The Ask

Create a side hustle business.

The Insight

32% of adults in Virginia struggle with mental health.

The Big Idea

Wear your happiness.

VERVE is a handmade, woman owned, beaded bracelet company that is designed to uplift others and encourage conversations about mental health in the greater Richmond community.

Each bespoke bracelet features a card with uplifting messages to encourage the consumer and those they care about. 100% of our profits are proudly donated to Mental Health Virginia.

Mental Health Virginia is the oldest mental health advocacy organization in the state. Their mission is to increase public awareness, decrease stigma and keep mental health issues on the forefront of our minds in both everyday life and in legislative agendas.

There are five collections of Verve Jewelry, each distinguished by the charm on the bracelet. Every bracelet includes an attached card that includes an inspirational message pertaining to the collection meaning.

At Verve, our mission is to promote meaningful connections and inspire hope through handcrafted bracelets, sparking conversations about mental health, uplifting our community, and championing well-being.

Our goal was to raise $500 to sponsor a crime trauma victim to attend a two-day strength and resilience training program

…so we did just that!

Social media was our main form of outreach. We spread the word about sales, information, and positive messages to followers. Most of our following came from students and residents local to Richmond, VA.

We also paired with other VCU Brandcenter businesses and projects for promotion on platforms like podcasts and fashion accounts.