Meet Bethany Therrien of Melange Collection in Arvada

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Therrien.

Bethany, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have a non-profit background and I have always really enjoyed working in jobs with higher purposes. I stayed home with my kids for ten years and, when I went back into the workforce, I was looking to spend my time doing something creative and meaningful. I saw the opportunity to purchase Melange Collection as the answer to both of those goals.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Purchasing an existing business has some huge advantages over starting from scratch. Many of the early struggles had been smoothed out, I already had a loyal customer base and the previous owner was a fabulous resource for advice. But I didn’t get to grow with the company. I jumped into it moving full-speed so the first year was a huge learning curve.

Melange Collection – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Melange Collection specializes in handmade holiday decorations and gifts. Melange means “mixture” and, because we import from several different countries, our line is a mixture of many talents. We work with artisan groups in Peru, Guatemala and Armenia to manufacture our line. I am most proud to be able to employ women in these communities around the world. And to be able to do that while making beautiful products that make people smile is wonderful. There are so many fabulous fair trade wholesalers bringing artisan goods into the US market, but I think what sets us apart from others is that we design our own products. We work with the artisan groups to create a specific aesthetic that we think will appeal to the market here.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The thing I love most about Melange Collection is that there is so much to be proud of. We produce remarkable, heirloom-quality products while improving the lives of the women in our artisan groups. And, personally, I am proud to be able to travel with my kids to these communities so that they can gain a better understanding of the world and be better global citizens.

Pricing:

• Handmade Christmas Ornaments: $7 wholesale / $14 retail
• Handmade Christmas Stockings: $19 wholesale / $38 retail
• Handmade Knit Toys: $9 – $24 wholesale / $18 – $48 retail

Contact Info:

• Address: 6610 Holman St Ste 302
  Arvada, CO 80004
• Website: www.melangecollection.com
• Phone: 970-544-4828
• Email: bethany@melangecollection.com
• Instagram: @melangecollection
• Facebook: @themelangecollection

Image Credit:
Melange Collection

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