[vc_row padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px”][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px” width=”1/1″][text_output]Tucked away in a small space above the shops on Main Street you’ll find one of Berlin’s shining gems, CFD Fine Jewelry. Pun intended, the local jewelry designer and shop embodies everything that we love about this town: passionate small business owner, artistic expression, and small town charm. Owner Caroline Forrester officially embarked on her journey in fine jewelry design last year when she decided to shift gears in her career, eschewing life as a graphic designer to fulfill a lifelong dream of designing and crafting fine jewelry. After transitioning from her garage studio to her current Main Street digs, Caroline quickly found her place amongst the town’s rising young entrepreneurs, simultaneously launching her website, opening up the shop doors, and expanding her brand. Rings, earrings, necklaces…everything in the small studio space and featured on her website are handmade by Caroline, with inspirations drawn heavily from the beautiful natural surroundings of our local area. “Being just a few minutes away from the ocean, with old farm houses, and beautiful woods along the way, Berlin has just been the perfect place to create and remain constantly inspired,” said Caroline.
Inspiration aside, starting her dream in small town Berlin was a no-brainer for Caroline, who lives just down the street with her fiance and adorable pup (who makes a cameo now and then in her social media marketing). “I’m lucky enough to have grown up in one of the most charming and artist-heavy towns there is,” explained Caroline. “From the moment I decided to move my studio from my garage to a second floor location in the heart of Historical Downtown Berlin, I saw a side of Berlin I never realized existed. Becoming a business owner in Berlin, means joining a whole new family. Everyone in Berlin has been so supportive and kind, I cannot say enough. The people of Berlin have an amazing appreciation for the arts as well, which has helped Berlin become known as a mini artist hub on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.”
Of course our love for small business (and the fact that Caroline is a dear friend and insanely talented artist) has brought us to her website and to her shop quite frequently. What we admire about her business acumen is how adeptly she uses digital marketing to foster her brand. “Before opening CFD Fine Jewelry, I got my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree, in Graphic Design. I then worked full time as a graphic designer for two years for Burley Oak Brewing Company. Working for them helped me learn both about relationships between you and your customer, as well as the inner workings of building and running an online shop,” explained Caroline, who has an active digital presence not only via her website, but also on Facebook and Instagram. “These experiences really gave me a leg up when building an online presence. I’m able to do everything from photography and editing, to branding and creating print material, which will really help CFD become a recognizable brand. I created my online shop and use it at my main method of selling jewelry. The studio in Berlin is a great working studio, where I keep all my tools and create all my jewelry, but I primarily sell online and directly to stores.”
With her store fielding heavy traffic all week long and her online presence growing exponentially, it’s hard to believe that just a year ago we were all celebrating the grand opening of CFD Fine Jewelry, so we couldn’t resist prodding Forrester for what’s on the horizon for 2017. “One of my main goals for 2017 is to spread CFD’s wings and get my jewelry into more stores, and into more hands. I’m currently working on a new collection, which should be released soon!”
To stay in the know on the all the latest from CFD Fine Jewelry, follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@cfdfinejewelry), check her site frequently, or pop in her store on Main Street in Berlin, located just above TaDa. [/text_output][x_video_embed id=”” class=”” style=””][/x_video_embed][/vc_column][/vc_row]