A friendly neighborhood feminist store needs you!
We're open for business, signed a 5 year lease, and looking for a little help to get us to where we need to be.
Project Description
Hi there! My name is Kathleen Cavalaro. In January, I left my job of six years. I was the executive director of a professional non-profit theater. I left to follow a different dream - owning my own business in my favorite city in the world, Portsmouth, NH. While I loved my job, I could feel the toll it was taking on my physical and mental health. It was always stressful. I wasn't in a great place, and hadn't been for quite a while. After six years and many accomplishments it was time to move on.
I started making jewelry as a form of therapy about twenty years ago because I held a lot of intense emotions inside me and needed a healthy outlet for it. I had some success with it. During COVID-19 lockdown, I rediscovered my love of it. I also got to thinking how many women feel the same sort of thing - that bubbling anger and sadness that comes from the everyday, mundane way the world tends to grind us down - how we have to build ourselves back up in a way I think only women can. I wanted to make a space where people could do that. I wanted to make a space where I could do that.
So, in September of 2020, I started a business with my daughter, Sophie, called Rage Gems & Jewelry. We felt it was important to buy jewelry and other products from small women-owned businesses who make their own art and design. We found there are a lot of other designers out there who use their art in the same way we did. We knew we wanted to help feature them.
We created an online presence and rented out a very small space in Kittery, Maine. Sophie managed the space while I went to my stressful job. For a small space in the middle of COVID, we did ok for ourselves. After I left my job in January and had the ability to put my work energy into our businesses, I realized it had a lot of potential. We started shipping packages around the country to complete strangers.
We had a goal to open up a store in Downtown Portsmouth by the fall of 2021. Thanks to COVID-19, a dream space opened up on a major pedestrian road with rent that seemed somewhat reasonable for the city. It is a perfect spot to showcase not just our own work, but to provide a space for other female creators to sell theirs. A real spot for us, in a good place. It was perfect.
Although our plan was not to move until the fall, we could not pass up this opportunity as we would be otherwise unlikely to find a perfect match for our needs. So, we worked with the landlord on a long-term lease for reduced rent to start. Actually, free rent to start. It was a moonshot. We didn't think our offer would be taken into consideration, but it was. The landlord agreed and we signed the papers. She's also a landlord who believes in women supporting women and I feel like I won the lottery.
We are confident enough in our products and our work ethic to make and surpass all of our goals, but because our business is only four months old, we are not eligible for any of the small loans that businesses like ours usually get. We need to bridge the gap.
We're here asking for a little bit of help to allow us to keep product on our shelves, and frankly build those shelves, while we establish a business history and get to qualification for lending.
The space we have rented has three rooms and here is how we plan on using them:
The front room with the beautiful windows facing State Street, will be our retail room where we sell our products.
The middle room will eventually be a classroom, when it's safe to teach up close to people again (I need to get very close to people's faces as they inspect their jewelry work). Until then, I plan on showcasing local women artists - allowing them the space to sell their product with no upfront fees or lease, just 10% of any sales they make to help cover overhead costs.
For all of these we will need tables, chairs, teaching tools, displays, fixtures, packaging, and more.
Our most pressing need is more inventory. We buy from small women-owned businesses who don't sell on Amazon, and who make their own product.
I don’t like asking for money. I like to offer an exchange of value. So, offer perks. Please take a look at our perks and see if there's something you could use and enjoy in exchange for your help.
Thanks for reading through ‘til the end and for your support!
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What if you don't get funding, will you be able to open?
Yes! We just want to do it right and to fill the store with awesome merchandise from women-owned businesses. If we don't meet our funding goals, all will be well, and we'll still open on Feb. 4th as planned, just a little more empty than we would like.
Just Because I Care
For a $25 contribution, you'll receive a $50 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
For a $50 contribution, you'll receive a $100 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
For a $100 contribution, you'll receive a $200 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
I will design a custom greeting card with your vision and saying. When you are happy with the design, I will order 8 of these for you along with the ability to order them again, at cost.
I will design a custom tee shirt with your vision and saying. When you are happy with the design, I will order one of these for you along with the ability to order them again, at cost.
This is for a private class for four people to learn how to wire wrap. Once you know the wire wrapping skill, you can unlock endless designs. This class generally lasts between 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours.
This class is for 4 people and includes use of tools, beads, and findings. Each person will leave class with a finished pair of earrings that you designed and created! I'll also provide a sampling of cheese and beverages.
This class cannot be scheduled until late spring when most of the population has been vaccinated.
This is for a private class for six people to learn how to wire wrap. Once you know the wire wrapping skill, you can unlock endless designs. This class generally lasts between 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours.
This class is for 6 people and includes use of tools, beads, and findings. Each person will leave class with a finished pair of earrings that you designed and created! I'll also provide a sampling of cheese and beverages.
This class cannot be scheduled until late spring when most of the population has been vaccinated.
Rewards
Just Because I Care
For a $25 contribution, you'll receive a $50 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
For a $50 contribution, you'll receive a $100 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
For a $100 contribution, you'll receive a $200 gift certificate
You'll be emailed a unique gift card code to use at your convenience. You can also give it as a gift, there are no restrictions!
I will design a custom greeting card with your vision and saying. When you are happy with the design, I will order 8 of these for you along with the ability to order them again, at cost.
I will design a custom tee shirt with your vision and saying. When you are happy with the design, I will order one of these for you along with the ability to order them again, at cost.
This is for a private class for four people to learn how to wire wrap. Once you know the wire wrapping skill, you can unlock endless designs. This class generally lasts between 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours.
This class is for 4 people and includes use of tools, beads, and findings. Each person will leave class with a finished pair of earrings that you designed and created! I'll also provide a sampling of cheese and beverages.
This class cannot be scheduled until late spring when most of the population has been vaccinated.
This is for a private class for six people to learn how to wire wrap. Once you know the wire wrapping skill, you can unlock endless designs. This class generally lasts between 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours.
This class is for 6 people and includes use of tools, beads, and findings. Each person will leave class with a finished pair of earrings that you designed and created! I'll also provide a sampling of cheese and beverages.
This class cannot be scheduled until late spring when most of the population has been vaccinated.