Organise your accssories and decorate your walls…. With Hook and I
By: Dax Vernon
Reggae Times recently caught up with stylish gypsy, Donna Vernon, who has created a line of unique, hand-painted jewellery boards, dubbed Hook and I. Donna, a former airline employee, has also worked in the retail industry and more recently, has dabbled with refinishing wood furniture.
In 2009, she created a jewelery board for her daughter, Danielle, who had masses of costume jewelery which were difficult to keep organised. The board was a hit and soon friends and family were placing their orders. By Christmas 2009, the name Hook and I was coined and boards of all shapes and sizes were being created. The boards were often personalised at the customer’s request and were created for girls and women of all ages, from the 4 year old who received a peg board to hang small items to the tween’s brightly coloured peace and love jewellery board to board created for young adults.
Today, Hook and I proudly offers a line of unique, stylish and decorative jewellery boards that allow persons to easily organise and display fashion jewellry and accessories. The boards can be personalised to be part of a room’s décor while incorporating personality and individuality into each design. Hook and I products are available in a range of styles, sizes, finishes and prices and there are boards for everyone – males, females and children alike. The creations include key racks, door hangers, bed heads and other perfect gift ideas.
The business has its challenges Donna recalls, such as “getting your name and product out there and building up a client base”. Right now Hook & I primarily markets through word of mouth referrals and a facebook page that features a portfolio of their work and contact information. “The page is slowly growing in popularity and the order level is increasing” says Donna as she puts the final touches on a new piece she was crafting.
“ Hook&I , U’ve found the perfect idea for women who have a bag of Jewellery!!!! Biiig Up!!…is one of the responses that stands out on the Hook and I facebook page. Becky, one of the first owners of the Hook and I jewellery boards, has also recommended the boards to all her friends. “Love them!!!! I have one- best thing ever!!! “ She noted that her extra large jewellery board has been the most useful item she had bought in a long time. “It keeps me organised and now with such a great layout of all my jewellery, I never forget what pieces I have and I accessorise my outfits now more than ever before:”
“The possibilities are endless”, says creator, Donna. “Engrave your name, put a favourite quote or a specific design. You can create a very personal gift for that special individual or occasion.” She added, “we welcome a challenge and always seek to exceed our customers’ expectations.
In the future, Donna would like to grow the business to include employing a woodcutter to help cut and finish the pieces as she and her daughter do all that work themselves. Specific goals for the business include “ further developing the display pieces and pursuing store owners to use her designs to showcase their jewellery collection, increase presence on social networking sites and possibly to open a store that carries only my line of products”. So far two retailers are on board with a third expressing interest in the products.
***Visit their Facebook page for more designs or contact donnamvernon@gmail.com