#industry #podcast #GraceMarieJewelry&Design

In Episode 80 of the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast, we meet Mike and Elise Rose, owners of Grace Marie Jewelry & Design in Lynchburg, Virginia. What started as an inherited jewelry store in a small New York town has become a thriving family business built on grit, learning and dedication to their craft.

In this episode, Mike and Elise share their story of how they took over Elise’s dad’s store with no formal training in the jewelry business and learned through real-world experience and mentorship. After several years in upstate New York, they moved to Lynchburg in 2020 and opened Grace Marie Jewelry & Design in the middle of a pandemic. Despite the challenges, they’ve grown their brand, community presence and capabilities and just moved into a historic Main Street location that was once home to Lynchburg’s oldest jeweler.

You’ll get a behind the scenes look at how this family run business works – from their kids helping in the store (including an 11 year old who’s already got fans among the customers) to how they scale a business, who to hire and when and the balance between growth and sustainability.

They talk about their adoption of new tools like laser engravers and CAD design software, community collaborations like bridal boxes and their approach to customer experience. Their passion for personalization and custom work shines throughout the conversation as does their commitment to supporting other downtown businesses.

They also share valuable lessons for small business owners – finding a mentor, buying groups like RJO and continuous learning in an ever changing industry.

Whether you’re in the jewelry business, run your own family business or just love entrepreneurial stories, this episode has got it all. Grace Marie Jewelry & Design is not just a store, it’s what happens when tradition, innovation and community come together.

Listen to the full episode on the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast and if you’re in the Lynchburg area, go visit Grace Marie’s new location and experience it for yourself.

Brought to you by:

Southern Jewelry News: https://southernjewelrynews.com/

Jewelry Store Marketers: https://jewelrystoremarketers.com/

Learn more about the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast https://southernjewelrynews.com/podcast

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcast = https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my.-..

• Amazon Music/Audible = https://www.audible.com/pd/Pearls-of.-..

• iHeartRadio = https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-pe...

• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/6IU1OHw...

• Google Podcast = https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...

Josh Durham from Parker Jewelers in Carlisle, PA, joins the podcast to share his story as a third-generation jeweler running a family business established by his grandparents over 50 years ago. Now, Josh and his wife face the challenge all jewelers face: driving consistent traffic and customers to their website and store.

Josh shares his journey of understanding and implementing SEO. After noticing a smaller competitor was matching Parker Jewelers online, Josh realized it was time to get into SEO. With a beautifully designed Shopify site with live inventory integration from Edge, Josh found out there was a big gap in his site’s optimization and opportunities were being left on the table.

Josh shares tips he learned about SEO. He was able to understand the importance of updating product titles and meta descriptions that improve visibility in Google search results.Rather than spending big on ads, Josh believes SEO is a more cost effective way to attract real customers who are actively searching for specific jewelry pieces or services like custom engagement rings.

You’ll learn the realities of SEO including the effort involved and the importance of creating repeatable processes. Josh says although SEO can feel overwhelming at first, breaking it down into smaller tasks makes it achievable for independent jewelers who want to grow their business online.

Guy gives practical tips on how to use Google Business Profiles, local SEO and how having a strong online presence through blogs, Google updates and reviews can get you more customers. Josh’s proactive approach and hands-on approach shows you don’t have to be a digital marketing expert to understand the basics, even if you’re going to delegate or outsource these tasks.

They also talk about common problems jewelers face, like how to attract and train good staff, and how important a marketing strategy is for long term growth. Josh’s experience and Guy’s expertise combine to give jewelers actionable tips to improve their digital marketing.

Listen in to see how Parker Jewelers is transforming their online presence with SEO and how your jewelry store can do the same. Guy provided Josh with practical advice to help improve his SEO strategy, and he’s ready to help your store too. Don’t miss out – reach out to Guy today to start seeing results for your website.

Brought to you by:

Southern Jewelry News: https://southernjewelrynews.com/

Jewelry Store Marketers: https://jewelrystoremarketers.com/

Learn more about the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast https://southernjewelrynews.com/podcast

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcast = https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my.-..

• Amazon Music/Audible = https://www.audible.com/pd/Pearls-of.-..

• iHeartRadio = https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-pe...

• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/6IU1OHw...

• Google Podcast = https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...

This episode of Pearls of Wisdom showcases another amazing story from one of our colleagues in the jewelry industry. Our host, Guy, from Jewelry Store Marketers, sits down with a visionary in the world of luxury accessories, Irina Aran of Facets Fine Handcrafted Jewelry. She came to talk about her enduring and wonderful journey in this industry.

Irina’s story began from a small family-run business—just like what most successful businesses do. Now, she’s leading a luxury and antique jewelry company. Irina shared how her passion for craftsmanship and commitment to quality has been instrumental to her success.

Her story is a lesson in perseverance and resilience. She explained that even when things get tough, fear won’t let her dictate her future. The shocking story of a smash-and-grab robbery in her store tested her and her team’s mettle. She explains how being calm, putting safety at the top of mind, and turning adversity into an opportunity to beef up security. This also led them to strengthen community ties.

Irina also opens up an endearing story and a personal project—something close to her heart. She built a jewelry collection inspired by her late brother to support ADHD awareness. She highlights how she turned her grief of losing her young brother into purpose by designing a meaningful piece where a portion of the proceeds go to non-profit initiatives.

Entrepreneurs and creatives will also find inspiration from Irina’s experience with customer engagement, viral marketing, and running big giveaways. Listeners will also get insights on the importance of in-house craftsmanship instead of outsourcing and how social media is integral in the progress of a modern jewelry brand.

Tune into Irina Aran’s fascinating story. Learn the ropes and challenges of building a business that will last.

Brought to you by:

Southern Jewelry News: https://southernjewelrynews.com/

Jewelry Store Marketers: https://jewelrystoremarketers.com/

Learn more about the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast https://southernjewelrynews.com/podcast

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:

• Apple Podcast = https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my.-..

• Amazon Music/Audible = https://www.audible.com/pd/Pearls-of.-..

• iHeartRadio = https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-pe...

• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/6IU1OHw...

• Google Podcast = https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...