Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz and Dave Kazyk.
Hi Liz and Dave, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We opened our retail store in 2000. We had been running a wholesale jewelry business out of our home for about three years when we saw the ‘for rent’ sign in the window of our current space in Audubon Park. At the time, there wasn’t much going on in the neighborhood but we thought it had great potential and would be a good place to start a new store.
Over the years, we changed and progressed, at one point selling almost entirely beads (and jewelry). In the late 2000s, we opened a second store next door which was exclusively a clothing boutique. After about three years, we decided to combine the two stores into the original space selling handmade jewelry, beads/craft supplies, and clothing and christened the new concept ‘Dear Prudence Shop’.
Today, we sell a combination of handmade jewelry, clothing (new, recycled and vintage), unique vintage items, recycled books, beads/charms, and a large assortment of crystals and gems stones, but our stock is continually evolving.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, starting any new business (especially a retail store) is always tough, but in the last two decades, we’ve definitely faced our share of struggles. The housing crash/great recession, the rise of online shopping, and the Covid pandemic have been major challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What we specialize in and what we are most known for is our handmade jewelry.
We’ve been designing jewelry for decades and selling on both retail and wholesale. On the wholesale level, we’re unique because most jewelry wholesalers import from China or India whereas we design and assemble everything in the USA. At the same time, we design more exclusive pieces for our retail store where you can pick from hundreds of designs.
We also offer custom design work and jewelry repairs for fashion and costume pieces in the store.
How do you define success?
In general, we would define success as the ability to make a living from your craft.
Contact Info:
- Email: dearprudenceshop@gmail.com
- Website: www.dearprudenceshop.com
- Instagram: @dearprudenceorlando
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dearprudenceshoporlando
