AN INTERVIEW WITH JASON & TODD
Your business seemed to come out of no-where and is now the leader in your industry. Just where did you two come from and what do you attribute your success to?
Todd: I grew up in this business. My Grandfather opened our first family jewelry business in 1919. I can remember as a kid one of my first jobs was making bows for the boxes, I would get paid a nickel a bow then blow all my money at the Kreskies next door to our store.
Todd: I began working in my parents store full time in 1983. My father taught me about people and opened my eyes to understand that this business is all about romance and relationships. He instilled the importance of embracing each customer and their situation to a point where I would make a lasting memory of me and our store, after all I would be playing a small role and if played right would probably be remembered in this one scene for the rest of this customers life. My father passed away in 1988, our family business closed and I spent the next fourteen years with Jason resurrecting a small retail jewelry store and developing it into a twelve store jewelry chain.
Jason: Todd and I actually started the same day for this retail company back in 1989. I had just moved to Ohio from Miami, go figure, remained a dolphin fan and spent the next fourteen years traveling the world buying diamonds as we grew this particular retail company to twelve stores.
Jason: I learned much about the loose diamond business and forged some wonderful relationships that continue for us today. I was pretty young back then and when your traveling to places like Israel, India, Antwerp and Brazil you grow up quick. Those trips gave me the discipline and knowledge I have today for sorting and choosing the perfect diamonds for our store. When you travel thousands of miles to one city and reject just about every diamond you examine for one reason or another you better have other diamond cutters and other cities around the world on your list or you have some explaining to your business partner and your clients to do.
Jason: As Diamond Brokers we introduced a new way for people to buy diamonds. We were able to separate ourselves from the retail jewelry industry by brokering the largest selection of loose certified diamonds and diamond jewelry that Southwest Florida has been able to see, touch and feel at any give time. Our decision to broker these diamonds below internet prices was just icing on the cake.
Jason: We had sort of a “If we build it, they will come” mind set about us.
Well you were right, you built it and they have come and come in a big way. You continue to be voted best place to buy diamonds in Southwest Florida. One last question, what’s in the future for Jason, Todd and Southwest Florida’s Diamond District?
Todd: We really love what we’re doing. This business has fulfilled many of our goals and dreams. We are honored to be voted best place to buy diamonds in Southwest Florida and will continue to respond to our customers and their needs.
Jason: Todd and I are always talking about the future and how we can continue to offer our clients the best experience in buying diamonds. Customer service is our top priority. With that said Southwest Florida can look forward to our new store coming in early summer of 2008. We are in the process of building a new 5000 square foot, free standing store at the Coconut Point Town Center in Estero. We will continue to broker our diamonds below internet prices and offer our clients a red carpet to come in on.
Todd: The red carpet is just getting a little longer and wider.
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