Today we’d like to introduce you to Davie Kujawa.
Hi Davie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started making jewelry for my teacher friends in Waxahachie that turned into a very busy side hustle during the holidays. When I had my first child, I decided I would stay home and be a full-time mom. I started doing small trade shows/canton. Dallas market found me out in canton and ask me to come become a wholesaler so I did. I grew my business this way year after year. I would mommy all day and make jewelry all night. I opened up my first retail store in Waxahachie about this time. It was called Turquoise Haven. I sold retail and wholesale out of the retail location there in town. Then one Dallas Market, my wholesale business exploded. We were going thru major growing pain. We have four shippers in the back, 4-5 jewelry makers and just couldn’t seem to get ahead. Retail was pushed aside to keep of with the high Demand for our wholesale products.
By this time, I had two babies!! They went everywhere with me. I was in my mid 30’s working myself to death building a brand. When my last surprise baby girl made her arrival, my family had to opportunity to move out of Waxahachie to a large place in Purdon TX. Since I was a stay-at mom, lol!!! I felt I needed to be one location. I closed the retail location and built my wholesale warehouse at my home and concentrated only on wholesale. By this time we are designing and manufacture clothes and jewelry. I remember having the baby swing etc, all set up in the warehouse. I would have to work all night pulling and making orders for shippers to come the next day and ship. My new baby girl was there with me the entire night. I worked she slept. I stopped to nurse, and repeat. Since we were new to the area, I didn’t have any employees at that time. So many stories… I only remember breaking two times in my 14 years and it was just me no one saw me… those moments.
I’m older now… been doing this for 14 years. So how did I end back up in retail… we were in Waxahachie a couple days a week for my kiddos school. They went two days and were home schooled the other three of which I did not attempt… I had a retired teacher that tackled that!!! One of my team member, Shadoh, had went to hair school while working for me and we always came up the plans… so at a show once I was like I will open a store and you open the salon and we will be partners. So we did just that. Hence where 3BH came from. Three bears (for my three kiddos) Headquarters for the salon. We were in partners for three years and had a awesome little space. A couple of years ago she wanted to expand and started her own salon just down the road… and I’m so proud of her!!! I never planned on becoming a salon owner as well but when shadoh left the gals from just around corner came and join us !!! We moved to our new location last year. We have a coffee house in front (which I do not own), the salon and the boutique. It just a perfect little space and it a perfect little nook. We have the train and well parking isn’t so good but we love our the differently customers we get to serve. I glad that I came back to my roots of retail and most importantly in the community of Waxahachie that has supported my, my family, employees thru the years.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh no!!!! I kinda of sit back and listen to others talk about not enough time, worry, not started, complaining… etc. If they only knew!!! I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I can look back of what/who I was and how I’ve grown and still growing. It is two different people and now in my 40’s I see the plan, I see my purpose. I see that all the things I went made me the person I’m today. I was unhealthy, overworked, killing myself slowy and loosing time!!! you can never get back time. At 38 all things started to change for me and for the past four years I’ve been on journey to get study God’s word/relationship make it a priority, better myself everyday so I can be who I need to be for those who need me the most. We should all have a goal to look back and be like “wow I’m so glad I’m not that person anymore. Everyday, month, year… it adds up!!! If I continue I’m so eager to see was 50 beholds. It wasn’t all for me. God has brought so many beautiful women into my circle and my purpose is to just guide them and teach them from my mistakes. See the things they don’t like and make sure they are different… learn from my failures and there is a lot… Don’t lose there precious time for work/$$$ live. Heard the once… Everyone will die, but not all will LIVE!!!! I’ve slowed down so much and make less than I ever have and I’m more happy than I’ve ever been. No matter how hard you work… it doesn’t go with you!!!! time! time! time don’t waste the time and energy of negative people… don’t be that negative person.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For the retail, I don’t sell my wholesale brand there yet… my goal in the next 1-2 years is combine the two wholesale and retail online and even slow down more!!! I really think about the fabrics/fit of each piece and how it will make a women’s shine or things they don’t like about it. Being on the designing/manufacturing end I have an edge. If we can’t find it, I will make it and I will make it right! That is one of goals… We want to create designs only for our retail location since there is much of same stuff out there and I can so why not. I also really want to provide classy clothes… seems we have gotten away from from how a lady dresses… maybe its the older I get… here is my secrets **I’m not the most talented… but I will outwork anyone in the room! ** never stop learning ***mindset is everything!!! I told myself enough I’m a great dancer and I believe it now even if no one does.
Any big plans?
Launch our app on April 1st, we just started selling on the new IG/FB platform where you can shop straight from there without leaving and the biggest is we are working on our own clothing line for 3Bh only!!! and combining the retail and wholesale together so all styles are in one place online and we are learning, learning, learning everyday all day… always something new.
Pricing:
- Average price $24-$38 for clothing
- Fashion jewelry $6-$14
Contact Info:
- Email: shopthreebears@yahoo.com
- Website: my3bh.com
- Instagram: @my3bh
Image Credits
Victoria Lanas- 3bh store manager Shadoh Lassetter model Casey Barrentine – Designer and store merchandiser and stylist to all the customers!!
