Ep 80_Mike and Elise’s Downtown Dream: A Family Jeweler’s Journey of Legacy, Growth and Resilience

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

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