Screenshot of a Facebook post on January 4, 2017 of one of Hana’s first manifestations.
Photo of Will, Hana, and their dog Max
Long Story Short
THALKEN is owned and operated by a wife(Hana), husband(William), and toy/mini Australian Shepherd(Max) team. Hana makes most of the jewelry, William pours the candles every morning like donuts, they both create a lot of the cards and art, and the rest are things Hana and Will are just obsessed with… from cozy beautiful socks, to rustic organic pottery, to magic sparkly crystals, to natural hand-poured soap. Max can be found at the shop most days. He is our “sock connoisseur” in that he loves to show you his latest sock pick of the month by holding it in his mouth and “singing” it at you. We like to tell everyone that comes in that, “you never have to buy anything.” So, if you’re ever in the area, please feel free to stop by and say hi, even if it’s for a second. Never stop growing. Always remember to breathe. Go all in every time.
Photo of Hana and William's wedding ceremony in Huntington Beach.
Long Story Long
ABOUT THE OWNERS
Hana grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and graduated from CSULB with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. Originally, she had planned to continue on to become a physical therapist or occupational therapist, but she changed course and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in singing, songwriting, and acting.
William was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Marylhurst University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in art, music, and hospitality.
HOW THEY MET
Hana and Will met in November 2012 while working together at The Bar Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. From the first day, they both knew they had met “the one.” During the first month of knowing each other, they would work together until 2–3 a.m., then rush back to their separate residences to continue chatting on Facebook until the wee hours of the morning.
After getting married in 2015, Hana woke up one day and realized she wanted to buy a house. This sparked further brainstorming and reflection on what both Hana and Will wanted for themselves and their lives moving forward. This led to the manifestation you see above, which Hana shared on Facebook in January 2017.
Photo of Hana's first jewelry store sign photographed with a handmade bead board both made by her Dad.
HOW THALKEN STARTED
Hana had been making jewelry since she was very little. She sold her first piece to a shell shop in Newport Beach at the age of four. Looking back, she’s sure the owner was simply being kind, not expecting a profit—but the experience planted an entrepreneurial pride that never left.
At the age of ten, Hana began selling her jewelry in front of her family’s townhome. This is where “THALKEN EST. 1994” comes from. Her dad saw that she needed a sign for her “shop,” so he made one that read “JEWELRY STORE EST. 1994.”
After graduating from college and exploring other artistic paths, Hana found herself working as a server at Bar Marmont, where she met William, who was bartending at the time. After a few years working side by side, Hana knew she was ready to stop serving. She wanted to earn a living from her creativity—art, expression, and making—and after exploring many forms, she went all in on the clearest path forward: jewelry.
After years of making jewelry on the side, Hana decided to see if she could support herself by selling it. She began doing markets—rough at first—until she found a weekly spot on Abbot Kinney in Venice Beach, California. From there, she negotiated a setup in an alley behind a bathing suit store, where she sold every weekend. Within a month, she was making just enough to cover her bills. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Hana quit her serving job, and William stayed on bartending.
For the year that followed, selling jewelry and art became Hana’s full-time work. William continued tending bar while also joining her at events. Before meeting Hana, William had spent over a decade building his own artistic practice, with projects and collections ranging from installations in prominent post-production spaces to multimedia collaborations with a celebrity photographer.
One of their first events together was Los Angeles Art Night Out. William’s truck was always packed with tents, tables, and display pieces—it was never empty because they were constantly moving from one event to the next. They did everything from the Pasadena Flea Market—where William would work at the bar until three or four in the morning, skip sleep, and drive with Hana for a 5 a.m. setup—to chocolate and art shows where Hana would occasionally play guitar and sing. They also participated in a private event where Hana sold jewelry while William sold his paintings and created art live.Eventually, they turned their apartment into a small pop-up shop for friends and family, filling the space with their art and handmade pieces.
What had once been a lifelong hobby was now paying the rent and putting food on the table—a big step, even if they weren’t exactly rolling in the dough.
HOW IT EVOLVED
Our First Storefront
After the manifestation shown at the beginning of our About Us, William and Hana moved to Broomfield, Colorado. Their mission was to do as many markets and pop-ups as possible (and boy-oh-boy did they do a lot), while also searching for a commercial storefront that they could afford for Thalken. Within the first month, they came across what looked like an upcoming office space for rent on a cute little main street in Louisville, Colorado. After some digging, they discovered that the space wasn’t actually for rent, but the current tenant, by the name of Sloane, wouldn’t be opposed to sharing it. After some negotiations, this became Thalken’s first official storefront for the next eight months.
