The transformation of Kathleen’s of Dublin
Cynthia Myers was nice enough to share the story of how Kathleen’s of Dublin survived as the Celtic Jewelry Studio.
In 1993 I opened a small Irish shop I named Kathleen's of Dublin in downtown Portland Oregon. In 2008 our landlord wanted the space on Broadway for a large out of state jewelry company, so we moved the shop to a different location in downtown. That winter, nine days before Christmas, Portland was hit with one of the largest recorded snowstorm, planes didn’t fly, highways were closed, and side streets were unpassable for days up to and beyond Christmas. We lost a huge amount of Christmas sales and the revenue needed to make it through the next three-quarters.
Then the following February the recession hit, we hung on for two years but we decided to close our doors in 2011, the stress of trying to get back on our feet was just too much. I thought about having an Irish wake to say goodbye to long time customers and friends but I just didn’t have the heart.
Funny how life works, back in 2003 a friend of mine from the East coast encouraged me to turn my jewelry making into a business, I had been making jewelry for both my shop and hers for years. This same friend had a wholesale line of Irish baby cloths that she exhibited at the Irish Tradeshow back east. I walked into her booth during one show to find my stand of jewelry sitting on a display table! Dumfounded I turned to her and said, “I’m not in the wholesale business.” She smiled and replied, “You are now,” and handed three orders!
Fast forward to today...
Under the brand GPD Designs, my jewelry can be found in Irish and Scottish Shops across the US and in Canada. The Celtic Jewelry Studio.com is my retail website.
Traveling to Ireland and the Celtic Isles for many years for the shop I became very familiar with the folklore and legends, the Celtic people, their history and the wonderful mythology of the Celts. I took that living history and have handcrafted Jewelry with an ancient story. Real gemstones, metal adornments combine to create our jewelry collections, beautifully unique and rich in Celtic symbolism. Each piece comes with a story card explaining the meaning of the Celtic symbol, power of the gemstones, or mythology of the Celts.
Collections include: Selkie-A collection in Sea Glass, Sacred Numbers-Based on the Mythology of the Celts, Cliodna-Celtic Goddess of the Sea, Celtic Legends, Tribe, Cruthu-A Collection with real gemstones, and Connemara Marble of Ancient Ireland.
Here’s the story of Kathleen’s of Dublin in downtown Portland as reported by The Oregonian. https://www.oregonlive.com/window-shop/2011/10/kathleens_of_dublin_closes_aft.html .
Vivian McInerney of The Oregonian wrote in 2007, “Shop owner Cynthia McBurney announced she's going to pack-up her Celtic treasures and move . . . a few blocks away. She'll leave 860 S.W. Broadway and open at 737 S.W. Salmon, the corner of Salmon and Park once occupied by the intensely caffeinated Coffee People. Kathleen's of Dublins is the perfect place to find a beautiful Celtic cross on a chain. (We must confess, we have three.) A beach towel that, when wrapped around the waist, looks like an Irish kilt. Or an Irish sweater for your sentimental Dad on Father's Day.”