Small Business: Purple Girl Designs’ products are inspired by purpose
Amber Delgado’s business, Purple Girl Designs, is more than selling handmade bracelets, rings and necklaces. Through her gemstone healing jewelry, she wants to connect with her customers and help them along their journey to find meaning and purpose.
Delgado, 42, moved to Charlotte in 2002 for a video producing and social media managing position with Speed, a FOX channel. She was laid off in 2013 and decided to use her severance pay to travel in the United Kingdom for a year.
It was during this time that she connected an experience she had with a Charlotte medium to what she needed to do next.
“I realized what my life’s purpose is on this earth right now. That was to help others,” Delgado said. “Let others feel what I’m feeling, let them go on their journey, like I’m doing every day.”
The name Purple Girl Designs comes from Delgado’s love of purple and fascination with amethyst.
She said, “[Amethyst] represents the heart chakra. It represents love, joy and compassion. And that’s one of my main focal points of my business — to share love, joy and compassion.”
Delgado makes bracelets, mala beads, necklaces and finger gems with semi-precious, all-natural stones that she buys from Fire Mountain Gems & Beads in Oregon.
Ruby’s Gifts, Gumbo and Butteroni’s Emporium & Fairy Forest carry Purple Girl Designs products. Delgado also sells her items on Etsy and at three to four grassroot events every weekend. Prices for her products range from $4-$61.
Delgado plans pop-up events to help support local businesses. The next one is from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 at Blue Blaze Brewing to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. This event will feature women-owned vendors and food trucks as well as live music with women musicians.
Degado answered CharlotteFive’s questions for the Small Business Series:
What’s one thing that has surprised you about running your own business?
“Administrative work. It does suck up some of my time during the week.”
Where do you get your inspiration for your jewelry design?
“My inspiration comes from my customers. I love to hear the stories from my customers. That in turn inspires me to make my necklaces and my signature bracelets.”
How important is social media to your business?
“Social media is the number one priority. If you do not concentrate on your social media, even if it’s just one picture of something you’re doing, if you don’t use that free, almost free, platform in all those arenas, then you’re not going to be able to meet your customer base.”
What is your five-year plan for the business?
“I would love to make sure that my e-commerce is set in stone and that I am able to reach more people around the world.
“Secondly, I’d love to be more regionally in stores up and down the east coast. I want to continue to do my grassroots events because that’s where I touch the most people.”
When do you feel the most at peace?
“My jewelry is my therapy, it’s my calming, it’s my happiness.
“I can sit here for five, six, seven hours and just bead and make things that I know people will be happy and excited about.”
Photos: Purple Girl Designs
Family history and my own fascination with people and their motivations prompted me to begin this series about Charlotte’s small business owners. Industry, situation and questions will vary. Have a suggestion for a small business owner or entrepreneur to interview? Email it to vanessainfanzon@gmail.com with the subject line “Small Business Series.”
This story was originally published July 24, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Small Business: Purple Girl Designs’ products are inspired by purpose."