During their time in Louisville, William earned his real estate license and sold some properties, but he quickly realized it wasn’t for him. Meanwhile, Thalken was starting to do pretty well, and it was becoming too much work for Hana to manage alone. This was perfect, because William and Hana not only were used to working together, they loved working together. As they expanded the business, they wanted to add a product that complemented the jewelry. Candles were a natural choice—Hana and Will had always loved them. William has always had a particular knack for scent—ever since he was little, he would sniff everything, even unexpected objects like restaurant napkins, noticing subtle differences most people wouldn’t. This natural attention to detail and love for scent eventually became the foundation for Thalken candles.
Thursday through Sunday, Hana and Will would transform the office into a store. Sunday night, they would break everything down and restore it to the previous tenant’s office setup, where Sloane would conduct her business Monday through Wednesday. This cycle continued every week for about eight months. A huge shout-out to Sloane for being so flexible! It was a lot of work, but it was a great way to experiment with having a storefront. It helped them gauge what they could afford to take on and whether this was something they truly wanted. As you might have guessed, they loved it.
Building Thalken in Lafayette
So now they knew they loved having a storefront, but setting up and breaking down every week was getting a little tiring. About five months into the Louisville storefront, they started actively looking for a new location. Over the next three months, they constantly asked around, scoped out new cities, and posted multiple inquiries asking if anyone knew of available commercial spaces.
One night, Will and Hana went out to dinner in a neighboring city. Their friend, who owned a brick-and-mortar there, had nothing but great things to say about the town, so they wanted to get a feel for it and see where her store was located. As they approached the shop and saw it for the first time, something in both of their hearts jumped. They literally said out loud to the universe, “This is exactly what we are looking for—Universe, please show us something like this.”
No joke, the next week, their friend reached out and said, “Hey, I know you guys are looking for a new space. I’m thinking of moving on to do some other things. Would you be interested in the space?” Hana felt her stomach drop in the best way. Fast forward—they got the space, and it’s the location they are in now.
One of the first things they did was paint YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and YOU ARE ENOUGH on the outside of the building. They are big fans of white paint, warm woods, and minimalist design, and slowly did everything they could with the small amount of money they had. They literally installed the faux wood floors themselves—which are now falling apart and held together with brown gaffer tape.
They are big believers in “doing”: don’t wait for perfect circumstances, don’t wait for investors—do what you can, and always keep growing. When they moved to Colorado, they had about $800 in the bank, a 2007 Honda Civic, and a rear-wheel-drive 4Runner—neither exactly ideal for driving in the snow.
Since 2017, Thalken has continued to evolve and grow. Like everyone else, 2020 brought unexpected challenges—but Hana and William chose to pivot with creativity and heart, becoming “The Joy Bandits.” Customers would call in orders, and Hana and William personally delivered them wearing silly masks and doing ninja kicks at the door. Security cameras caught the moments, and customers sent the footage back, which was shared on Instagram to spread small bursts of joy and connection. They even sang Happy Birthday—complete with their family’s extended version—for customers on their special days.
It wasn’t easy, but they were reminded how important it is to keep moving forward, even when things feel heavy. They learned that while darkness is easy to talk about, light takes intention. So they chose to focus on positivity. Thalken—and their Instagram—became a place people could come for a smile, a laugh, or a brief sense of relief, knowing there’s already enough heaviness in the world.
The store continues to evolve. Most recently, Hana and William painted a giant gold heart on the front door—symbolizing a heart of gold, light, and everything they aim to share with those who walk through it. Thalken’s evolution is layered: always creating—new jewelry, scents, and pieces—while also growing deeper. Over time, the work has come to reflect who Hana and William truly are and what they care about most: connection, honesty, and meaningful conversation. That focus led to the creation of Thalken Heart Questions. Volume 1 resonated so strongly that Volume 2 followed just six months later. The heart printed on the cards is the same hand-painted heart on the front of the building.
As conversations with customers deepen, so does Thalken. What began as a small shop continues to grow into something more layered, intentional, and human.
