–\u00a0Alice Walker<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Women Who Inspire Me:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Jenny Benscher, <\/span>co-founder of Lema J Design<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I met Jenny Benscher at a Chicago-area art fair this summer, and was immediately drawn to her beautiful jewelry, and even more so, the story behind how she founded her company.\u00a0 Not only was her display breathtaking, the \u201ccuffs\u201d she was selling were some of the most remarkable, original pieces I\u2019ve ever seen. I was intrigued, inspired, and wanted to know more. Jenny graciously accepted my invitation to write her story.<\/em><\/p>\n Sisters Jenny Benscher and Jill Becker founded\u00a0Lema J\u00a0in November of 2013. Their premiere collection of cuffs is entirely handcrafted out of exotic hides, lined with soft lambskin and set in a variety of finishes.<\/p>\n Lema J, however, is more than just another jewelry line. In the fall of 2012, Jill’s\u00a021-year-old daughter Cara was diagnosed with leukemia. During the course of Cara’s treatment, she and her family started\u00a0Karma for Cara<\/em>,\u00a0a foundation with the three-fold mission of engaging youth, awarding unsung heroes, and tangibly helping patients with leukemia.<\/p>\n When Cara passed away four months later in December 2012, Jenny handcrafted a cuff in Cara’s favorite color (orange), adorned with a protective eye, and gave it to her sister, Jill, as a gift. Though they did not know it at the time, this cuff \u2014 now called the “Karma for Cara Cuff”–was the beginning of Lema J Design.\u00a0https:\/\/lemajdesign.com\/pages\/gallery<\/a><\/p>\n Lema J\u00a0is committed to making jewelry that is not only beautiful but also purposeful: jewelry with a cause. This\u00a0is why 100% of the profits from every sale are\u00a0donated to the\u00a0Karma for Cara Foundation<\/a>\u00a0in the hopes of furthering Cara\u2019s mission and inspiring love, empowerment, motion and adventure in as many lives as possible.<\/p>\n Can you tell me about the Karma for Cara organization?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Karma for Cara Foundation is a non-profit founded by 21-year-old Cara Becker and her family while she was being treated for leukemia at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in October of 2012. The seeds of Karma for Cara began in September 2012 when Cara wanted to hold blood drives as a way to give back because she saw the tremendous need for blood donors and hoped to corral community support.<\/p>\n Cara had always been involved in community service since a young age, and she and her family saw a tremendous need to support other patients who were going through the same challenging treatment. Tragically, Cara passed away in December 2012 from complications from leukemia. Months after Cara passed away, her family decided to continue her focus on helping others which is when the Karma for Cara Foundation was established. The Karma for Cara Foundation has the threefold mission:<\/p>\n Though Cara passed away, her memory and her dream of helping others live on as Lema J and the Karma for Cara Foundation continue to strive to make even a small difference in as many lives as possible.<\/p>\n According to Jenny, \u201cEvery time we sell a Karma for Cara Orange Protective Eye Cuff, we donate an identical one to a leukemia patient, or a family member of a leukemia patient. My sister and I have received many letters on how small acts of kindness meant so much to them, when they were down. It\u2019s wonderful to touch someone in a deep way that\u2019s meaningful, it makes a difference in someone\u2019s life \u2014 they feel cared about and important.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n How did you come up with the name Lema J for your company?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, I\u2019m Jenny and my sister is Jill, who I started this company with in 2013. \u201cJill and Jenny,\u201d in the umpteen thousand combos we researched for a website name\/domain, were taken.\u00a0 There were the numerous other names we liked the sound of, but all were taken and we hit a wall. Around the same time we were brainstorming for name ideas, we had a met with the lovely Lema Khorshid (a business attorney in Chicago) for dinner to go over some business stuff. And once she corrected my pronunciation of her name several times, Jill and I just loved the way “Lema” sounded (Lema, pronounced with a soft \u201ce\u201d like in \u201clemonade\u201d). It was soft and flow-y. And, it just so happened that Lema Khorshid is a kind, strong, independent, smart woman who we liked a lot. So we decided to use her name as an acronym for the values we founded our company on: Love Empowerment Motion Adventure,\u00a0 and the J is for Jenny & Jill.