Pura Vida Bracelets
| Industry | Handcrafted Jewelry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , |
Pura Vida Bracelets is a La Jolla, California–based company that sells hand-crafted bracelets and jewelry online and through boutique stores. It was founded in 2010 by Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman, who created the business having been inspired by Costa Rican culture after discovering the bracelet style while on a vacation in Costa Rica.[1]
Pura Vida means "pure life" in Spanish; in Costa Rica it is said frequently and has many meanings, such as hello, goodbye, or even to say thank you.[2] In an interview, Thall and Goodman called the term "the slogan of Costa Rica, just like the word 'aloha' from Hawaii".
About
The company, which is based in La Jolla, California, was founded by Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman in 2010.[3] Thall and Goodman traveled to Costa Rica together on vacation after graduating from San Diego State University, where they met a pair of bracelet makers named Joaquin and Jorge. They then purchased 400 bracelets for $100 to bring back to the United States. The pair initially sold their original stock at Planet Blue, a small boutique located in Malibu, California.[4][5][6] By late 2013, Pura Vida had grown to a dozen US-based staff and 50 Costa Rica–based staff.[7] As of July 2019, the company has over 650 employees that work to create these bracelets.[8]
Pura Vida also creates bracelets for charitable organizations, as a cause marketing fundraiser; bracelets are produced in a charitable organization's colors, and a portion of the sale of those bracelets goes to that charitable organization.
In 2019, Vera Bradley purchased a 75% stakeholder share in Pura Vida’s parent company, Creative Genius. The 75% of the company was valued at $75 million. They have the option to purchase the remainder of the company in 2024.[9][10]
References
- ^ "The Pura Vida Story". Pura Vida Bracelets. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Van Velzer, Ryan (June 21, 2015). "National Motto". costarica.com. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ^ Todorovic, Stefan (May 9, 2015). "From Passion to Profits: Pura Vida Bracelets". Ryot. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Pura Vida Bracelets Made by Artisans Worldwide". KTLA. July 12, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Reverente, Mira Del Fonso (June 28, 2011). "Pura Vida Bracelets: Beyond the Fashion Trend". Patch: Agoura Hills. Patch Media. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ Michaelson, Elex (February 13, 2015). "SoCal entrepreneurs make millions selling bracelets for charity". KABC-TV. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ Karas, David (December 2, 2013). "Pura Vida Bracelets creates jobs, funds good works". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Pura Vida Bracelets Made by Artisans Worldwide". KTLA. July 12, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Concepcion, Mariel (June 24, 2019). "Vera Bradley Acquires 75% Stake in Pura Vida". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ Wu, Jasmine (June 20, 2019). "Vera Bradley acquires a majority stake in online jewelry store Pura Vida Bracelets". CNBC. Retrieved January 1, 2020.