We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Courtney Jones and Samantha McIntosh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Courtney Jones below.
Courtney and Samantha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?
There are a handful of different trends we are currently seeing in the jewelry industry- one of them being a shift back towards traditional design, but with an ethical mindset. Customers are looking for stones alternative to mined diamonds and environmentally friendly metals. Large lab grown diamonds and moissanites set in simple bands made from recycled gold are all the rage right now.
Another trend that is on fire is permanent jewelry- we are seeing a huge shift towards sentimental and experience based purchases. Our eternity bracelets are a daily reminder of a shared sentimental experience with a loved one or friend.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
We are a women run jewelry shop & studio that specializes in unique fine jewelry as well as high quality fashion jewelry. Our mission is to bring you beautiful jewelry for every part of your life- from everyday jewelry to modern heirlooms that will last for your eternity.
Our custom designs are made in house with progressive modern styles and traditional timeless looks. Whether you are looking for trendy fashion rings, a bespoke engagement ring, simple wedding bands, complex redesigns, gold buying, or jewelry repair- our store is a one-stop-shop.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In March of 2022 we experienced a devastating fire at a neighboring business. While our shop was saved from fire damage, our building did sustain structural damage from the demolition after the fire. This caused us to emergency evacuate, and find a new place of business for 7 months while our building was repaired.
This experience was one that tried and tested our limits- we had to overcome confusion from customers, insurance paperwork, new construction plans, and city permitting… all on top of normal business operations. This journey was one of endurance, grit and quick creative problem solving, only one year after a global pandemic.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Our approach to starting this business was all about resourcefulness and creativity. We did not start with a loan or any significant amount of capital. It was based on hard work and grit- both of us would work all the store hours, build all the displays, handmake and source all the inventory, and manage all the behind the scenes work like accounting, taxes, etc. This route isn’t for everyone, but it did work for us- we kept our financial overhead small with our large investment of time.
Contact Info:
- Website: dimeandregal.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dimeandregal
- Facebook: facebook.com/dimeandregal