Bling Talks: Insights from the Jewelers’ World

What does it take to go from 17 years in Hollywood to launching your own diamond jewelry brand—with no previous experience running a business?

In this episode of Bling Talks with Anthony Haddad, we sit down with Jasmine Waltz, founder of Waltz Diamonds, to explore her unexpected journey from acting and entertainment to building a custom, lab-grown diamond jewelry business.

Jasmine didn't inherit a jewelry empire or come from generations of jewelers. Instead, she recognized an opportunity in the rapidly evolving lab-grown diamond market and decided to build a brand on her own terms.

From creating custom pieces and working with manufacturers to running a lean, made-to-order business, Jasmine shares what she's learned about breaking into one of the world's most traditional luxury industries.

She also reveals how AI helped her navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, from building her e-commerce website to learning marketing, photography, and business operations.

But this conversation goes beyond jewelry.

Jasmine gets candid about 15-hour workdays, the emotional roller coaster of starting a business, the pressure of slow sales months, and the importance of finding purpose in what you create.

Anthony and Jasmine also tackle the ongoing debate surrounding lab-grown versus natural diamonds, diamond resale value, changing consumer expectations, and why the future of luxury jewelry may look very different.

• How Jasmine transitioned from acting to jewelry entrepreneurship.
• Why lab-grown diamonds inspired her to launch Waltz Diamonds.
• The advantages and challenges of a made-to-order jewelry business.
• How custom jewelry and personal storytelling help differentiate a luxury brand.
• Finding manufacturing partners and developing original jewelry designs.
• How AI can help first-time entrepreneurs learn essential business skills.
• Growing a jewelry business through referrals, Instagram, and repeat customers.
• The realities of burnout, self-doubt, and the entrepreneurial mindset.
• Why mentorship and collaboration matter in the jewelry industry.
• Jasmine's vision for expanding Waltz Diamonds into retail.

Jasmine Waltz is the founder of Waltz Diamonds, a jewelry brand specializing in lab-grown diamonds, custom fine jewelry, and made-to-order designs.

With a creative background spanning acting, writing, directing, and producing, Jasmine brings a fresh perspective to the traditional jewelry industry—combining individuality, design, and customer collaboration.

Explore Waltz Diamonds:

https://waltzdiamonds.com/

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. Through conversations with jewelry entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators, Anthony explores the strategies, experiences, and ideas shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, CRM, content, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Discover JewelryBox.ai:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Explore More Bling Talks Episodes:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools for Jewelers:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Are lab-grown diamonds changing the future of jewelry? And could a made-to-order business model offer an alternative to traditional jewelry retail?

Listen to Jasmine's story and discover what it takes to build a jewelry brand from the ground up.

Follow Bling Talks on your favorite podcast platform for more conversations with the entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders transforming the jewelry industry.

Jayme and Michael Dreizen of Kaleiya Kaleidoscope Co. are creating something most people have never seen before: bespoke kaleidoscopes built with gold, precious gemstones, engraving, and fine-jewelry craftsmanship.

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Jayme and Michael to hear how the idea started with a kaleidoscope Jayme originally bought as a birthday gift for her sister — and then decided to keep for herself.

That simple purchase eventually became a collection and, years later, the inspiration for Kaleiya.

Jayme and Michael share how they went from backgrounds in real estate to working with goldsmiths, gem dealers, engravers, and jewelry craftspeople to create highly customized kaleidoscopes filled with precious gemstones.

They also discuss the challenges of creating a luxury product customers have never seen before, why certain high-ticket products need to be experienced in person, the craftsmanship behind engraving and pavé work, and why they describe Kaleiya as “jewelry for the mind.”

In this episode:

• The birthday gift that started Jayme’s kaleidoscope obsession
• How the idea evolved into Kaleiya
• Turning a traditional kaleidoscope into a luxury art object
• Putting more than 22 carats of gemstones inside one piece
• Learning the gemstone business from a real-estate background
• Working with engravers, goldsmiths, and jewelry craftspeople
• Why detailed engraving can take hundreds of hours
• The challenges of sapphire and diamond pavé
• Why some luxury products need to be experienced in person
• The Tucson gem-show story
• Why Kaleiya calls its creations “jewelry for the mind”

Jayme and Michael Dreizen are behind Kaleiya Kaleidoscope Co., creating bespoke kaleidoscopes using precious metals, gemstones, engraving, and intricate jewelry craftsmanship.

Kaleiya:

https://kaleiya.com/

Jayme Dreizen on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaymedreizen/

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/XYeCzZ7sxtQ

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai?sub_confirmation=1

What happens when a jewelry artist builds a career around handmade work — and then watches technology completely reshape how small businesses operate?

