Q&A with Founder of Powder Gems

Last week I scoped out the latest and greatest in snow sports during SIA 2014 at the Denver Convention Center. SIA is a trade show for buyers, the media, and other industry professionals to get a peek at what respected snow sports brands are launching next – and who the up-and-coming names to know are.

One exhibitor that caught my eye was Powder Gems, a line of ski goggles that are taking your bundled-up slopes outfit to the next level. With 100% ultra-violet protection and polarized anti-fog double lenses, they’re both functional AND chic.

I’d never seen anything like these limited edition, Swarovski-crystal embellished goggles before, so I chatted with founder and Colorado native Heather Campbell to get the scoop.

1. How did the idea for Powder Gems come to be? What do you most love about your line of work? 

I made a pair of blinged out goggles a few years ago, and every time I would wear them to the mountains everybody would stop me and ask me where I got them.

The motivation to start Powder Gems came after I went through a horrible divorce where I lost everything.  Throughout that difficult time, I still loved being with my two daughters and I loved being on the mountain!  I was boarding with my daughter one day and thought, I should make a snowboarding/skiing apparel line.  I went out on a limb and started the company, with the help of a friend that wanted to invest in my dream.  I decided to start with the goggles that I made and to grow from that.

My daughter, Kenzie, and I would love to eventually donate some of our proceeds to a charity of some kind to help women and children of domestic violence.  Hopefully down the road we can really help some families that are down and out and give them hope for a great, strong future!   The thing I love most is making people feel beautiful and having my daughters see their mom as a strong survivor.

2.  Tell us a little about your background. Have you owned a business before? 

I am a hair stylist so technically I own my own business. I had rented my own booth before, but I have never started a company like this. Powder Gems is definitely the first company that I completely started on an idea.

3.  What is something readers would be surprised to know about you or your business? 

I think that people would be surprised to know that my main goal in all of this is to help other women, with children, in domestic violence situations get real help.  I want to be able to get them on their feet and get back their confidence.  Just for them to know they are not alone. I am still trying to figure out how to exactly do that but it was the main inspiration behind launching the line, and eventually I hope the collection expands so I can do this full time, be able to take care of my girls from this company, and find a way to help other women.

4.  What is your business’s biggest challenge?

 I am a single mom, I have a full time job, and I am starting my own business.  Pretty much doing it all by myself is the biggest challenge.  The other would be is that nobody knows what Powder Gems is, so getting my name out there.

5.  What do you most love about Colorado? 

I love that Colorado has so many fun things to do!  Snowboarding in the winter, wakeboarding and camping in the summer.  Awesome weather, it’s always sunny!  It’s also very safe, and has great schools.

6.  What is your target market?

I would say my target market is confident women and girls that like to attract attention.  Stylish women that love to look great!