Finding Unique and Timeless Jewelry with Goldfine Jewelry

Published on 6th August 2020

Goldfine Jewelry, a Minneapolis based company, offers versatile, upscale, hand-crafted jewelry to the community. The founder and creator behind the brand, Sara Goldfine Baratz successfully turned her hobby into a full-time job and her own business. While she was attending college at the University of Kansas School of Fine Arts, Goldfine Baratz noticed there was not a lot of beaded or hand-crafted jewelry for sale, so she began creating her own. She received many compliments on her jewelry and decided to see where her skills and talent could take her. Goldfine Baratz never took a jewelry class, but by studying how other jewelry was made she self-taught herself and continued to improve as time went on.

In May of 2004, Goldfine Baratz obtained her LLC for SBG designs and within a year she was able to launch her brand in Los Angeles. After getting married, Goldfine Baratz rebranded the company to what is now known as Goldfine Jewelry.

Goldfine Baratz later moved back to her home state of Minnesota and set-up shop in Minneapolis. Goldfine Jewelry’s studio and showroom is located in downtown Minneapolis in the North Loop. By setting up an appointment, retail and wholesale customers can come by the studio to shop the collection(s) or discuss customized pieces. The shop can also be found online and on social media.

When designing her jewelry, Goldfine Baratz thinks of how to make the piece a good investment for her customers. Her goal for each design is for it to remain timeless and in style, but also have different functions so it can be worn in more than one way. Her goal is to give customers the chance to “wear something different.” Goldfine Jewelry offers unique pieces in each collection and works with customers to customize and create one-of-a-kind items.

Expanding her brand in 2018, Goldfine Baratz and her sister Marcy created littleG by Goldfine which targets a younger customer base. Their idea for the littleG collection was sparked by their own young children and they wanted to share this with others. Goldfine Baratz said it teaches children at a young age how to express themselves with jewelry, but also how to take care of an important, delicate item.

While Covid-19 has affected everyone, Goldfine Jewelry has kept true to their mission and remained on top of their goals during this time. The company goal is to expand the brand and customer reach while also taking online sales to the next level. Goldfine Baratz said that through this time it has pushed her to do more media marketing and to expand on the eCommerce side of her business. Unfortunately, Goldfine Jewelry had to put a few things on hold, like hiring a full-time operations manager.

“In the past, I have been doing much more in-person sales and pop-ups throughout the country and it has been great,” Goldfine Baratz said. “I love engaging with other people and I love the face to face and helping people style in-person, but there is a way to do that online too. I know there is a way to have that connection and it is just a matter of figuring out how to do that, so my plan is to move forward with more online sales. Once things do get better with Covid-19, I would like to continue the in-person, but just not as much.”

Like many other companies, Goldfine Jewelry had plans and events for the 2020 summer, but they were all cancelled when Covid-19 came to the United States. The community has helped Goldfine Baratz during this time by reaching out, shopping, and supporting her work. The online sales have increased organically during Covid-19 and Goldfine Baratz has continued to find ways to provide customers with a way to shop for a cause. Goldfine Baratz is continuing to offer partnerships that help give back to the local community which is part of her mission as a small business owner.

“I think that such an important part of being a consumer is knowing where your money is going,” Goldfine Baratz said. “If you do not need to shop, but you want to support an organization and a small business, I feel like why not give the public an opportunity to do that. I always feel better when there is some sort of mission tied to something that I purchase, so I wanted that to be a part of the Goldfine mission.”

In light of difficult times, Goldfine Jewelry is trying to look on the bright side of things and is continuing to put out unique, multi-functional, and upscale, hand-crafted jewelry for customers.

Cantik Collective

“Meet the Maker Series”

by Emily Quandahl

"For the past few weeks I have been starting out these Meet the Maker features gushing over those who are being interviewed, but I am genuinely so excited with the direction Cantik Collective is going that I can't help myself, and today is no exception. Based out of Minneapolis, MN, today we pick the brain of Sara Goldfine, designer and founder of Goldfine Jewelry. With her new collection TrueXGold that just launched this past week in collaboration with popular fashion blogger Chelsea Lankford of truelane.co she's finding the balance between life as a girl boss and mom to her baby girl. While not a rookie to the design game, she doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.  

