Q.: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans : Premier Jewelers is a family owned jewelry store retailing at a fair price and also repairing jewelry and most watches. It’s sole location on Baymeadows Rd has been helping Jacksonville’s residents with their jewelry and watch needs for over 17 years.
Q.: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans : After taking jewelry classes I learned from experienced jewelers while working with a jeweler in Texas. I later moved to Jacksonville and became the jeweler for Fast Fix at The Avenues mall. Over 17 years there I refined my skills as a jeweler. I decided it was time for a business of my own. I started working as the jeweler for Premier Jewelers while still being the primary jeweler at Fast Fix. The opportunity came in May 2018 when the owenr of Premier Jewelers decided he wanted a change and sold the store to me. As owner and jeweler of Premier Jewelers it allows me to have new experiences and the freedom to help customers in a more personal way that I wasn’t able to at other people’s businesses.
Q.: What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: After years of working as a jeweler I wanted the freedom of running my own business. The business was already here and I was working as the jeweler.
Q.: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans:
◦ Learn as much as you can about the business you want to own by working in that type of business that is already successful.
◦ Be friendly with co-workers and other industry people you meet so you can find people to work with when you open your business.
◦ Work hard and spend very little and get an accurate idea of what you will need to save up enough or find a trusted person to partner with that has the money you need to open the business.
Q.: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:
◦ Listening – to your customers and your employees
◦ Patience – some customers are more demanding, you should try to meet those demands within reason
◦ Knowledge – about your trade/industry and business daily practices
Q.: To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Years of experience and learning from my mistakes
Q.: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Internet reviews has helped in a very big way. Almost every day we have new customers which found us by searching and relying on internet reviews from Bing, Google, Yelp, Nextdoor etc.
Q.: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Learn what to change when you make a mistake
Q.: How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Very. If you have someone you can count on you have the ability to do what you need to help your customer.
Q.: How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: It all depends on what it is related to. Usually at least a few weeks or a month, sometimes longer.
Q.: What motivates you?
Ans: The satisfaction of seeing people happy about the jewelry or work we have done for them.
Q.: What are your ideals?
Ans: Provide very good quality and try to meet the customers needs.
Q.: How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I talk with and listen to my customers and employees constantly which will spur new ideas for all aspects of my business.
Q.: How do you define success?
Ans: Having satisfied continued repeat customers and adding new ones constantly.
Q.: How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Treat your customers like they are your friend and take an interest in their lives some.
Q.: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Having the freedom to do what I need to help my customer.
Q.: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: The day I purchased Premier Jewelers. To see it happen finally, after planning and waiting for years, made it both satisfying and something I will not forget.
Q.: What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: We treat each other like family as much as we can. I choose people to work with me who are friendly and it allows us to have an openness about our opinions and suggestions to each other.
Visit us : https://premierjewelersjax.com/