The goal of the ESQUELETO workshop is to help aspiring jewelers, entrepreneurs, and business owners to realize their full potential in creating a jewelry business that has a unique perspective and the potential to truly thrive throughout the years. Jewelry is all about the details and juggling all the different aspects of any business, let alone a jewelry business, requires a great perspective and finesse.

 

Along with discussing her own journey, Lauren will lead group discussions on the importance of establishing your skill base as a jeweler, finding your unique perspective as an artist, and delivering a high end product to an ever increasing competitive market and industry. Topics discussed will focus on developing a unique business plan, finding your niche in the market, product pricing, strategic planning, and much more. Special emphasis will be given to diversifying your product and staying competitive in a highly competitive and often over-saturated marketplace. 

 

Participants will be given assignments, work in groups, contribute to discussions, and participate in a large-scale group jewelry project as a team building exercise at the Instituto. 

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Lauren Wolf first opened the doors to ESQUELETO OAKLAND in 2011 as her personal studio, with a small space up front to exhibit her own jewelry as well as the jewelry and artwork created by a few of her close friends. Naming this new gallery ESQUELETO (skeleton in Spanish)—a nod both to her time spent learning metalsmithing in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and to her penchant for casting bones, teeth and shells for use in her early designs—Lauren soon realized that there was a great demand for handcrafted, creative, ethically-sourced, fine jewelry. Since those early days in Temescal Alley, the company has expanded across the state and then the country, opening additional  retail locations in Los Angeles, New York City and San Diego.