Small Business Spotlight: Houser

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

What do you do as a merchant when Big Tech decides to shut down your Instagram account? Denise Houser is facing this issue – in the busiest shopping season of the year for her small North Loop business, Houser.

Denise Houser

On October 22, Denise received a terse message from Instagram that her account was shut down for “violations of community policies.” Appeals to Instagram and Facebook Business Customer Service produced a not-wished-for-result – an email stating the account would not be restored. What can we do? Here’s a solid tip: Visit her North Loop store, buy local, shop small. We can’t win every battle against the Goliaths (not in the first round) but we can rally around our local businesses. 

Q:  Please tell us the vision behind Houser and why you chose to locate your boutique in the North Loop.  

A:  The vision behind Houser is all about giving back. We started with wanting to create ethically sourced, unique jewelry, and that grew into community empowerment being the foundation of our brand. We operate under our three main values: honoring the earth, empowering communities and giving back.

"We operate under our three main values: honoring the earth, empowering communities and giving back."

The jewelry in the store is designed by me, but many of the components I use are made by our Karen Hill Tribe partners in rural Thailand. Ethical consumption is at the core of our mission at Houser. It was important to us, as a jewelry design and lifestyle company, that you know when you shop with us you are shopping sustainably and uplifting the community by supporting small, women and BIPOC-owned businesses. As a result, our store in the North Loop ended up being the perfect intersection with our Minneapolis community and as a space where we can highlight the work and voices of typically marginalized groups. Additionally, many of the brands we carry in the store hold the same values we do and prioritize sustainability and community support. We are deeply committed to being as sustainable as possible, using ethical and fair-trade design practices, empowering our communities near and far and prioritizing giving back. Come visit us at 212 North 2nd Street!

Q:  You’ve said that each piece of jewelry you create is “inspired by the power of contradiction”. Could you tell us more about this idea?  

A:  In life I have often been inspired by the power of contradiction. Things that supposedly oppose or conflict with each other, when paired together, can create something powerful and unique. Pearls with leather, sparkling gemstones with antique prayer pendants, pieces placed off center - as a designer and as a woman I’ve found that these juxtapositions make a compelling statement. 

Q:  How did you learn to craft jewelry? 

A:  I’ve always been very crafty, creating things was a big part of my self-care. I learned some of the basics of making jewelry by taking classes from local art centers. But it was mostly by trial and error! I really developed my own aesthetic when I was able to fuse my core values of empowerment and sustainability into my work. Then everything fell into place design-wise.

Q:  Why should we chose artisan handcrafted jewelry? 

A:  Each piece of handcrafted jewelry is truly unique. Since jewelry is so personal, when you wear a handcrafted piece, I believe it truly becomes your own. Because the components are made by hand, each bead or link of chain is slightly different than another, which gives every piece an organic, distinct feel. When we started partnering with Hill Tribe silversmiths in Thailand, I found that many of these artisans produced the pieces with their whole families. In addition, each family specializes in certain designs of beads, rings, earrings or chains, and this is passed on from one generation to the next. In each piece of jewelry there is an intergenerational story. By purchasing Houser jewelry, you are helping to support these families and keeping their beautiful craft alive. 

Q:  It’s holiday shopping time - what products will we find in stock at Houser? 

A:  We love the holiday season because it’s such a great time for us to showcase all of our diverse products that we carry. We have something for every shopper, and everyone on your list. Of course, we always want to highlight our unique, handcrafted jewelry pieces. We have everything from simple hoops and chains to ornate statement pieces. Additionally, we have cruelty free & handcrafted apothecary products, candles and incense that support animal rescue and the LA LGBT center, vegan dark chocolate, journals and paper made with recycled materials, puzzles, self-care items like bath salts and eye pillows, crystals, divination cards, and so much more. We know how competitive the market is, so we always want to emphasize that when you shop with us you are putting your dollars towards the greater good. 

Come visit us at 212 North 2nd Street! Follow us on Facebook.