Cynthia Gale
Founder, GeoArt and Cynthia Gale Jewelry
www.geoartnyc.com
“Jewelry is art and art is jewelry.” That’s the philosophy behind Cynthia Gale’s signature designs.
Gift shops at 15 of the nation’s top museums and cultural institutions feature her masterpieces, among them… an opal brooch inspired by the chandelier in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House, a sterling heart-and-roses pendant that hangs from black leather and pays tribute to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and cuff links that resemble chapel gates at Washington National Cathedral.
All of which might make coveted holiday gifts, and they’re available at the new Ladies Who Launch eBay Store .
How does Cynthia, also a member of the New York Ladies Who Launch Incubator, merge her free spirit with her business mind? Deal with being married to her business partner? Find the best clients and avoid the worst? She dishes in this edition of Ladies Who Launch…
Travel Changes Everything
Cynthia: “I started out in school at the University of Delaware and knew I wanted to be in fashion. I had the opportunity in my junior year to head up to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology in New York). I fell head over heels in love with the city and my husband, Glenn, who I met there. Long story short, I did a backpacking trip out of school with FIT friends, and got turned on by Europe. I knew that traveling had to be incorporated into my life somehow, some way.”
Leaving Mr. Right and Moving to Europe
“After working in the Garment Center in New York for three years, I decided that working in an office everyday, and working for someone else, wasn’t for me. I ended up getting married, quitting my job and moving to Europe (without my husband) to pursue a modeling career.
“Having a supportive partner is incredibly fabulous and wonderful. He encouraged me… and I ended up living in Milan and working with an agency there. I went on to Paris and also had a gig in Dusseldorf for a while, and in London. Glenn came to visit me often and we had some really great times together during that period.”
Drawn to Indonesia
“One of my modeling stints took me to do fashion shows in Jakarta. I stepped off the plane and knew immediately that this would be one of those places where I wanted to spend more time… the smells, the sounds, the sights, the crafts.
“In 1991, I got the opportunity to return to Bali, Indonesia to learn about the Jewelry business through my fabulous West Coast brother-in-law who owned a small sterling silver business in Northern California.
“In New York I had been working for an Indonesian designer named Rita Mildred and when she found out I was traveling to Bali, she said, ‘I have a friend. You have to meet him.’ I learned he came from a family of 19 brothers and sisters and they were the owners of the key sterling silver factories in Bali at the time. We became friends and I really became close to his family. This up close and personal introduction to the world of Indonesian handicrafts allowed me to move quickly to establish solid supplier relationships, a key component of any import business.”
Landing First Major Client
“In 1991, I started sourcing jewelry in Indonesia and selling it here. GeoArt by Cynthia Gale started like that. As time went on, I started designing more and more and more. In the mid-90s, I discovered a unique factory in Java that specializes in repousse… a labor-intensive hand-hammered technique.
“We made the first big presentation of my signature collection, which featured the repousse technique, at MSA (the Museum Store Association trade show) and landed our first major client, Washington National Cathedral.”
Bootstrapping from Her Shoe Box
“I think (my start-up funding) was $10,000 in cash coming out of a shoe box and going into American Express traveler’s checks. That’s how GeoArt started. I sold what I had, got more money and went back to Indonesia again. It was slow growth. I was lucky because I started young, when I was in my mid- to late-20s. There was time for mistakes because I started before kids and family. Glenn and I… we joined forces in 1995, and that’s when it became a real business supporting us and paying all the bills.”
Lesson Learned: The Customer Might Always Be Right… but Not All Are the Right Customers
“I have tried to work with department stores… I have always felt like volume was something we needed, but I always felt like there was a missing link when I worked with people in department stores. Over time I learned that I do best partnering with folks who have the same ideas about business and design and life that I do. Invariably we collaborate in the design and art. I need to be working with positive forward-thinking people. I discovered that volume can be found in a host of other places without having to do business with department stores. A recent (client win) happening for us is National Geographic.”
Top Success Secret
“I always try to really listen and absorb what clients’ needs are, what people are looking for, what women want. Women want jewelry that has meaning. My gal wants something today that she can feel fabulous about… and she can also pull it out in five years and wear it again… something reminiscent of a story or a place and time.”
Her Best Practices - Healthy Body, Healthy Business
“Taking care of myself physically has been critical. Every year for the past few years I’ve participated in the Danskin (Women’s Triathalon Series). The thing that I love about that … I’m always thinking about when I have to start training really hard. Many mornings I’m out of bed at 5:30 and in Central Park or at the pool early on. I need to keep my body strong so I can cope with the stress and strain that goes on with my business.
“Also, we do end-of-year summaries… looking at the business from all different angles. We look at where we’ve been, where we are, where we want to go. Recognizing our strengths and making sure we have people in place to fill in those gaps.”
Entrepreneurial Influence
“One of the biggest influences in my life has been my father. He is just an amazingly optimistic and positive person who thinks anyone can do anything. And he is a risk-taker, and a little crazy. He’s 78 and he still skis every weekend during the winter. Dad decided he wanted to learn to rollerblade at 73.
“He works in my company once a month and gives me advice based on 12 years of growing his own business. Even though there is a world of difference between Dad’s former product line (he’s retired), which was fork trucks and lift trucks, and mine, business is business. He has provided a wealth of sound business advice over the years.”
Being Partners in Business and Life
“Working full time with my husband… we’re always finding new ways to do things. We have a definite separation of responsibility. We’re balancing being together 24/7, raising kids (Ian, 10 and Isabelle, 12), running a business and maintaining a really amazing marriage. (We do it by) making time for each other. Making sure you treat each other with love and respect. It gets hard in our busy world to do those things and maintain your sense of humor.”
Favorite Escape - Front Row Seats
“If you are a creative soul and creative spirit, you have to find an outlet that is separate from your business. My outlet, aside from exercising, has been performance. I have seen in the past couple of weeks some of the most amazing performances. It makes you feel great and gives you that burst of creative energy that you might need to get through another week.
“My highest recommendation goes to ‘Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,’ playing at the Zipper Theatre. I’m not a big Broadway kind of gal. I find (Broadway shows) to cost a lot of money and I don’t like being far away from the stage.”
Words of Advice - Start Something
“You can plan and plan and plan but if you don’t take the steps, you’re not going anywhere. I see a lot of people doing that. You have to move… just move. When you’re in the garden, you have to cut off the dead bloom for the new one to grow. Get out there and do one thing and three or four other things will grow out of that. Cut that first bloom and move. Once you start moving, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier.”