Everyone has a different path to finding their creative rhythm and becoming an entrepreneur. What got you started?

For as long as I can remember, I had a passion for making wearables.  As a child, I loved to redesign my Barbie Doll's outfits and try to come up with new designs that she could wear.  I also spent hours sifting through my mother's jewelry box, taking broken pieces of jewelry and turning them into my own creations.  This hobby stuck with me through college, at which point, I took the jewelry making to a new level by testing my entrepreneurial skills.  I tested the market by selling my jewelry to a handful of boutiques as well as through home jewelry parties.  After receiving a positive response, I was motivated to continue in the path of becoming my own boss and turning my hobby into a business.  

What drew you to designing jewelry and where do you draw inspiration from?

Designing and creating jewelry was something that came naturally to me.  I never took any classes.  It was all about trial and error and I really enjoyed the challenge of figuring it out on my own.  I draw my inspiration from a plethora of different avenues: travel, nature, weather, textures, and colors.  Sometimes inspiration comes from a person that I admire, a hole in my wardrobe, or even a stone that I'm drawn to.  While formulating a collection, I always try to incorporate the trends of the season while considering a way to make each piece timeless. 

What has been your biggest career challenge to overcome so far?

Balancing motherhood and work while staying motived and rested.  Being my own boss has it's positives and negatives.  The positives are that I have more flexibility in my schedule, but the negatives are that it's hard to allow flexibility in my schedule without feeling like I'm slipping behind.  Although I don't have to answer to a boss, I must always motivate myself to stay on track so that I don't get behind.  This year I became a mom to an incredible baby girl.  It was the biggest life changer for me and definitely the biggest challenge I have ever experienced.  I didn't have time to take a break from work, and I also didn't have the ability to turn my brain off in order to get sleep.  Sleep deprivation is a serious form of torture.  I never realized how much I appreciated sleep until I went 3 months averaging 4 hours of sleep a night while trying to run my business and take care of a newborn.  That being said, the biggest challenge was balancing my responsibilities as a business owner while taking on the full-time job as a mom.  I have the utmost appreciation for all moms!  I never realized how hard, yet rewarding, this job would be!

Where would you like to see Goldfine Jewelry in the next five years?

I would love to see Goldfine Jewelry as one of the "go to" jewelry labels in the United States.  The goal is to make jewelry that everyone could use in their wardrobe while adding fun twists to the designs that allow people to wear the jewelry in more than one way.  I think there is a need for this in every woman's jewelry box and I hope that women throughout the country will fulfill this need with pieces from Goldfine Jewelry.

When you're not busy being a girl boss, what are you typically up to? Any other interests?

When I'm not working, I am playing with my baby girl or hanging out with my family and friends.  I love to be active and I LOVE to dance!  There's an AMAZING dance class Wildhive that I try to go to as much as possible.  It's the sort of class that anyone can enjoy.  The positive energy in the class is contagious and you leave feeling accomplished and motivated.  It's the best!  When the weather is nice, you'll find me outside either taking walks or soaking in the sun!

Last but not least, who are some designers and makers out there that you think we should know about?

I could go on and on....there are so many fascinating designers and makers that I have been lucky enough to encounter.  Here are the first 5 that come to mind:

1. Robyn Frank of Thumbs Cookies.  Her bite-sized cookies are way too delicious to just have one, two or even three.  Her personality fits this dilemma to a T....she's one of those people that you just can't get enough of!  

2. Michelle Radtke Shawhan of Radtke.  Her bags are something else!  I'm a proud collector ;)  When she's not sewing up new creations, she's running her Wedding Planning business Bloom Events....#GirlBoss

3. Becky Sturm of StormSister.  She is a serious mover and shaker.  She has an incredible line of organic lipsticks that are smooth like butter and the color actually stays on your lips all day.  I'm kind of obsessed with the ones that I own!  She also put together this amazing event for local makers called Lowertown Pop which will take place at the St. Paul Union Depot on April 9th.

4.  Jessie McShane of Wool and Whisky - she hand-knits amazing scarves!  They're super soft and cozy!

5.  Nicole Feest of Nylon Saddle Photography.  She has an incredible eye for capturing beauty in people, places,  and things.  Her work is both thought provoking and sentimental."