A Sarasota-based company, Bonitas International, creator of BooJee Beads ID jewelry, is listed as one of Inc. magazine’s 500/5000 fastest growing private companies. As the business continues on its growth trajectory, five new jobs will be created.
Bonitas was founded in 2003 and is best known for its
BooJee Bead lanyards. The fashionable jewelry dresses up workplace ID badges with beads, ribbons and charms. Customers can choose from a wide variety of colors and prints, as well as designs. Customers work in various fields including medical, education, transportation and government. BooJee collections are sold through the company’s website, as well as at 4,000 retail partners throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Kimberly Martinez, co-founder and CEO of
Bonitas, says the million dollar business she created with her sister 10 years ago is going strong and plans additional growth.
"We are aggressively growing about 30 percent this year over last year’s performance,'' Martinez says. "Our new philosophy is that we need to spend every dollar we can afford on marketing; therefore we plan to expand our marketing team.''
Martinez says the company was created after she was laid off from her executive position in the travel industry. Her sister, who was a nurse at the time, was making specialized necklaces out of her basement with her kids and selling them on the side. Martinez immediately saw the sales potential and convinced her sister to go along.
Writer:
Kimberly Patterson
Source: Kimberly Martinez, Bonitas International
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