ONLINE EXTRA: Q & A with Christina Baribault-Ortiz and Raeann Baribault-Schwartz
Q. How were you selected for an Academy Awards experience?
A. Christina: We have a wonderful team and a publicist working to shop the brand to the world. They look for up and coming, positive, cool brands they want to be part of the swag bag. Every aspect of participating in this event exceeded our expectations. We are thrilled to have our designs catapulted to prominence from coast to coast.
We cultivated some cool relationships. We got to hear so many of these celebrities’ personal stories. People think celebrities are cool. But to us we just made a bunch of new friends. It gave us more confidence in the brand. They want to be a part of our mission to spread positivity and the power-word process.
A. Raeann: It was such an authentic experience, they were so authentic with us and shared some amazing stories because we helped them pick their power word. It was a humbling experience for sure.
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Q. What’s next for the brand?
A. Christina: We are in conversations considering opening a select few retail accounts, bigger accounts that would be willing to partner with us and make a bigger impact on people.
A. Raeann: We’ve listened to celebrities and we’re developing some new power words to add. And some limited edition charity bracelets. Adding those throughout the year. Hope for Fertility. Our fertility struggle was the impetus for creating this brand.
Q. How do you choose which bracelets to wear each day?
A. Raeann: Each day it brings me something different. The new, colored cords really stand out. It even draws a little more attention to my power word that I’ve selected for the day. I have my core power word but I change them out with whatever I’m feeling. Whether I’m in mom mode, entrepreneur mode or feeling a little unsure about the day, it helps bring out my favorite version of myself. It’s worked so well for me I know it’s going to work so well for other people.
Q. How do you spend time off work?
A. Christina: That’s family time. Our kids are our No. 1 priority. We’re still so blessed to have them.
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Prices are $68 for a cord bracelet, $78 for a silver, rose-gold plated or yellow-gold plated bracelet and $98 in a necklace. The Lux collection offers necklaces, rings and bracelets in 14k white or yellow-gold with diamonds starting at $495-695. Several exclusive items that debuted at the Academy Awards event are now available for purchase. The Power to B collection can be purchased online at www.ThePowertoB.com or in-store at Baribault Jewelers at 81 Rankin Road in Glastonbury, CT. The line is also available at Water Street Jewelers locations at 769 Boston Post Road in Madison, CT, and 61 Whitfield Street in Guilford, CT.
