Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lyn Skibell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Lyn , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I am taking a risk right now by positioning Skibell Fine Jewelry for the future. And it feels great! My husband, Charles Skibell, was a fourth-generation jeweler. He founded Skibell Fine Jewelry more than 35 years ago, and our store has become a Dallas staple with a reputation for excellence, gorgeous jewelry and customer-centric service. Charles passed away nearly three years ago, leaving me to continue our store’s tradition. Last year, when our lease ended, I had to decide whether to keep the business running or shutter its doors. That’s where the risk comes into play. And I said: Challenge accepted. Along with my amazing staff, I decided Dallas needs us, and Skibell Fine Jewelry needs Dallas. It’s time to carry on Charles’ traditions while modernizing Skibell Fine Jewelry to reach and serve today’s customers with amazing jewelry and timepieces. So we’re entering a new phase. How exciting is that? Right now we’re working out of a temporary showroom because we’re building a brand-new, gorgeous showroom in Preston Center — just a few doors away from our other store. The grand opening should be in a month or two. I just can’t wait for Dallas to see Skibell Fine Jewelry version 2.0 — same wonderful service with new styles and selections for every customer. It’s a great time to be Skibell Fine Jewelry.
Lyn , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Skibell Fine Jewelry is all about customer service. Whether it’s buying an engagement ring to begin your forever or reinventing a family heirloom with a modern-day twist — we are here for our customers. And we listen — really listen. That’s been the key to our 30-year success — 25 years in Preston Center. We don’t take that tenure for granted either. We foster our relationships with our clients. So we don’t just have one client in a family, we have multigenerational clients. And while we’re proud of that, we strive to make new clients feel at home in our store as well. We know jewelry can be an emotional or very special purchase, and we know different clients have different budgets. We want our clients to be comfortable in their price-range and thrilled with their purchase. When we see a client have an a-ha moment after finding the right piece, our day feels complete. Charles Skibell, founded Skibell Fine Jewelry and built this business from the ground up. It’s because of his dedication and passion that we have a solid foundation. I took over the business after Charles passed away. And while my background is in nursing and sales, they’re both people-centered businesses much like jewelry. It’s all about relationships with clients, staff and vendors that sets our company apart from others. My goal is to continue Charles’ legacy by focusing on our customers’ needs, creating a no-pressure environment for shopping filled with an amazing selection of unique, beautiful, one-of-a-kind and current styles from the best vendors you can find in Dallas. We’re not a cookie-cutter store — quite the opposite. We have an amazing, approachable staff ready to help you. If you want to buy new or estate pieces, we have them. If you want to design your own piece, we can help. If you want to sell, consign or repair your jewelry, we do that too. It’s my pleasure and honor be able to move Skibell Fine Jewelry into the future. Come say hello!
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Right person, right job is my motto. If you put the right person with the right skill set in the right position, I believe that person will soar. My greatest joy at Skibell Fine Jewelry is managing my team, watching them provide top-notch customer service and boosting morale with a positive work environment. Then with our staff, high morale builds upon itself. It’s not easy, but watching it happen is magic — like watching an orchestra where all the players are in harmony. In my previous sales role, I learned that people, process and technology lead to great results. And that translates to the jewelry business as well. The jewelry industry is ever-evolving. Not only do we have customers walking into the store to shop, but we have customers shopping online through channels like FaceBook and Instagram and our website. It’s our job to stay on top of the technology and meet our customers wherever they are. That philosophy leads the staff in different directions every day. But every Friday we all have lunch together. We have a weekly meeting so we’re all on the same page. Friday is wear-jeans-to-work-day. And I always host a “Holiday in July” party at my house. Since the winter holidays get hectic for us, we use slower times to recharge.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times — Skibell Fine Jewelry’s reputation stands on the shoulders of our decades of happy customers and the quality of the jewelry we sell. Jewelry is very much a want purchase not a need purchase. And we know that. We also recognize it’s very much a joyful purchase. Our job is to keep it joyful for our customers — old and new. We’re not about high pressure at all. We’re about creating memories. Those memories start as soon as customers walk into our door. We’re different from other jewelers in the Dallas area as well. We happily serve customers at all price points. Some customers scrimp and save for a year to buy the perfect ring. Others want to surprise their partner with a breathtaking, bespoke piece. And we’ve got both types of clientele covered. That sets us apart. In the end, we want happy customers. That’s been our goal since day one, and that will continue to be our goal as Skibell Fine Jewelry moves forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skibellfinejewelry.com/
- Instagram: @skibellfinejewelry
- Facebook: @skibellfinejewerly
- Linkedin: Lyn Skibell
- Twitter: @skibelljewelry
Image Credits
Thomas Garza Photography Cyndi Long Studios Shannon Skloss Photography Champagne Photography