Tips to make buying jewelry for someone else as a gift easier
Whether you’re proposing during the most wonderful time of the year or want to buy a loved one something special, these tips will help you stay on track.
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The first store to open in Madison’s Magnolia District will be Klein Jewelry once construction is completed this fall.
Kristi and Eddie Klein take a mom-and-pop approach, offering their customers custom-made jewelry in a brick-and-mortar store.
Phase 1 of the Magnolia District includes two buildings, one of which is 10,000 square feet and will house the Foxtail restaurant. The other building is 6,000 square feet and will offer retail and office space. It will be divided into four sections of 1,500 square feet each, two on the ground floor and two on the upper floor. The two buildings will be connected in the middle by an elevator tower.
Located on nine acres in downtown Madison near the intersection of Madison Avenue and Magnolia Street, the District project was launched in 2005 through the efforts of Greg Johnston, a developer and builder. Johnston and his parents, Brent and Cynthia Johnston, wanted to restore historic buildings in the area and build historically accurate new buildings.
Klein Jewelry will have a 1,500-square-foot ground floor and will be ready for occupancy as soon as developer Johnston can complete construction.
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“We’re all keeping our fingers and toes crossed that we can open in October. We’re counting on it,” said Kristi, who has been in the jewelry business for most of her adult life, doing repairs and custom work at local shops.
Eddie worked at FedEx for 23 years until his position was eliminated as part of cost-cutting measures in the industry.
At this point, the two decided to set up a business with a retail store together.
“We’re really trying to create an approachable environment that’s more of an intimate atmosphere and a boutique-style store,” she said. “We’re not going to be a very traditional store. We’re going to have different showcases, but we’re more geared toward custom jewelry. That seems to be what everyone is looking for these days.”
She says her experience with CAD design will help her bring clients’ visions to life. She will be the shop’s craftsman and artist, while Eddie says he will handle the business side of the store.
He is also studying gemology at the International School Of Gemology “to take our business to the next level of expertise,” he said.
“As a family-owned and operated business, we understand the importance of every piece of jewelry that passes through our doors,” said Kristi. “Whether it’s a custom engagement ring to symbolize a lifelong love or a heartfelt gift to mark a milestone, we put our heart into everything we do and make sure it exceeds your expectations.”
In addition to jewelry making, they also offer jewelry repair services, but their greatest passion is custom-made pieces.
“I really love taking multi-generational heirlooms and putting them together to create something new,” Kristi said. “I’ve been doing that myself for the past five years with custom work. We could imagine someone coming in with their mother’s engagement ring and the diamond from their grandmother’s engagement ring and wanting to put them together to create something they can wear every day. It really means the world to me to make that possible for people. We can’t wait to get started.”
Ross Reilly can be reached via email at [email protected] or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter at @GreenOkra1.
