BUSINESS
JUNE 2020 | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 2
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
10
CEO of Séjour Creations Turns Tragedy into Triumph FRANKIE KOUNOUHO, CEO OF SEJOUR CREATIONS OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA, TELLS C2CHANGE ABOUT TURNING HER TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH.
Throughout the country, individuals have been impacted by the Coronavirus through the loss of loved ones; the loss of financial security; and the loss of navigating to a familiar way of life—grieving, worrying, wondering how they will get through their life’s circumstances. C2Change wants to channel creative change with stories of encouragement and healing through just-like-me personal journeys. Journey's like that of Frankie Kounouho, CEO of Séjour Creations of Phoenix, Arizona, who tells C2Change about her tragedy into triumph in a personal interview.
C2Change: How did you start Séjour Creations? Well, Séjour Creations was a dream in the making. A journey that started in 2007, a year after my only child, Donovin, unexpectedly died at the age of four. In the foggy haze of dealing with unsurmountable grief and sorrow, I found myself searching for an outlet. An outlet for the energy consuming me with the pain of losing my child. And as strange as this may sound, my journey to starting Séjour Creations—and finding that outlet for the energy consuming my world—began as just a typical run to my neighborhood grocery store. While shopping, I encountered a shopper that was wearing a stunning necklace. It was gorgeous! Just breathtaking! Upon inquiring where she had purchased it from, I learned that her friend, in California, had made it for her. (It was a unique custom-made piece.) And for some reason, I got it in my head that I could make a similar necklace for myself. So, with the image of the necklace ingrained in my memory bank, I headed for a popular arts and crafts store and proceeded to ask the
clerk for all the items I would need to make my own (very first) necklace—with my own flavor of course. The clerk provided me with all the necessary items and even went a step further and pointed me in the direction of their weekly class on making jewelry—I, of course, attended. And from that moment on, I started making my own unique jewelry pieces. At first, the jewelry was not for sale. It was mainly a therapeutic release for me. My therapy for helping me with the grief of losing Donovin. But one day, while I was out shopping for more jewelry-making-tools, a lady stopped me and inquired about a bracelet I was wearing. (God was bringing me full circle!) Upon informing her that I made the piece myself, she shared with me some information about a trade show that I might be interested in attending; a way of selling my jewelry pieces. And although I had not a clue as to what I was doing or about to get into, I attended the trade show. To my surprise, I had attendees buy my creations and Séjour Creations was born!
C2Change: Why the name Séjour Creations? Séjour is derived from the French word stay/endurance (when used as a noun) and fit perfectly for the new journey I was on—overcoming tragedy and walking into triumph. A new journey that not only helped bring me out of darkness during the saddest time of my life, but a journey that awakened my passion to help anyone wearing my jewelry feel, and know, that they are unique in a world demanding that we be identical.
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