Feb 26, 2009

Dogeared Jewels & Gifts Celebrates 5th Year of Growth

Los Angeles, CA—Dogeared, a trendsetting fashion brand that creates handcrafted jewels and gifts in Los Angeles, has announced its fourth year of substantial growth. The 80% increase in sales in 2008 was accomplished while maintaining the company’s commitment to environmentally sustainable practices and producing products in the USA. An expanded international network, increased presence with national retailers, and a redesigned online flagship store, all contributed to Dogeared’s record breaking year.

Now in its 18th year, Dogeared reputation for creating authentic, fashionable jewels and gifts, along with participation at leading industry trade shows, significant media exposure, and expanded presence at national department stores, has added to the success.

Dogeared also invested in its direct to consumer online flagship store, www.dogeared.com, adding product assortment, ungraded shopping features, a blog, and other social networking functions. Now in its third year, dogeared.com’s sales grew 125% in 2008. This increased dialogue with the Dogeared customer has created new opportunities that will be leveraged in 2009.

Dogeared founder and designer Marcia Maizel-Clarke leads an energetic design team that creates products that lead fashion jewelry trends while paying attention to the wants and needs of consumers and retailers. New collections, new graphics, and new messages connect the company’s business practices to the growing concerns of retailers and consumers who seek ethically produced, beautiful products with a message.

“Dogeared creates handcrafted jewels and gifts that capture the magic of words, wishes, and dreams. Each piece is unique and tells its own story,” explains Maizel-Clarke. “We design our line so that retailers can put together compelling merchandise displays and show different stories at a variety of price points. In today’s economic environment, we must look at how we can bring value to our retailers and our customers. We strive to do this through design that captures key trends, the use of recycled and repurposed materials, and meaningful cards and concepts.”

The company uses 50% recycled and refined silver in their jewelry and have set goals to increase that percentage. Gift boxes have been redesigned to reduce the amount of cardboard used, the wholesale catalogs are printed on paper made from mixed sources from well-managed forests and recycled fibers, and much of the leather used is repurposed.

An important and growing category for the company is their line of organic cotton products, including shopping bags. In each of Dogeared’s three yearly lines, new concepts and designs are added. What started as a premium, quickly caught on with consumers who now collect the new designs each season. Reducing the need for plastic bags with friendly and fashionable alternatives is one way that the company accomplishes its mission of “putting good energy into the world one jewel at a time.”

Retail prices range from approximately $25 to $175. The collection is featured in a 110 page wholesale catalog that is viewable online at www.dogearedwholesale.com.