MORE THAN JUST SELLING STUFF
Empowering people has always been at the core of both William and Hana. For Hana, it started in kindergarten. At the end of each day, students would receive ribbons for doing a good job, and the class would sing, “Two, four, six, eight—who do we appreciate? Hana! Hana! Yaaaay, Hana!” She loved it—but not just for the obvious thrill of being celebrated. It was the first time she felt the duality of this feels so good—and I want others to experience it too.The reflex wasn’t to covet the feeling of empowerment—it was to identify what created it, so she could recreate it and ignite that same feeling in others. She went home, made ribbons out of printer paper, colored them with crayons, and sang the song for her parents—passing on the joy she had discovered.
Similarly, William has always shown a pattern of empowering others. From his experiences in hospitality, art, and music, he developed a deep appreciation for creating moments that lift people up, inspire confidence, and make everyday interactions feel meaningful.
This shared value is why they painted YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and YOU ARE ENOUGH on the outside of the shop. Their products are more than just items—they are tools for empowerment and connection. The dainty cord mantra bracelets remind people to stay strong and seek the silver lining. Jewelry highlights the beauty that already exists. Candles are crafted to support creativity, reset the nervous system, or set a romantic vibe. Curated socks are fun, high-quality, and signal self-care.
Hana and William know people aren’t just shopping—they’re looking for something that says, “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” or “Keep going.” Their goal is for every visitor to leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Over time, this mission grew into Thalken Heart Questions, their conversation decks, and the podcast Tiny Shop Big Heart, where they share stories, encouragement, and inspiration. They even give away wooden ladybug stickers with little notes, highlighting the blessings and luck in everyday life. Thalken is intentional: they believe in working hard, creating meaning, and spreading positivity.
BUILDING A TEAM
For a long time, hiring a team seemed distant. Hana and William were doing everything—admin, customer service, production—and the business sometimes felt overwhelming. What began as a necessity slowly became a true passion. Their expectations were high: every human should feel deeply seen and genuinely engaged, kindness should be non-negotiable, and the energy in the shop should be dialed all the way up. That’s not easy to find—or teach. Well, guess what happened? This team actually exceeded their expectations. They ask real questions, listen with intention, and create moments that empower and inspire. The result is a small but growing team that fills the shop with buzzy energy, warmth, and joy—making the space even more magical not just for customers, but for Hana and William too.
CHOOSING KINDNESS CAN BE BRUTAL
Kindness and positivity are often mistaken for something light or fluffy—easy, soft, or naive. But in reality, they’re anything but. Choosing kindness can be brutal. Choosing positivity can be hard. They take effort, presence, and restraint, especially when things feel heavy or unfair. They’re less like a stuffed animal and more like an antibiotic—doing quiet, necessary work to fight what’s spreading beneath the surface.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, once shared an idea: if you wrote down everything that went wrong during your day on one piece of paper, and everything that went well—everything you’re grateful for—on another, which one is the truth? The answer is both. Negativity and goodness can exist at the same time. The lie is believing that choosing to focus on the good is weak, fake, or dishonest. It’s not. It’s intentional.
At Thalken, kindness and positivity aren’t about pretending everything is perfect. They’re about choosing which truth to nurture, which one to amplify, and which one to let ripple outward.
THE FUTURE OF THALKEN
Looking ahead, Thalken continues to grow in both products and mission, always centered on empowerment and connection. They’re creating new jewelry, scents, and conversation tools, collaborating with inspiring businesses like boutique hotels and bookstores, and sharing their work through the podcast.
Their dream is to live and work in both Colorado and Maui, Hawaii, with a Thalken shop in each location. Hana, named after a town in Maui, has a deep love for the island’s community and small businesses. She loves Maui so much that for years, whenever anyone mentioned visiting for the first time, she’d spend half an hour writing down the businesses to visit and the foods to try. That’s how Thalken’s Guide to Maui came to be—a collection of her favorite spots, now available through a link in the footer of our website.
It comes from knowing firsthand how powerful support, kind words, and shared stories can be for a small business owner—how meaningful it is to feel seen and supported, and how important it is to pass that along. This instinct has been with Hana since childhood: from receiving a ribbon and being cheered on in kindergarten to discovering a show, a meal, a book, or a podcast she loved, her first reaction was always the same: This is so good—I want others to experience it too.That’s exactly how she feels about Maui—the energy, the food, the land, the community—and why she’s so passionate about sharing it.
NEVER STOP GROWING
If you’ve made it this far, thank you—for taking the time to read about us and what drives Thalken. If we haven’t met you yet, we hope we have the honor soon. If you take anything away from this, leave with this:
Never stop growing. Always remember to breathe. Go all in every time.