Store Spotlight - Gallery of Jewels in Noe Valley

Truth - when I moved to San Francisco and started seeking out stores for my jewelry, Gallery of Jewels was on my pie-in-the-sky, gee-I-hope-they-like-me list of places where I wanted my jewelry to be.  Flash forward to now and Gallery of Jewels has carried my work for almost four years! I love working with them. Their support for individual artists and their work shows in the way that they give space to each one, presenting their work in the best possible light. I sat down with Jen Rose, the manager of the 24th Street Gallery of Jewels to ask her about what it's like to work for this 25-year-old jewelry institution. {Editor's note - Jen is an amazing jewelry designer and maker in her own right - http://www.jenrosejewelry.com/ }

Tell me how you got started with Gallery of Jewels:

JR - Almost 10 years ago, I moved to San Francisco. While exploring my new city, I discovered a gorgeous neighborhood called Noe Valley and therein the most magical storefront. Through the carefully decorated front windows, I gazed upon intricately crafted jewelry from independent designers. Everything was so well made, so different, and so beautiful.  At that moment, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. I made it my goal to learn as much about this amazing place as I possibly could. Gallery of Jewels... I was in love!!   Admiring the windows and chatting up the sales girls inside became a favorite pastime and ritual anytime I was in the neighborhood. Several years later, after I left my career in the corporate world to finally pursue my dreams as an artist, I decided to take a chance at applying for a position at this treasured jewelry store. You can imagine my excitement when the offer came through to join their sales team!!  I started at the Pacific Heights location but the experience came full circle when I was transferred to the Noe Valley gallery that had stolen my heart years ago.

Is there something that you are coveting for yourself at the gallery, but haven’t pulled the trigger on yet?

JR - YES!!   The “Jupiter” ring by Alberian and Aulde.  It’s a sterling silver band with two-tone rhodium plating, a 14 karat rose gold setting and three rose cut rubies.  It’s absolutely to die for.  I love the saturation of the stones and how the facets shimmer so beautifully in the light.   Mixed metals are also a favorite of mine, so this would fit perfectly in my collection.

What is your favorite lunch spot in Noe Valley?

JR - So many!  I like to switch it up, but here are a few of my favorites:  Subs Inc, Casa Mexicana, and Paxtis.  By the way – Paxtis has an amazing lunch special.  A slice of pizza, a salad and a drink for $10!  Seriously it’s the best!

Tell me a little bit about the people you work with:

JR - I love my girls!  We work together very well and it really feels more like family. There’s Jenny, the Senior Manager. She’s worked for the company for 16 years and knows nearly everyone in the neighborhood, their families, and their taste in jewelry. She can talk to anyone about anything and sell you some amazing jewelry!  She has a great sense of humor and can make almost anyone laugh with her fantastic impressions and fake accents. 

Then there’s Diane. She’s both the best and worst influence. Just today, she force fed me chocolate...it was worth it. If you are having a bad day, she’ll fix you right up because her happy go lucky attitude is infectious. It’s easy for our clients to sense her genuine nature and can trust that she will lead them in the right direction with their jewelry purchases. She’s also an amazing goldsmith and her talent shines when you put her behind the bench.   

April is our newest addition. She studied at GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and has an incredible wealth of knowledge. She can talk for hours about gemstones and you can really feel her passion when a loop is in hand. If anyone can make stones more interesting and beautiful than they already are, it’s her!

What is your favorite time of the year at GoJ?

JR - The Holiday Shopping Season: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, and Hanukkah! We are packed with brand new jewelry from every artist, from top to bottom shelf. It’s the best of the best work that you’ll see the entire year. We rock the sales floor from open to close and the store is never empty and never a dull moment.

Gallery of Jewels has three locations in San Francisco:

Noe Valley
4089 24th Street at Castro, San Francisco, CA

Pacific Heights
2115 Fillmore Street at California, San Francisco, CA

Union Square
427 Post Street at Powell, San Francisco, CA

Retailer Spotlight - Poppy Arts in Columbia, Missouri

Poppy Arts in Columbia, MO started in a living room in 1981 as a way for the owner to discover and buy beautiful handmade goods. Home wares, jewelry and cards come from all over with a focus on handcrafted pieces. This shop has become a gift-buying destination over the years (even for the owner!). Liz Tucker, owner of Poppy Arts took some time to answer questions about her history with the shop.

Tell me how you got started with Poppy:
I started working at Poppy very part-time in January 2004.  I had grown up shopping at Poppy and still have the first piece of jewelry I bought there when I was in 5th grade (a pair of fimo clay heart earrings---it was the early 90s!) I continued to work more and more at the shop until I became full time and started to accompany Barb {Editor’s note - Barb was the original owner of the shop} on buying trips.  Turns out we could walk into a booth and choose almost the exact same pieces.  I learned so much from watching her work and interact with artists.  In 2011 Barb retired and moved out to Northern California and that's when I took over.  It has been an amazing almost four years.  

