Pura Vida Bracelets
| Industry | Handcrafted Jewelry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , |
Pura Vida Bracelets is a company headquartered in La Jolla, California, specializing in the sale of handcrafted jewelry and bracelets through its online platform as well as select boutique retailers. Established in 2010 by Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman, the founders were motivated by their experience with Costa Rican culture during a trip to Costa Rica, where they encountered the distinctive bracelet designs.[1]
The phrase Pura Vida, translating to "pure life" in Spanish, is commonly used in Costa Rica with various connotations including greetings, farewells, and expressions of gratitude.[2] In discussions, Thall and Goodman have described the term as emblematic of Costa Rican culture, likening it to Hawaii’s "aloha" spirit.
About
Founded in 2010 by Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman, the company is based in La Jolla, California.[3] After completing their studies at San Diego State University, Thall and Goodman traveled together to Costa Rica where they met two artisans named Joaquin and Jorge who crafted bracelets. They purchased an initial batch of 400 bracelets for $100 to bring back to the United States. Their first sales were made through Planet Blue, a boutique located in Malibu, California.[4][5][6] By late 2013, the workforce had expanded to include approximately twelve employees based in the U.S. and fifty artisans located in Costa Rica.[7] As of July 2019, the company employs more than 650 individuals dedicated to crafting these bracelets.[8]
In addition to their commercial products, Pura Vida produces bracelets for charitable causes through cause marketing initiatives; these bracelets are crafted in the colors representing various nonprofit organizations, with a percentage of proceeds directed back to those entities.
In 2019, Vera Bradley acquired a 75% ownership stake in Creative Genius, the parent company of Pura Vida. This majority share was valued at $75 million. Vera Bradley holds an option to acquire the remaining shares by 2024.[9][10]
References
- ↑ "The Pura Vida Story". Pura Vida Bracelets. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- ↑ Van Velzer, Ryan (June 21, 2015). "National Motto". costarica.com. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ↑ Todorovic, Stefan (9 May 2015). "From Passion to Profits: Pura Vida Bracelets". Ryot. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ "Pura Vida Bracelets Made by Artisans Worldwide". KTLA. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- ↑ Reverente, Mira Del Fonso (28 June 2011). "Pura Vida Bracelets: Beyond the Fashion Trend". Patch: Agoura Hills.
- ↑ Elex, Michaelson (13 February 2015). "SoCal entrepreneurs make millions selling bracelets for charity". KABC-TV.
- ↑ Karas, David. "Pura Vida Bracelets creates jobs, funds good works".
- ↑ "Pura Vida Bracelets Made by Artisans Worldwide".
- ↑ Concepcion, Mariel (2019-06-24). "Vera Bradley Acquires 75% Stake in Pura Vida". San Diego Business Journal.
- ↑ Wu, Jasmine (2019-06-20). "Vera Bradley acquires a majority stake in online jewelry store Pura Vida Bracelets". CNBC.