Coastal-inspired jewelry brand The Beach and Back has partnered with the Bald Head Island Conservancy to launch a turtle-inspired jewelry collection supporting sea turtle conservation efforts on Bald Head Island in North Carolina.
The collection — featuring earrings, necklaces and bracelets in signature coastal hues — is available at the Conservancy’s Turtle Central Gift Shop and online as part of The Beach and Back’s Bald Head Island collection. Proceeds support the Conservancy’s Sea Turtle Protection Program and other mission-driven initiatives. In addition, each item sold funds the collection and recycling of half a pound of ocean-bound plastic.
“Our collaboration with BHI Conservancy is a natural extension of our commitment to ocean conservation,” says Carey Del Buono, founder of The Beach and Back. “By combining our passion for design with a purpose-driven mission, we hope to inspire our customers to join us in protecting sea turtles and reducing plastic waste.”
For Amy Dunmire, business manager, retail, of the BHI Conservancy, the partnership has been notably collaborative from the start. The two met in December of 2024 and after some back and forth, by March of 2025, BHI Conservancy was carrying the line in its store. “So March of 2025 was when we started, and now we’re into the second year,” Dunmire says.
Design development focused on color, wearability and cohesive styling. Early on, coin-style pieces helped shape the direction of the line. The assortment expanded from earrings to adjustable bracelets and necklaces, with cut-out sea turtle designs emerging as bestsellers.
“That led to the development of her cut-out sea turtle earrings and the sea turtle necklaces,” Dunmire saya, noting that the cut-out styles, along with the coin pieces, have become the collection’s top performers. Now BHI Conservancy is looking at adding coastal charms that can be added to a clasp bracelet or necklace. Turtle Central Gift Shop will also be adding an elastic pearl bracelet from The Beach and Back where the charms can also be added.
The line of jewelry has been well received by customers at Turtle Central Gift Shop. “It’s been very popular with college students all the way up through our retired homeowners. They all just love pieces,” Dunmire says, noting that customers love how light yet durable the pieces are.
Merchandising plays a role in that success. The collection is prominently positioned in the gift shop. “We have some of her display pieces, and they are featured in front and center in the jewelry section,” Dunmire says, adding that white display elements help the coastal colors stand out.
At Turtle Central Gift Shop, every purchase supports conservation work. While signs appear throughout the store that explain that all purchases support the conservancy, the Del Buono also designed small cards explaining how The Beach and Back donates proceeds toward removing plastic from the oceans.
In 2025, the Conservancy’s Sea Turtle Protection Team monitored 58 nests, identified 21 individual nesting mothers and excavated 54 nests as part of its ongoing research and protection efforts.
Looking ahead, Dunmire sees opportunity for the collaboration to evolve alongside both jewelry trends and conservation initiatives.
“I can definitely see it growing, especially as jewelry trends change and fluctuate,” she says. “I see this as a long-term relationship.”
The collection offers customers a tangible way to support sea turtle conservation while embracing coastal style — reinforcing the strong connection between mission-driven retail and environmental stewardship on Bald Head Island.
