SCORE Mentor Helps Jewelry Creator Design a Growth Plan

Alejandra Garcia finds inspiration everywhere she goes.

Whether in nature, perusing fashion, while reading a book or on an outing, Garcia is constantly on the lookout for eye-catching palettes to weave into her Los Angeles-based Moon and Milk Boho-style beaded earring collections.

“If I see a color pattern that I like, I take a picture and I try to mimic the color pattern,” she said. “Women inspire me a lot.”

After an unfulfilling career in social services, her mother, who worked at a jewelry warehouse business, suggested she call on her passion for jewelry.

“I went to Peru. Perus had a lot of jewelry,” Garcia recalled. “I took money out from my retirement plan and invested it in the business. I spent most of my money on inventory. I bought a bunch of jewelry from Thailand.”

She worked the first two years as a jewelry reseller. A self-taught jewelry designer and maker, Garcia leaned on YouTube videos for how-to help as she morphed from reseller to creator.

“I design everything,” she said. “I’m just a one-woman show.”

For the last five years, Garcia estimates that she’s handcrafted at least 1,000 pairs of earrings and about 10 jewelry collections.

“I’ve grown organically and slowly,” she said. “Whatever work you put into it you always get that result back. If you really put yourself out there and put in all the effort and all the hard work people see that, and they respond to that. When I put out a collection that I really put blood and tears into it, it sells really well.”

In an effort to expand her production capabilities, Garcia participated in SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition. SCORE is a national nonprofit organization that supports small businesses through free mentoring.

More than 2,200 small businesses applied to compete in five pitch events. Contestants were pared down to 60 contenders. Participants were matched with SCORE mentors to refine their pitches, strengthen their presentations, and hone their business plans.

Leading up to the competition, Garcia, who was one of 45 finalists, teamed with SCORE Southeast Massachusetts mentor Vincent Turco, who said Garcia deserved an “A+++” grade.

“She followed all the directions,” he said. “She did great in becoming a finalist, which by the way, she had some of the highest scores of all the L.A. people.”

Turco continues to mentor Garcia and is helping her find grant opportunities, as well as other avenues to raise money.

Garcia is already considering other pitch competitions to raise capital so she can outsource some of the production.

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit score.org.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources, and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at score.org.