U Design Jewelry in EDC incubator receives Business Spotlight Award

For turning a special education teacher’s hobby into a thriving small business with design representatives in 27 states, U Design Jewelry was selected as January’s recipient of the Business Spotlight Award from the Economic Development Roundtable of St. Charles.

U Design Jewelry was founded in 2004 by Jennifer and Bret Bonacorsi as a direct-selling company that is currently based in the incubator facility owned and managed by the Economic Development Center (EDC) of St. Charles County. Their business model involves independent design representatives holding home parties that showcase unique custom designed jewelry to fit any personality. All catalog items are designed by Jennifer Bonacorsi and each year a new line of products is launched in the company’s colorful print and online catalog. Formerly a national sales manager and retail buyer, Bret Bonacorsi is focused on the administrative side of the business. U Design Jewelry is a proud member of the Direct Selling Association.

“Jennifer and Bret Bonacorsi embody the entrepreneurial spirit of taking your hobbies and abilities and turning them into a successful company,” said Scott Drachnik, chair of the Economic Development Roundtable, an EDC committee. “U Design Jewelry is a star performer in the EDC incubator and they are clearly on the glide path for continued growth and success.”

Each month a different company in St. CharlesCounty is selected for the Business Spotlight Award by the Economic Development Roundtable (EDR) based on criteria such as entrepreneurial success, new investment, economic impact, job growth, or civic involvement. The EDR is a standing committee of the Economic Development Center (EDC) of St. CharlesCounty with the local cities, St. Charles County Government, and the St. Charles County Department of Workforce Development.