<\/p>\n I notice on your website it says \u201cHandmade Shagreen Cuffs.\u201d Can you explain what\u00a0 \u201cshagreen\u201d is?<\/strong><\/p>\n Shagreen is a fancier name for stingray, or an untanned leather covered with small round granulations. It is extremely strong.\u00a0 Historically, (and even today) it was used as a sheath to protect warrior\u2019s sword blades.<\/p>\n Do you personally make all the cuffs?<\/strong><\/p>\n I did personally make all the cuffs in the beginning, but I just couldn\u2019t keep up and I hired and trained some helpers in my studio. Today, three to four women assist me with the various processes to make each cuff. The designs, cropping, paint colors and more are all by my hand.<\/p>\n How long does it take, on average, to make one of your cuffs?<\/strong><\/p>\n Each cuff takes about 5 hours over the course of three days, which includes lots of curing time.<\/p>\n Where do you source the exotic stingray and python leathers?<\/strong><\/p>\n I import the stingray hides from Thailand. People eat stingray (i.e. skate on a menu), and the hides are a byproduct.\u00a0 I source the other exotic hides domestically, which go through strict international & U.S. guidelines & inspections in order for the end user (me) to obtain them.<\/p>\n Do you get any pushback from animal lovers about the use of exotic skins?<\/strong><\/p>\n Not much, but there have been a handful of people who have expressed their displeasure over my use of the animal hides. Some people have been quite rude; others just choose not to buy my pieces.<\/p>\n Do you mostly sell your cuffs at art fairs in the U.S.?\u00a0 <\/strong>Or do you sell most of them online?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s a good mix. I attend about six fine art\/craft festivals a year in various parts of the U.S.\u00a0 In addition, I participate in several charity fundraiser functions as a vendor. I also do home shows. Those are usually the best, because the women who attend want to support our cause, plus they love the cuffs. Online sales are also great, but those are mostly from people who either already own a cuff and know how they look and feel and want to add to their collection, or by friends of theirs who\u2019ve seen the cuffs in person first. I\u2019m lucky to have many loyal customers.\u00a0 Between supporting Karma for Cara and the cuffs in and of themselves, I guess we must be doing something right because more than just a few women have collections of 5-15+ cuffs\u2026 it humbles me, actually.<\/p>\n What is the price range of the cuffs?<\/strong><\/p>\n Cuffs range from $280 – $495, depending on the design and width. I also make Strappys<\/em>, which are $175. I offer the cuffs in various\u00a0width sizes, including: 1\u201d,1.5″, 2\u201d and 2.5\u201d.\u00a0The 1.5\u201d width is most popular size.<\/p>\n \u00a0What is your most popular seller?<\/strong><\/p>\n The first couple years the Gold Disco and Black Protective Eye were bestsellers. The Ruffle is also a big seller. \u00a0The Polished Pearl, in black, navy, gray and toffee colors are most popular since they go with everything, and they\u2019re quite elegant. The cuffs are such a vast array of styles and colors; it\u2019s all based on personal preference. And, the cuffs are flexible, so they can be shaped to accommodate many different wrist sizes.<\/p>\n What is your background before you started this business? <\/strong><\/p>\n I have an art background. \u00a0I graduated from Boston University with a liberal arts degree, but in my senior year I started painting and drawing more and more, and determined that\u2019s what I wanted to do. I went to study at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) for one year, then went to Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, my home town. I got married and had three kids, and while I played around drawing and painting during those years, overall, art took a back seat. I started designing jewelry 10 years ago, and worked with a friend who was a metal smith from Columbia. I came across the stingray leather five years ago and it fired up my creative juices! I went on eBay and bought a stingray hide and starting experimenting with it. I wanted to make something for my sister, Jill, and decided to use Cara\u2019s favorite color, orange, and make a cuff with a protective eye, and I used soft leather to cover the metal so the cuff would feel like a hug.