How Jessica Honegger is Empowering Women Through the Noonday Collection

“Style your friends, change the world.” – Noonday Collection’s Founder, Jessica Honegger

Jessica Honegger’s family was ready to welcome a fifth member – a son from Rwanda – but they needed help making the international adoption a possibility. To help raise money to grow her family, Honegger got creative and hosted the first Noonday Collection trunk show in her home. The response was overwhelming, and in September 2011 her family was able to welcome Jack home. Through her entrepreneurial spirit and love for jewelry, Honegger had found a calling that not only changed her family forever, but is also changing families’ lives around the world.

What started as a fundraiser is now empowering women internationally. Noonday Collection provides jobs and living wages to women in countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, and Ecuador, giving artisans a chance to put their skills to use and in turn be able to provide for their loved ones, place their children in schools, and give their family a brighter future.

The handcrafted fair trade jewelry, accessories and home goods are fashion-forward, with colorful collections launched seasonally to keep things exciting. Noonday Collection not only provides opportunities to artisans, but also encourages small business ownership through its Ambassador program. Much like Noonday’s humble beginnings in Honegger’s home, women have the opportunity to learn business basics by hosting their own trunk shows and earning a percentage of their sales.

The “social selling” company boosts each ambassador with marketing materials, sales incentives, ongoing business training, a personalized website and a platform to meet other women who want to make a difference in their lives and in others’. The program also gives participants a chance to further pay it forward – ambassadors have the option to give 10 percent of trunk show proceeds toward an adoptive family “to help them bring their child home.”

Honegger – a mother of three, entrepreneur and fashionista – shared a few thoughts with us on Noonday Collection and the power of change, one accessory at a time.

What did you enjoy about jewelry growing up?
I have very early memories of going through my grandma’s jewelry box and of also receiving jewelry as gifts from my parents. I loved how it communicated love.

What was the reason for your first trip to Kenya? Why return as an activist?
When I walked the slums of Nairobi, I remember seeing a 5-year-old little girl carrying her brother on her back. She was already in a very adult position. That left such an impression on me – that she wasn’t allowed to have her childhood because of poverty.

How did you come up with the ambassador program?
I had some women reach out to me wanting to start a Noonday Collection in their home towns. They put together a plan, and we ventured it out together.

What is your overarching mission?
[I want] to create economic opportunity for the vulnerable and to empower women in the US to become storytellers, stylists and advocates to their communities.

What did you need to learn to be successful?
I understood well my weaknesses and knew how to ask people to help me. I have never been afraid or shy of asking for help!

What challenges did you face when first getting off the ground?
The hardest part was wearing every single hat in the business. It was really, really stressful.

What is your day-to-day like with the company?
Our team grew from one employee to 20 in one year. That has really changed how I spend my time. I am delegating more and hopefully building a strong team. I am intricately involved in the design, storytelling, marketing, and sales side of things.

What do you love about your job?
That it’s changing lives, opening minds, empowering people and helping people to see themselves how God created them.

What advice do you give to those in pursuit of success?
Being a successful ambassador means being bold, passionate, having fun with fashion, and always keeping a long-term vision for your business.

To learn more about Noonday Collection, its jewelry, ambassadors and artisans, visit www.noondaycollection.com.