Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cramer.
Hi Sara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a creative person and knew I wanted to build a life around making things. I graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2010, and over the years, my creative career has continued to evolve into what is now Sara Cramer Jewelry.
My business has gone through many different chapters. I started with handmade jewelry and accessories, eventually expanding into beaded jewelry, DIY bead kits, laser-engraved pieces, and other products that allowed me to grow my presence in local retail stores throughout Kansas City.
One of the biggest turning points for my business came in May 2024, when I added permanent jewelry. What started as another service quickly became a major part of my business and completely changed the direction I was headed. I fell in love with the experience of working directly with customers and creating jewelry for them in the moment. Permanent jewelry has allowed me to combine everything I love about jewelry making with the personal connection of helping someone choose a piece that celebrates a friendship, relationship, milestone, or simply something they want to do for themselves.
Since then, the business has grown tremendously. Today, you can find my products in multiple Kansas City retail locations, and I operate a dedicated permanent jewelry space inside Queen Bee Boutiques in Blue Springs. I also spend many weekends at the Kansas City River Market and other local events and pop-ups.
More recently, the business has started expanding into larger private and corporate events. I’m preparing for my largest permanent jewelry event yet, where my team and I will be creating hundreds of bracelets for guests in a single evening. It’s one of those moments that makes me stop and realize just how far the business has come.
There have been plenty of long days, experiments, changes in direction, and lessons along the way. I’m still very hands-on with almost every part of the business—from designing and sourcing jewelry to making products, setting up displays, working events, managing retail locations, and welding jewelry for customers. It can be a lot, but watching something I started creatively continue to grow into a real, recognizable Kansas City business has been incredibly rewarding.
I feel like Sara Cramer Jewelry is entering another exciting chapter right now. I’m continuing to grow the permanent jewelry side of the business, expand my retail presence, build a team, and take on opportunities that I never would have imagined when I first started.
Alright, 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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I think one of the biggest challenges is that, despite how much my business has grown, I am still very much a one-woman show.
When you see Sara Cramer Jewelry at different retail locations, markets and events around Kansas City, it can probably look much bigger from the outside than it actually is behind the scenes. I have one amazing girl who helps me a few hours a week, but the day-to-day business is me.
On Sundays, my alarm goes off at 4:45 a.m. so I can load up and head to the farmers market. I set up the tent, tables and entire jewelry display myself, work the market all day, tear everything back down, load it up and go home. During the week, I’m making jewelry, ordering inventory, delivering products to stores, refreshing displays, answering customers, doing social media, bookkeeping, planning events and then actually showing up to sell and weld the jewelry.
That has probably been the hardest part of growing the business: there is always more that I could be doing, but there is still only one of me. I’ve had to learn my physical limits and accept that sometimes taking a day off is actually necessary, even when my to-do list says otherwise.
The financial side of growth can also be scary. I’ve had to learn when to take a chance on inventory, equipment, a new retail location or an event without knowing exactly what the return will be. Some ideas have worked incredibly well and others haven’t, but every one of them has taught me something.
I’m actually reaching an interesting point in the business now where some opportunities are becoming bigger than what one person can physically do. I have an upcoming corporate event where we will be making hundreds of permanent jewelry bracelets in one evening, and that is something I simply cannot do alone. I’ll be bringing in additional help specifically for that event.
I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve been able to take this business largely on my own. It hasn’t been easy, and there have been plenty of exhausting days, but I think that makes every new milestone mean a little bit more.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sara Cramer Jewelry is really a combination of everything I love—jewelry, color, creativity, and connecting with people. I create and sell permanent jewelry, beaded jewelry, charm jewelry, laser engraved jewelry, DIY bead kits, and other pieces that are carried in several retail locations throughout the Kansas City area.
Permanent jewelry has become a huge part of what I’m known for. I offer a large selection of chains in different metals, styles, colors and price points, and I’m constantly looking for unique options that you aren’t going to see everywhere else. I love sourcing new chains and materials and creating a selection that feels fun and a little unexpected rather than offering the same handful of choices.
I think one thing that sets me apart is the experience I try to create around the jewelry. I want people to have fun choosing their chain, adding charms or connectors, stacking pieces together and creating something that actually feels like them. Some customers come in with their best friend, mom, daughter or partner, while others come in and get something completely for themselves. I love being a small part of those memories.
I’m also still an artist and maker at heart. I travel to source beads and materials, design and make jewelry myself, develop new products, and create collections specifically for the Kansas City stores where my work is sold. I’m constantly experimenting with what I can make next.
What I’m most proud of, though, is how much I’ve built on my own. When someone sees my jewelry in a store, visits my permanent jewelry setup, or walks into my tent at the farmers market, they’re seeing something that I personally built. I selected the products, made or sourced the jewelry, designed the display, hauled the tables, set everything up, marketed it and showed up to sell it.
I think that personal involvement is a big part of what makes Sara Cramer Jewelry different. There is a real person behind the brand, and most of the time, when you shop Sara Cramer Jewelry, that person is standing right there helping you pick out your jewelry.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think the biggest thing I would want people to know is just how much supporting a small business really means. When you shop small, there is a real person on the other side of that purchase. Every time someone chooses a piece of my jewelry, comes to see me at the farmers market or Queen Bee Boutiques, tells a friend about my business, shares one of my posts, or comes back to add another piece to their collection, I notice it and I appreciate it.
One of my favorite parts of what I do is getting to know my customers. I’ve had people come back again and again, bring their friends and family, and follow me from one event to another. Those relationships have become such a special part of Sara Cramer Jewelry.
I also hope my story is a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. My business today looks completely different from what I imagined when I began, and I’m sure it will look different again a few years from now. Some of my best opportunities have come from simply being willing to try something new and see where it takes me.
I’m incredibly grateful for the Kansas City community that continues to show up for me and my work. If you see my pink tent at the farmers market or find me welding permanent jewelry around town, come say hi. Chances are, I’m the person who packed it, hauled it, set it up and will pack it all back up again at the end of the day—and I’m always happy to meet someone new.
You can shop ready to wear jewelry at retail locations: Made in KC Plaza, Made in KC Lenexa, and Shop Local KC Crown Center.
My Next permanent jewelry pop up at Made in KC on the Plaza is Saturday, November 7th with a KC Chiefs theme! Come check out my new sparkle Chiefs inspired gold-fill and sterling silver enamel paper clip chain.
Walk-in hours at Queen Bee Boutiques are currently Weds-Sat, but you can make an appointment on my website so I can expect you!
Pricing:
- Bracelets $45+
- Anklet $75+
- Necklace $95+
- Hand Chain $105+
- Complimentary repairs on Sara Cramer Jewelry!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SaraCramerJewelry.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/saracramerjewelry
