Episode 54: Rachel Mielke (Hillberg & Berk), Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

YPO member Rachel Mielke was designing jewelry for fun at her kitchen table, selling to her friends, when she realized making and selling jewelry was a passion she wanted to pursue full time. She appeared on CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” and came away with a massive investment to get started. From there, her company Hillberg & Berk has skyrocketed to international acclaim, growing at about 700 percent in five years. In 2015 and 2016, Rachel and her company made the PROFIT 500 list of Canada’s fastest-growing companies.

Today, Rachel’s sparkle is worn by some of the most notable women in the world: Michelle Obama, Celine Dione, Barbara Walters, just to name a few. Rachel was also commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan to create a USD15,000 brooch for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which the monarch has worn numerous times over the years. In this episode, Rachel shares with us how to succeed in bricks and mortar retail with high-end jewelry stores.

---