New Line of Calgary-Inspired Jewellery Has Saskatchewan Roots, W. Brett Wilson as Backer

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new offering of Calgary-inspired jewellery is arriving in Mount Royal Village next week courtesy of Saskatchewan-based luxury jewellery brand Hillberg & Berk. After selling in Calgary for several years through other retailers, Hillberg & Berk is now launching a holiday store – opening November 3 – to celebrate its unique Calgary clientele and honour its favourite investor, W. Brett Wilson. Launched in 2008 through a winning pitch on Dragons’ Den, the company has grown twenty-fold under Rachel Mielke’s leadership and Wilson’s entrepreneurial guidance.

“Hillberg & Berk was my first deal in the Den and is certainly one of my most successful Dragons’ Den investments to date. Calgary loves Rachel’s designs, and I think it’s pretty cool that a Saskatchewan entrepreneur is opening a store in Alberta, when it’s usually the other way around”

“Calgary is a unique city. Thanks to our relationship with Brett, we’ve been able to build an incredible base of loyal Calgary customers. We wanted to celebrate them, and honour our relationship with Brett, by opening a holiday store that offers Calgary-focused designs. Calgarians tend to like things that are special, unique, and truly unforgettable. This line contains several one-of-a-kind pieces, including luxury stones and unique sterling silver pieces, that definitely reflect the tastes of our Calgary clients,” says Hillberg & Berk CEO Rachel Mielke.

After winning Wilson as an investor, Hillberg & Berk has gone from generating $100,000 in sales to over $2 million in only 4 years. “Hillberg & Berk was my first deal in the Den and is certainly one of my most successful Dragons’ Den investments to date. Calgary loves Rachel’s designs, and I think it’s pretty cool that a Saskatchewan entrepreneur is opening a store in Alberta, when it’s usually the other way around,” Wilson says.

Committed not only to timeless design, but also to empowering people, Hillberg & Berk promotes causes and spokes-models that do the same. The current collection features the face of Jennifer Siebel Newsom, writer/director and producer of the documentary Miss Representation, which lifts the veil of women’s negative portrayal in the media. Jennifer’s message is “You can’t be what you can’t see,” and she is promoting positive women role models in the media. Hillberg & Berk is helping to spread Jennifer’s powerful message through $15,000 in proceeds from the current collection. Previous role models for the company have included Lisa Ray and Amanda Lindhout.

For timeless luxury, Hillberg & Berk brings the holiday season’s most sought after jewellery and a powerful message to Calgary this November. The holiday store opens November 3 at 110-880 16^th Avenue SW in Mount Royal Village.