For several years, Jaime Ponson established partnerships with hospitals in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and found solace in fundraising and selling low-cost jewelry to patients. Three years ago, Ponson opted for a change of pace and decided to weave her love of fashion and customer interaction into launching a retail store business called Jewelry and More.

"The gratification came from people's stories, and I've held people's hands and cried with them [in the hospitals]," Ponson said. "They're going through such a difficult time that they'd say how special it was just to get away from the hospital room and look at all the products. We set up in a huge atrium, and it would just take their mind off [everything] by searching for the best item for $5."

In 2011, Ponson yearned to spend more time raising her two daughters. So she decided to transition the high demand for her mobile fashion and fundraising business based in hospitals into the concept for retail boutique Jewelry and More.

Ponson opened her first location in April 2011 in the Esperson Building in downtown Houston and another store debuted nearby at the Allen Center in October of that same year. The Magnolia location opened around the same time as the second location and will celebrate three years of business in October 2014.

"This [Magnolia] location was our storage unit facility for all of the inventory for the fundraising events," Ponson said. "Being that they opened the Woodlands Parkway all the way to [FM] 2978 and with the traffic going by, we decided to open it as a retail store."

Jewelry and More aims to showcase the latest trends and styles in clothing, jewelry and accessories in a personalized shopping environment designed to appeal to any type of customer, Ponson said. Instead of managing from behind the scenes, Ponson said she is hands-on in many facets of her business. She attends conventions, meets with manufacturers in Los Angeles and New York City several times a year, unloads inventory and handles the finances.

"My eye doesn't stop wandering," Ponson said in reference to how she keeps up with fashion trends. "When I'm in the airport, I look at what people are wearing. From trendy to casual, I want to know what people are wearing and what's going on."

In the two downtown Houston locations, Ponson said as many as 200 people visit each store on Thursdays and Fridays. The Magnolia location sees a steady stream of customers from Tomball, The Woodlands and Conroe throughout the week, she said.

Ponson said she is weighing several options such as adding online sales and expanding the business but wants to maintain a healthy workload balance and the cozy feel of her shops.

"Because we are smaller, a lot of people feel more comfortable to come and ask for our advice to dress them up," Magnolia store manager Helena Parra said.

Though Ponson splits her days between her three locations, she still finds time to tap into her love of giving back to the community by raising funds and donating inventory to local organizations.

"I don't think I'm making a difference by giving this stuff to people, but it really does," Ponson said. "That's what touches my heart is giving back, more so than anything else about this."

A helping hand

Jewelry and More has raised funds and donated inventory to local organizations and schools such as Carrell Street Baptist Church, Go Red For Women, Reflective Life Ministries and Bear Branch Elementary.

Ponson said she raised more than $2 million for hospitals and organizations in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in the seven years she operated her fundraising business.

Products

• Clothing
• Necklaces
• Bracelets
• Earrings
• Rings
• Handbags
• Sunglasses
• Scarves
• Hats
• Plaques and other home dcor pieces

Jewelry and More, 31807 FM 2978, Magnolia 832-934-2325, www.jewelryandmore.com, Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m.