Meet Skip Benefiet | Silversmith

We had the good fortune of connecting with Skip Benefiet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Skip, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Honestly, boredom. During the peak of quarantine I started going stir crazy and needed something to occupy my time. I had always admired and appreciated silversmiths but never thought I could actually be one. With the pandemic, especially at the beginning, there was so much uncertainty I wanted to take control of something in my life, to have full control of my future. I took an online tutorial and dove head first. I named my business after my dog whose name was Malachite, it was too perfect to not dedicate my business to him as Malachite & Silver go hand in hand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am here to bring people jewelry that makes them feel good, not only when they wear it but when they purchase it. I am focused on sustainability through every step of my creative process, from where I purchase my stones to how I get their products to their doorstep and every step in between. I source 100% of my materials from other small businesses and am committed to using quality, sustainable packaging. For this aspect alone I am extremely proud, there is so many unsustainable companies out there and I am thrilled to be able to set myself apart from them. While it may not be important to some people it so important to me and I want to make sure I relay the importance through my company.

As far as how I got here today, it sure hasn’t been easy. I work a pretty demanding full time job on top of pursuing my own dreams. Adding a small business to the mix of a full time job is full of obstacles and is extremely time consuming but most importantly rewarding. I have finally found something that I am excelling at & am passionate about and that alone is worth it. The most important lesson I have learned is to never give up and to never be afraid to try something new. No matter how old you are it is never too late to follow your dreams. Even if your dream consists of naming a company after your dog, your dog can be your world and that is perfectly fine.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start out by getting on the Yellowstone river and showing them why my home is called Paradise Valley. This day would be full of rock hounding for Montana treasures, beautiful scenery and sipping on some local beers. I would also take them to Yellowstone Park because it is literally my backyard and no trip to Montana is complete without it. We would hit my favorite restaurants in town which are Faye’s Cafe for breakfast and Neptune’s for amazing sushi and cocktails. Livingston not only has amazing sushi but an awesome martini bar called The Owl. Not a single friend can step foot in my house without getting an espresso martini with me. Some other not miss activities are local hot springs, paddle boarding in my favorite lakes & ghost towns. Montana is quite literally the last best place and I could show people around for months.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Vancrafted Studio and the silversmithing community. Without the online tutorial created by Madison & Gage of Vancrafted Studio I would have never started on this journey. Not only did they create the tutorial they created an amazing support group and opened my world to the huge community of silversmiths. I can safely say that I found my people.

Website: www.malachitesilverco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malachitesilverco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malachitesilverco/

Image Credits
Taylor Barrett Photography for the very first photo