Identity, Service and Savings Make this Business Sparkle
Blanca Ponce Dominguez, owner of B’s Everlasting Permanent Jewelry. Photo by Jasmin Adriana González, JEFAS Magazine
By Samantha Mesa, JEFAS Magazine
Effortless elegance. Timeless beauty. That’s what Blanca Ponce Dominguez wants to give customers through B’s Everlasting Permanent Jewelry, a company born out of a love for seamless glam.
“I received my first permanent jewelry bracelet and necklace over three years ago, and I absolutely loved the feeling when I looked at my wrist throughout the day. I love how it makes me feel,” she says. “Can you imagine how it’s going to make others feel?”
That feeling inspired Dominguez to order a welding kit, complete welding training, and go all in. She launched B’s Everlasting Permanent Jewelry in October 2022. With no loans or grants, she invested in herself with personal savings. Her goal: to bring the joy of stunning, maintenance-free jewelry to her customers.
Dominguez, who is Mexican American, was raised in Iowa and runs her business in Council Bluffs. She travels as far as Lincoln, Nebraska, for pop-up events with her husband, who is also her biggest supporter.
The Art of Permanent Jewelry
Dominguez fits each piece to her client and welds it closed for durable, everyday wear.
Because it is welded together, the jewelry doesn’t have a clasp. The seamless bracelets, anklets, necklaces and bangles won’t slip off or get caught in your hair. All the pieces are made of gold, rose gold and sterling silver.
All glam aside, running a business takes grit, especially for a Latina-owned company in the Midwest. Dominguez explains that while jewelry is a source of comfort that has brought her much joy, creating a startup brings frustrations. Finding investors has been difficult.
“There are a lot of businesses that help with consulting, but they charge an incredible amount of money,” she shares. “It’s difficult to find wholesalers that are honest about their metal materials. It has gotten a lot better since I now have a handful of wholesalers I trust.”
Identity and Culture as Assets
Beyond business challenges, Dominguez navigates the dynamic of being mixed-race while serving a diverse clientele. She’s been told she’s not Hispanic enough to fully belong to her Latin roots, and not white enough to be accepted in the Caucasian community.
“My mom is half white and half Hispanic. Her mom was born here, but her grandparents were born in Michoacán, Mexico. My father is from Durango, so he was born and raised there.” Raised in a mixed household, she did not grow up speaking Spanish but has worked hard to learn the language as an adult. In addition to running a business, she’s passionate about using her Spanish skills to serve those less fortunate.
She translates for the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. “When I interpret for families, I apologize and tell them, ‘My Spanish isn’t the greatest.’ They say, ‘That’s okay, because my English isn’t the greatest,’” she laughs. Despite that, they manage to get through the appointments, and the experience helps Dominguez feel personally fulfilled and more in touch with her culture.
Those exchanges are a reminder of the bigger picture of why she became an entrepreneur: making a difference in the lives of others.
Being a wife, full-time mom of three and launching a business requires resilience. Serving the community and leaning into it is paramount. “Our world’s very ugly right now. We need a lot more people out there just to support others.”
From mental health to finances, she encourages other Latina business owners to seek help. “Don’t ever let anybody bully you. We have to work extremely hard. We live in a white man’s world, and they look at us differently because of the color of our skin.” For other Latinas navigating the entrepreneurial path, she encourages them to develop mental filters for negativity. “Block it out. Focus on your wants and your needs.”
Blanca Ponce Dominguez, owner of B’s Everlasting Permanent Jewelry. Photo by Jasmin Adriana González, JEFAS Magazine
Healthy Life, Healthy Business
Her family prioritizes physical and financial health. They work out together in their garage at home and take walks. When it comes to her finances, Dominguez is just as disciplined. Saving money during slower months is key. “I put at least $20,000 into this business so far. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Building B’s Everlasting Permanent Jewelry has shown her that crafting fine jewelry is more than a job. It honors her family legacy of integrity and creativity while bringing joy to the women she serves. “A bracelet that’s $75 can put a smile on a woman’s face who is struggling. You don’t know what they’re going through,” she says. “If God put me on this earth for one single thing, it would be to take care of my kids and show them what a good person is supposed to be like.”
