What began as an Auburn student’s love for making jewelry on a budget exploded into a jewelry business that seemingly took off overnight by selling affordable jewelry.
Boho Babes Jewels is handmade jewelry created by Logan McCabe, senior in marketing, whose means of affording trendy jewels quickly turned into this jewelry company that is now based out of the Auburn and Birmingham areas.
“Boho Babes targets the college woman who wants to be fashionable without paying an arm and a leg for the pieces,” McCabe said. “This jewelry can be worn layered or by itself and is the perfect way to add a dainty piece to every outfit.”
Boho Babes Jewels began during fall break 2016 when McCabe wanted to have trendy jewelry but did not want to break the bank for it. She made a few necklaces for herself, leading to her mom and sister wanting pairs for themselves as well.
“I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, as I am a business student here at Auburn, but it did not cross my mind to start this business until my little sister said all of her friends loved the pieces, but most importantly, the price tag,” McCabe said.
Although Boho Babes started as a necklace brand, it has expanded to selling bracelets, earrings and rings.
When she starts designing a new collection, McCabe typically starts with a mood board on her phone, which helps her narrow down color palettes and design shapes. After looking at how she wants to structure the pieces, she sources the supplies and begins to make the products by hand. After the products are made, she posts photos of them to her website, where they are made available for anyone to purchase.
McCabe said her passion for branding has allowed her to experience new and different events that help grow the brand. She has done trunk shows, pop up shops and holiday shops and has attended AmericasMart twice. These events allowed her to grow her customer base and connect with boutique owners.
Boho Babes was recently featured by AmericasMart as a trend-setting company, which McCabe expressed excitement for as she heads into a big market week, Jan. 9-13.
As of now, McCabe plans to continue Boho Babes for as long as she can. She hopes to use her company as her case study for graduate school while she continues to grow the brand.
Since Boho Babes has continued to grow at such rapid speeds, McCabe hired one employee, Maddie Buck, senior in rehabilitation and disabilities studies, who helps McCabe stay organized and travels to events with her.
“For Bobo Babes, I assist Logan with organizing and working at various trunk shows and reaching out to boutiques,” Buck said. “I got involved in Boho Babes in the beginning as a frequent customer. This led to me being able to help her with various things with her business, which has been so much fun.”
Buck said she loved Logan’s jewelry and believes it has been a cool learning experience to get to work for McCabe.
Although McCabe is the sole owner of Boho Babes Jewels, she said her family and friends are essential aspects in the success of her company.
Without family and friends helping her load her car for events, give her feedback on her email lists and social media, wearing her jewelry and more, her company would never have gotten to where it is today.
“It has been so fun watching Logan pursue such a fun business opportunity like this,” said Emily Stone, senior in agricultural communications and McCabe’s roommate. “She’s used her unique talents for marketing and business and mixed them with her interest in fashion to create something super successful.”
McCabe said one of her favorite aspects of running this business is the joy and confidence she sees her jewelry bring to women.
“It amazes me how she stays on top of it all — managing to create all of the jewelry, mail it to customers, market the products and still do her schoolwork,” Stone said.
McCabe attributes much of her success to the Auburn Family.
“Whenever you start a new company, it is very overwhelming,” McCabe said. “You want people to love what you are doing, but you also want them to tell their friends. Without my sorority, I feel confident that women on Auburn’s campus would not know what Boho Babes is, and the brand would not be where it is today.”
McCabe recommended students wanting to open their own business to go for it and said there is nothing to lose.
“I would recommend investing as little as possible financially to test the concept, and then once you prove your concept, invest your profits back into the company as long as you can,” McCabe said.
She warned others to prepare to work hard.
“I spend almost all of my free time working my business and scaling it for success,” McCabe said. “I am obsessed with succeeding, and I am determined to continue to grow my brand.”
McCabe said as her business has grown, she learned big brands are not handed to entrepreneurs.
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