Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Greene McAllen.
Christina Greene was founded in 2011 by Houston-based jewelry designer Christina Greene McAllen, a graduate of Texas Christian University (TCU) and Parsons School of Design in New York. Inspired by travels near and far, Christina launched her unique, upscale collection of artisan-crafted jewelry to bring a fresh perspective to jewelry design. Each of her 18 collections is carefully designed in Houston and expertly crafted by a team of skilled artisans in Jaipur, India to highlight the beauty of natural stones from all over the world. Christina Greene began hand-making her own jewelry by pairing semi-precious stones such as turquoise, amethyst, citrine and coral with gold plated chains purchased from local jewelry supply shows. Her business grew when a woman stopped Christina on the street and bought a necklace she had made right off her neck.
Today, what started out as sketches in drawing pads has become an incredibly successful jewelry business that has seen over 12500% growth, with a showroom in Houston, department store partnerships with Dillard’s and Anthropologie Europe as well as retail partners in over 90 boutiques worldwide.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest and most important part of my business is working with manufacturers and overseeing imports and exports from abroad. Managing this side of my business from overseas has definitely proved to be the most difficult challenge. Throughout the past nine years, I have had to teach myself the ins and outs of international business, language barriers, time differences, negotiating pricing in male-dominated countries and how to cost-effectively and successfully ship my product from overseas to Houston.
Another challenge is growth. It is easy to grow fast when you spend money quickly; however, the risk can soon outweigh the rewards if you are not careful. As a sole owner of a business, I am proud to say that the money invested in Christina Greene LLC is directly from product sales and has been carefully budgeted. Over the years, the business has been approached by many incredible opportunities; unfortunately, I have learned that sometimes a great opportunity does not necessarily mean it is cost effective for my business at that time. I have learned to overcome this ongoing challenge by sticking to my business plan and focusing on specific goals.
A third challenge is competition. The fashion, jewelry and accessories industry is one of the largest competitive markets. It is an industry based on consumer perception of want, not need. As a brand, Christina Greene is always compared to other designers. One of the hardest challenges the brand has faced is how to stand out against the competition and exceed customer expectations. Considering the competition is something I am faced with every day – in social media posts, brainstorming a new collection, business marketing, etc. – and it keeps me true to my brand and style.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about you and your career so far?
Christina Greene is a collection of upscale jewelry, accessories and home goods with southern flair all created by designer Christina Greene McAllen. Founded in 2011 in Houston, Texas, the rapidly growing brand currently sells online (www.christina-greene.com) as well as in over 90 retail stores worldwide. Inspired by travels near and far, Christina launched her unique, upscale collection of artisan-crafted jewelry to bring a fresh perspective to jewelry design. Each of her 18 collections is carefully designed in Houston and expertly crafted by a team of skilled artisans in Jaipur, India to highlight the beauty of natural stones from all over the world.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My parents, my husband, David, my employees and customers. I would not be here without their support and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2449 South Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77098 - Website: www.christina-greene.com
- Phone: 832-803-9152
- Email: info@christina-greene.com
- Instagram: @christinagreenejewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinagreenejewelry/
Image Credit:
Courtesy of Christina Greene
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