Stella & Dot is the brainchild of Blythe Harris—a former accessories director for Banana Republic who worked for Cartier, DeBeers and Louis Vuitton—and Jessica Herrin—the founder of www.WeddingChannel.com. The design staff includes veterans from the internationally acclaimed fashion houses of Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs.
According to Tandy Vincent, a Founding Leader and Star Stylist with the company, “Stella & Dot is a fabulous line of high-quality, fashion-forward jewelry that has built a truly impressive celebrity following. Until recently we had limited access to jewelry worn by our favorite actor, seen at red-carpet events or in celebrity fashion magazines like People and In-Style. And, even if you could find it, you likely couldn’t afford it. Stella & Dot is that jewelry but it’s accessible and affordable!â€
Stella & Dot—a new party-based, direct sales company that empowers entrepreneurs with an opportunity to start and run their own business—grew from $9 to $33 million in 2009. Stella & Dot is breaking stereotypes often associated with direct-sell organizations by offering a career opportunity to women through sales of celebrity coveted and editor adored jewelry.
A New York Times article featuring Stella & Dot said, “Products moved through direct sales, like jewelry…are sometimes considered recession-resistant because most are priced under $50…in tough economic times, women cut back on pricey purchases but splurge instead on inexpensive luxuries.â€
Vincent, a Phoenix resident, is leading Stella & Dot’s expansion into Arizona and three other states including New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. “It’s surprising but Stella & Dot doesn’t have a presence in Tucson, and that is my focus right now,†says Vincent.
Importantly, Stella & Dot’s commitment to ethical business practices and consumer service has been recognized by The Direct Sales Association, which estimates that some 15.1 million people are involved in direct selling in the U.S . With total sales of about $30 billion, more than 80 percent of US direct sellers are women and more than 74 percent of the American Public has purchased goods or services through direct selling.
Logo from Stella & Dot