\u00a0The cuffs I make today have evolved quite a bit from those first year creations. I love to see the growth! What are some of the challenges you\u2019ve faced as a business owner that you never expected? <\/strong><\/p>\n Honing it in. \u00a0I want to do so many different things and I\u2019ve come to realize that I\u2019m not able to do it! I find myself spread a bit too thin too often. Although my kids are in high school & college now, I\u2019m still \u201chand\u2019s on.\u201d I wish I had 10 more hours in each day. I want to continue designing and I also want to learn how to sew, make handbags, and other fun projects.<\/p>\n If you could describe your personality in three words, what would they be? <\/strong><\/p>\n My best friend describes me as, \u201cClassy, Sassy, and Innovative.\u201d\u00a0 I think creative is a given, so I\u2019ll add committed, compassionate, and enthusiastic.<\/p>\n What\u2019s been the most surprising lesson you\u2019ve learned in business? That some business owners would take advantage of a new small, charity-based start-up. Call me na\u00efve. When Lema J first started out, a couple of stores simply refused to pay us after receiving their custom orders. We didn\u2019t know enough to ask the stores to pay up front. Our lawyer, Lema, was outraged and took on those battles herself out of the goodness in her heart.\u00a0Now, everything has to be paid in full before sending orders to new clients.<\/p>\n Another little something that surprised me was to learn that I\u2019m a terrible multi-tasker!<\/p>\n On a positive and more important side though, I\u2019ve learned that I have the drive and inner strength to create & sustain an artsy business.\u00a0 I\u2019ve grown a great deal by being a part of this business.\u00a0When my sister and I started the company, I was in a place where my belief in myself had waned a bit; I had self-confidence issues.\u00a0I wanted nothing to do with the actual business part, I just wanted to make things, which, honestly, is still my preference. But, I\u2019ve learned to step it up.<\/p>\n How do you get most of your business?<\/strong><\/p>\n For the first couple of years, we did a lot of home (trunk) shows, which was great, since we were able to build up a strong customer base who have stayed loyal, and who have also introduced us to many of their friends.\u00a0 The cuffs are niche product for a niche market. The majority of the home shows started out in Maryland and places where my sister had strong connections, including south Florida and the Chicago area. Jill is the go-getter, I\u2019m more the artsy \u201cmaker\u201d type. It\u2019s been a great combination.\u00a0As the home shows began to taper off, we started participating in art shows, as well other events and fundraisers where select vendors sell their lines.<\/p>\n What makes you proud of Lema J Design?<\/strong><\/p>\n Firstly, I makes me feel great to have started an exciting new collaboration with artist Liza Hathaway Matthews. Liza paints her very cool abstract florals on leather and I make them into cuffs. https:\/\/lemajdesign.com\/collections<\/a><\/p>\n What really makes me feel proud is that I\u2019ve created something that connects people to a cause that\u2019s bigger than themselves. They feel really good about supporting Karma for Cara while also getting a beautiful cuff they love to wear or gift!\u00a0 And, in all honesty, it makes me feel terrific and proud to see so many people wearing pieces that I made, and also that they come back for more.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Contact:\u00a0jenny@LemaJDesign.com<\/a><\/p>\n Website:\u00a0www.lemajdesign.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/alyssaburnscommunications.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_0664.jpeg\")
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The Karma for Cara Foundation is currently working on a handful of exciting projects, including: printing and distributing \u201cCara Cookie Volunteers\u201d children\u2019s book, instituting Karma for Cara Clubs in high schools, awarding micro-grants for kids completing community service projects, developing a short documentary, partnering on volunteer efforts with Living Classrooms Foundation, expanding its nursing recognition award program, and supporting organizations that benefit cancer patients and their families. www.karmaforcara.org<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/alyssaburnscommunications.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_0696.jpeg\")
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