Allie Vanata’s jewelry business she started as an Ashland student is thriving

ASHLAND, Ohio – Allie Vanata always knew she wanted to own her own business and she credits the four years she spent at Ashland University (2012-16) for steering her down the path to leading one of the fastest growing, on trend jewelry companies around.

Vanata was already dreaming of entrepreneurship when she enrolled at Ashland, but the concept for a business and the numerous how-to’s of business ownership were pretty foreign to her at the time. With unrelenting support from her adviser, Daniel Sullivan, associate professor of entrepreneurship in the Dauch College of Business and Economics, and an applied learning experience, together with coursework, Vanata has developed ALV Jewels from a hobby into a thriving brand name of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings that can be found in boutiques worldwide.

The business began when Vanata was an Ashland student who simply made some bracelets for friends and family. “I’ve always had a strong passion for art and design. During my junior year at AU, I was looking to channel my energy into a creative outlet,” she explained. “I had a great response, so I decided to take my chances and establish a way to sell them online.”

That process began with Vanata creating an Instagram profile—one that has now grown to 133,000 followers in just a few short years—followed by a website. With a focus on collaborating with social media influencers, advertising on social media platforms, and engaging with customers, ALV Jewels experienced rapid growth, as Vanata’s popular handmade designs and pieces went from selling locally in the community to shipping out jewelry nationwide in a matter of months.

Along the way, Sullivan and other Ashland professors were there to lend support, noted Vanata. “Ashland is where the success of my business started. Dr. Sullivan was a business mentor to me … my adviser and my professor. He challenged me in classes, drove me to grow the business early on, and perpetually believed in me.”

Vanata also credits a job shadowing experience and her academics for ALV Jewels’ success. “I had the chance to shadow a local women’s boutique. By working hands-on in this field, I learned quite a bit about what went into being your own boss,” she commented. “(And), one of the things I found most successful in one of my classes was when our professor instructed us to write our own business plan. I found this very beneficial and applicable to my real-world knowledge.”

With such high demand and a desire to meet fast-changing trends and styles, Vanata had to expand the business quickly. She has gone from sourcing and designing every single product herself to employing 10 team members today, including former Ashland students Nicole Dawson (operations manager) and Emily Leffler (warehouse manager), and managing relationships with manufacturing companies to help create some of the new designs.

Vanata has big goals for ALV Jewels, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and described as a Midwest-based jewelry and accessories brand with a west coast heart. She wants to continue the company’s growth, with a “massive goal of the product to be available in department stores nationwide,” but no matter how big ALV Jewels expands, she will never forget its roots.

“The Ashland entrepreneurship program helped me move forward with my passion for starting and owning my own business,” she summarized. “I am so thankful for my time at Ashland and the relationships I made there that will last a lifetime.”