My friend, Adrienne Orris, started the small business of EsperanzaViva in 2017 with the hope of supplying people with personalized, thoughtful jewelry for gifting. Over the past few years, she has made thousands of sales both online through Etsy, and at seasonal craft shows, outlet malls, and coffee shops. Primarily, she sells earrings made from various types of metals, along with lava bead bracelets and necklaces. Additionally, she sells DIY pearl necklaces at craft shows, where customers can shuck an oyster and make a pearl necklace!
As a former missionary in Canilla, Guatemala, Adrienne worked closely with a ministry to financially support widows living in the rural villages of the country. She would buy their hand-woven baskets and cloths, and then transport them to the U.S. to sell at local churches and craft shows. By doing so, she had a positive impact on many impoverished communities and demonstrated the importance of redemptive entrepreneurship.
Along with my parents and friends, Adrienne was one of the main people to encourage and support me in running a small business myself! She connected me with many other small business owners and gave an abundance of creative product and marketing ideas that I continue to utilize today.
Check out her handmade jewelry here: esperanzaviva.etsy.com
What an interesting way to support those in need! I like how your friend has personal experience with those who she helps, that’s something I feel like a lot of philanthropists don’t always have. It’s also pretty cool how she expanded from selling other people’s creations to making her own stuff.
That’s so cool that you know the entrepreneur here! Etsy is a great resource for selling products online without a personal website, so it’s good to see her utilizing that outlet. I am also inspired by her backstory in mission as well. These bracelets also look like very high quality; I would totally buy something like that! What a great entrepreneurial story!
How cool to know someone like that and get the “insider scoop”! There are a lot of craft fairs that take place in my home town back in New York, and seeing handmade jewelry and young businesses is always such a cool thing. What a great use of resources to make something so personal and unique!