Plunder Design

Plunder Design grew out of a hard year. Founder Hillary Adams wrote that in 2008 her family's finances “took a steep nose-dive” and they went bankrupt. She had always loved vintage things, so she started designing jewelry late at night while her children slept. One of her first pieces came from her grandmother's brooches and trinkets. Friends, family and local boutiques soon wanted similar pieces, and she recruited friends to help fill orders.

In 2013, Adams gathered a team and moved Plunder from retail to party plan selling. Direct Sales Aid's earlier profile dates the launch to 2014. The company was based in Payson, Utah, a town of just under 23,000 people, and many early staff joined through family, friends or church. Her husband, Abe Adams, later joined the business.

“In 2013, I decided that we needed to share the fun and the blessing ‘Plunder’ has been to all of us.”

Hillary Adams, founder — Plunder Design “Our Founder” page (plunderdesign.com), archived 2017

Growth came quickly. By about 2016, Direct Sales Aid reported some 5,000 representatives across the United States. Plunder later added a Canadian site and Spanish-language pages, a monthly jewelry subscription box called Plunder Posse, and personalized photo and engraved jewelry. In January 2024, Salt Lake City's FOX 13 featured Adams, a mother of six, still running the company as CEO.

Plunder sold vintage-inspired fashion jewelry. Adams described the style as “shabby, chic and unfading,” built from the kind of treasures she found at yard sales, estate sales and in her grandmother's jewelry box. To keep prices low, Plunder mass-produced its designs rather than making one-of-a-kind pieces.

• Necklaces: long layered chains, tassel and charm pendants, beaded strands and statement pieces.
• Earrings: fringe, leather and wood drops, hoops, studs and filigree dangles.
• Bracelets: stretch stacks, cuffs, bangles and charm bracelets.
• Personalized jewelry: engraved and monogrammed pieces, and photo pendants and bracelets.
• Special lines: inspirational and faith-themed pieces, seasonal collections, the 24/7 wear collection, and the Plunder Posse subscription box.

Prices were friendly. Direct Sales Aid's earlier profile listed necklaces from about $18 to $36, bracelets from $14 to $26 and earrings from $10 to $14.

Sellers were called Stylists, and they were independent business owners. They sold at in-home jewelry parties, at fairs and events, one-to-one, and online through a personal Plunder website. Plunder paid for the hostess rewards, so hosts earned free and discounted jewelry at no cost to the Stylist. Most Stylists worked part time, the company said.

Starter Kit

In 2016 and 2017, the Plunder Starter Kit cost $99. The company said it held “over $230 in Plunder products and business supplies.” An upgrade kit with more jewelry was also offered. Kits included display jewelry, catalogs, order forms, invitations, opportunity brochures and access to the Stylist back office.

Pay

Direct Sales Aid's earlier profile reported that Stylists started at 25% commission and could reach 30% as they moved up the ranks, with cash bonuses at each rank and team bonuses for recruiting. A new-seller program called Plunderful Life Perks paid free sales tools for hitting sales targets in the first 40, 70 and 100 days, and a 2x2 Plunder Pattern helped new Stylists build a team. By 2023 and 2024 the company's site was promoting a “Paid Affiliate” program and a VIP loyalty program instead. The final pay plan is no longer available to check.

On May 1, 2024, jBloom Designs of St. Peters, Missouri announced that it had acquired Plunder Design. jBloom sells personalized, fashion and permanent jewelry through independent sellers it calls Designers. Its press release said Plunder Stylists “now have a new home with jBloom,” and promised training and support to make the move seamless for sellers and customers alike.

“This type of acquisition is unprecedented. Rather than closing up shop, Hillary and Abe Adams believe in the power of collaboration and were intentional about choosing jBloom as a soft place to land for the Plunder salesforce.”

Bret Bonacorsi, CEO of jBloom — jBloom press release (jbloomdesigns.com/plunder), May 2024

The Plunder website stopped selling soon after. By September 2024, plunderdesign.com forwarded visitors to jbloomdesigns.com, and it kept doing so into 2026. Today the old address returns a server error. The Plunder brand no longer sells under its own name. Its former Stylists who made the move now sell jBloom's line, and you can read about the company on its jBloom profile.