Today we’d like to introduce you to BreAnna Jauregui.
Hi BreAnna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved gift shops and boutiques and always thought about how much fun it would be to have one of my own one day. Jewelry was also another big passion of mine. I would play in my grandma’s jewelry box as a little girl, trying on everything and being completely fascinated by it all. After a brief time going to college and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to move to California to attend The Gemological Institute of America to become a Graduate Gemologist. Immediately after finishing the program, I started working in the fine jewelry industry, eventually making my way into high-end jewelry. I worked my way up through the ranks from being an office assistant to a sales assistant, jewelry buyer, inventory processor, and then inventory manager.
After more than a decade of being in the jewelry industry, I wanted to take a break, so I started working at a small gift shop and a shoe store. Working in those two places solidified my longtime dream of wanting to have my own store one day. I eventually left those shops and made my way back into the jewelry industry as I had been missing it, and shortly after Covid hit. During that year, my husband and I started to reevaluate our lives, trying to decide what we really wanted to do and where we wanted to live. We decided it was time to leave California and move back to Michigan, so we packed up our pets and headed home. Shortly after we got settled in, the urge to open a store was in full force.
Since I love gift shops and jewelry stores equally, I decided that I wanted to open a gift shop that also sells fashion and fine jewelry. Having over 17 years of experience in the jewelry industry and several more years working in other various retail positions throughout my life, I took a leap of faith and opened Agate & Herb in June of 2021.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running your own business is hard. Is it fun? Yes. Is it stressful? Yes. Is it worth it? For me, absolutely. Some people thought I was a little nuts when I said I was opening a store, which I completely understand. The retail industry has changed a lot since 2020, and it can be hard trying to compete with the big online companies as a small, independent business. So many businesses were closing, but I had full support from my husband, family, and friends, and you only live once, right? I knew I would regret not trying. Some months are better than others, and the store is still pretty new. It’s only been 2 and 1/2 years, so people are still discovering it. It’s been slow but steady, and I know that if I keep pushing through, it will only get better from here.
As you know, we’re big fans of Agate & Herb. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Agate & Herb is a gift boutique that carries curated and handmade goods. I wanted to create a shop that not only catered to jewelry lovers, but to anyone who might be in need of a gift or something unique they could put in their home. We carry candles, art, pottery, crystals, jewelry, cards, and more. I make a lot of the jewelry myself, and I try my best to make sure we offer items that aren’t found everywhere else. I like to say that the items in the store are a collection of all of my favorite things! There is a brick-and-mortar location in East Grand Rapids, as well as an online store.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agateandherb.com
- Instagram: @agateandherb
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/agateandherb
