A mission
Bee A Beautiful Story is all about meaning and connection. “Our jewelry is more than decoration,” explains Cathelijne Lania, founder and director. “They bring stories to life: from the maker in Nepal to the wearer here in the Netherlands. Each piece symbolizes hope, strength and connection. The proceeds go back to the craftsmen in Nepal. We see each other as direct colleagues, as a global family.” Cathelijne maintains long-term partnerships with the local workshops. The craftsmen receive fair wages and work in a safe and stable environment. This offers them financial security and the opportunity to develop further. “We believe in the power of collaboration,” says Cathelijne. “It is about building relationships that are sustainable for us as well as for the communities and workshops in Nepal.”
Survival thanks to COL
When the pandemic hit, the international production and sales of jewelry were disrupted. “Our largest buyers are the retailers throughout Europe. We also sell through our webshop, but most of our turnover comes from the purchasing stores. Due to the pandemic, all stores were closed for a long time. My biggest concern was to safeguard employment in Nepal.” The Corona bridging loan provided much-needed support. “We were impressed by the vision and dedication of A Beautiful Story,” says Ivo Kalthoff, Fund Manager at ROMInWest. “This is exactly the type of company we want to support: companies that create not only economic value, but also social impact.” With the loan, A Beautiful Story was able to continue paying salaries and make the transition to a more digital business operation.
The need to innovate during the pandemic
The pandemic has challenged the company to explore new avenues. “We have invested heavily in our online development,” says Cathelijne. “Our renewed website and online marketing have now enabled us to reach a wider audience.” In addition to the digital focus, the company has also improved internal processes and invested in sustainability. “We want to further increase our impact in the coming years,” Cathelijne explains. “We remain true to our core values of fair trade and sustainable production. We see opportunities to convey this message even more strongly.”
Combating violence against women with new campaign: Orange the world
A Beautiful Story’s mission is clear: to inspire people with meaningful jewelry, while supporting social issues. Their collaboration with Orange the World, a campaign aimed at combating global violence against women, is another expression of this. As part of this collaboration, the company has developed a special jewelry line, a large portion of the proceeds of which go to projects that combat violence against women. “It’s a theme that’s close to our hearts,” says Cathelijne. “Violence against women is a universal problem and we want to contribute to a world in which women feel safe and valued. Thanks to the COL, we’ve been able to continue to fight for the values that we so deeply believe in and stand for.”
The Corona bridging loan is now being implemented by ROM InWest, more about COL.
Swipeguide also used COL, read here their story.
Read and watch more about A Beautiful Story's own story here:
Read: https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2546760-de-eerste-stappen-op-weg-naar-fairtrade-sieraden-zijn-niet-makkelijk
To look: https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/video/2546725-duurzame-en-verantwoorde-sieraden-produceren-blijkt-lastig