Is there something that you are coveting for yourself at Poppy but haven’t pulled the trigger on yet?
Oh gosh, that's a tough one.  I try to invest in at least one piece of jewelry from each artist that we represent, partly as a token of thanks and partly as a little historical documentation of the shop and the style at the time.  My problem right now is that I'm drawn to the warmth of gold and rose gold, so naturally my favorite pieces are more expensive.  

What is your favorite place for lunch in the neighborhood?
My favorite place for lunch is a little vegetarian restaurant called Main Squeeze.  The owner, Leigh, is hustling healthy food day in and day out.  I feel like a better human being after eating there.

Tell me a little about the people who work at Poppy:
My right hand gal and partner in crime is Lili Johnstone.  Lili has a degree in theatre set design and applies that knowledge so beautifully to a retail space.  She can literally make a display out of anything, kind of like a visual merchandising MacGyver.  I have endless amounts of admiration for her talent (oh, and did I mention she's hilarious?  Keeps me in stitches.)

What is your favorite time of year at Poppy?
I love the ebb and flow of busy that takes place in a college town.  It's always nice in the summer when things slow down a bit, but I always look so forward to the return of the students in the fall.  It tends to cool down too so we have the shop doors open and can hear all of the action out on the street.  Students breathe so much life into our town.

Poppy Arts
920 East Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201

Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Instagram @poppymadebyhand

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/shoppoppy/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poppy/28723092495

Retailer Spotlight: Makers Market

Makers Market is a Bay Area based online retailer focused on finding the best handmade items and artisans from across the United States and sharing each their story. You'll notice that founder, Suzy Ekman, has an incredible eye for beautifully designed items and clearly loves working with small businesses. I met Suzy over a year ago around the time she launched Makers Market, and was thrilled to have Etta + Billie added to the site. Read on to find out a little more about Suzy and Makers Market.

Why did you decide to start Makers Market?

The idea for Makers Market has been percolating for quite a while… growing up in Alabama I spent hours with my dad in his workshop handing him tools, listening about his fishing trip, sweeping up the sawdust, handing him more tools, listening to him fantasize about his next bike, and receiving all of life’s lessons.  When we were done, we’d ride through the countryside and discover potters, blacksmiths, textile weavers, and furniture makers.  Watching these artisans create their products and chatting with them about their lives and how they learned their craft instilled a deep appreciation for those who design and make beautiful product with their hands. Many times, these trades had been passed down through many generations, and they were still using their grandparents’ tools.  I met the most talented, authentic, and down to earth people I've ever met.  There was a deep sense of home and belonging.  And a need for help in promoting their talent and businesses.  Throughout my career in business consulting and Manufacturing Executive Management, I'd always wanted to use my skills and return to my roots and my passion.  I'd always been focused on helping small businesses thrive, supporting jobs in the USA, making things, and ethical sourcing of materials.  I'd reached that point in my career when it was time to see all of my dreams come together.  Makers Market is the perfect intersection of everything I love:  resulting in the promotion and preservation of American Craft for future generations. 

Suzy Ekman, founder of Makers Market

How do you find and decide which lines to carry?

In the beginning, we poured through over a thousand San Francisco based business to determine which artists/ makers best fit our aesthetic and shared our values of well-made, ethically /sustainably produced product, and used production techniques that honored the ideals of American craftsmanship.  After our launch party in San Francisco, we searched the country for brands that matched this curation criteria in categories where we were still looking for makers.  We find these makers either through our online application process, Instagram, Pinterest, and local craft events across the country.  We look for makers who share our belief of the importance of keeping American craft alive.  And to keep it authentic.

What is the best thing about owning your own business?

Seeing my dreams unfold and make an impact in "real life".  Feeling like I'm making a lasting and important difference by doing my part to preserve and celebrate American craftsmanship.   Feeling like I am doing my part, although a very small part, to keep jobs in American and help the US economy be healthier.  By encouraging people to keep their $s in America, with American product and supporting their neighbors.  As our tagline says, "Join Us in Rebuilding the Legacy of American Made!"

You've run a brick and mortar Pop Up along with an E-commerce site. What were the biggest challenges for each and how did you overcome them?

eCommmerce - the biggest challenge has been trying to compete online, in this crowded space, while being self-funded.   So I look for ways to grow the eCommerce site that have immediate payoff.  In order to compete with the big boys, I will need funding!

Brick and Mortar - this was actually much, much easier than the eCommerce, which was not my assumption going into it.  The biggest challenge for our Holiday Pop Up in Union Square was that we had only three weeks from the time we signed the contract on the space to the time the store had to open.  But we did it, and it was a success.  Now, it is possible later this month that we will have one week to open a store from the time the contract is signed.  But that is a challenge I am praying to be able to have!  Long term, the challenge for brick and mortar will be to find affordable space in the heart of the city where tourists are likely to be shopping and looking for locally produced craft.

Ok, now for the really important question: What is your favorite beverage and/or beverage & food combination?

My absolutely favorite beverage, especially on a warm weekend like this is a Mojito made with coconut rum!  My favorite beverage/food combo would have to be white wine with tuna tartar…

Online:
Makers Market
http://makersmarket.us/

Brick & Mortar:
Location TBD

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