement ring,) a locket has emotional power. It allows us to keep our loved ones close to our heart both physically and literally.  It gives us comfort and inspires us by storing either an image or a sacred object within its small space.  The beauty of a locket, especially engraved with a loving sentiment, becomes a charmed keepsake, a romantic treasure.  Oftentimes a locket presented out of love becomes a family heirloom getting handed down from generation to generation.

Valentine’s Day
One of the busiest times of the year for Heartsmith is Valentine’s Day.  A locket has long been a traditional gift for Valentine’s Day.  Lasting much longer than flowers or chocolate, the sentiment of love or friendship that goes with a heart shaped locket lasts forever. And what better time to show your beloved your true feelings than on Valentine’s Day?  By the way, men wear lockets, too. Or carry them in their pocket. Or they wear photo watches, which Heartsmith has in stock. If you want to read about the history of Valentine’s Day, read it here.

Through the years, Heartsmith has developed a big following with the US military stationed overseas.  They find us online and purchase lockets for their girlfriends or wives back home, especially for Valentine’s Day since they are so far away.  We take great pains in making sure the soldier’s needs are met, whether that means assembling pictures inside the locket or engraving their loving expression on the back.  We make sure the gift is delivered in a timely manner and as a thank you to our troops, we offer free shipping to all of our soldiers who identify themselves and who are presently deployed.

Fifteen years after starting my own business, I am not only able to help support my family but I feel personally fulfilled to be able to provide a “feel-good product.” There will always be special events in people’s lives and a locket, due to its functionality and loving inspiration, presents a treasured gift connecting us in love and creating memories.

Lauren Bradford attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, and worked for years as a commercial photographer/studio manager in the NYC area.  She is the owner of Heartsmith: http://www.heartsmith.com 1-888-501-8777.

 

{This is a sponsored post.  Opinions expressed here are those of the guest contributor.}