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Randi Chervitz, founder of Uncommon Threads, to talk about creativity, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, technology, and the future of handmade jewelry.

Randi has been working in jewelry since 1991. Her path began with art, fashion, fiber techniques, and metalsmithing before evolving into a distinctive approach that combines techniques traditionally associated with crochet and fiber arts with metal.

Over the years, she built her business through art fairs, trade shows, wholesale relationships, custom work, galleries, online marketing, and direct customer relationships.

Randi also shares how the business side of being an artist has changed — from the early days before social media and modern online tools to today’s world of AI, automation, digital marketing, and endless business services competing for a small business owner’s attention.

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is Randi’s approach to AI.

She uses AI to research ideas, explore marketing strategies, and ask better questions — but she does not want it replacing her voice, creativity, or decision-making.

For Randi, authenticity matters.

And as AI-generated content becomes more common, she believes handmade objects, human creativity, and the work of the hand may become even more meaningful.

In this episode:

• How Randi found her way into jewelry and metalsmithing

• Turning fiber and crochet techniques into metal jewelry

• Building a creative business starting in 1991

• Selling through art fairs, trade shows, galleries, and boutiques

• Why customers often buy the story behind handmade work

• How the jewelry business has changed with technology

• The realities of running a small creative business

• Why small business owners need to be careful about outsourcing

• How Randi uses AI for research and marketing ideas

• Why she avoids AI-generated content that feels generic

• The importance of authenticity in creative businesses

• Why handmade jewelry still matters in an AI-driven world

• The future of human craftsmanship and creativity

ABOUT RANDI CHERVITZ

Randi Chervitz is the founder and CEO of Uncommon Threads and a jewelry artist with decades of experience in metalsmithing and handmade jewelry.

Her work combines fiber-inspired techniques with metal to create distinctive pieces rooted in craftsmanship, experimentation, and individual expression.

Connect with Randi:

Website:

https://www.uncommonthreadsstudio.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/randi_chervitz/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/UncommonThreadsJewelry/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randi-chervitz/

ABOUT THE HOST

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

GROW YOUR JEWELRY BUSINESS WITH JEWELRYBOX.AI

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Listen, follow, and subscribe to Bling Talks for more conversations with jewelry entrepreneurs, makers, innovators, and business leaders.

What does it really take to build a watch brand that stands out?

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Eddie Johnson, founder and designer of Verdure Watches, to talk about originality, custom watch design, entrepreneurship, technology, relationships, and what it takes to build a memorable luxury brand.

Eddie shares the thinking behind Verdure Watches and his approach to creating pieces with their own identity rather than simply following what already exists in the market.

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is Eddie’s move into personalized, one-of-one watches through the Radour Atelier. The process starts with getting to know the customer—their journey, accomplishments, personality, and story—and using those details as inspiration for a watch created specifically for them.

Anthony and Eddie also discuss the business side of building a watch company, including marketing, networking, AI, future collaborations, and why reputation and relationships can make such a difference in the jewelry industry.

Eddie also shares his interest in bringing the worlds of watches and automobiles together through future collaborations with dealerships, manufacturers, and other luxury brands.

• Building an independent watch brand
• Developing an original design identity
• Creating personalized one-of-one watches
• Turning a customer’s story into part of the design
• Marketing and growing a watch business
• Using AI and technology to streamline business operations
• Why relationships matter in the jewelry industry
• The importance of reputation and integrity
• Building a strong professional network
• Potential collaborations between watches and the automotive world
• Advice for entrepreneurs entering jewelry and luxury goods

00:00 — Meet Eddie Johnson of Verdure Watches

04:54 — The Journey of Building a Watch Brand

09:27 — Embracing Technology and AI in Business

13:49 — The Creative Process Behind Watchmaking

18:12 — Business Strategies and Networking

23:47 — Closing Thoughts

Eddie Johnson is the founder and designer behind Verdure Watches.

In this conversation, Eddie shares his approach to watch design, customization, entrepreneurship, networking, technology, and building relationships within the jewelry and luxury industries.

Verdure Watches:

https://www.verdurewatches.com/

Connect with Eddie on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-johnson-0b552911a

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Follow Bling Talks for more conversations with jewelry founders, designers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders—and share this episode with someone building a brand of their own.

What does it take to build a modern jewelry business around pieces that can be more than 100 years old?

Catherine Thies, co-owner of Filigree Jewelers in Minneapolis, joins Anthony Haddad on Bling Talks to share the story behind the business, the systems that helped it grow, and how technology is changing the way an independent jeweler operates.

Catherine started with just five rings.

She listed jewelry on Craigslist, met customers at coffee shops, reinvested into inventory, moved into an office, transitioned into an appointment-based showroom, and continued building what would eventually become Filigree Jewelers.

Today, Filigree specializes in antique and estate jewelry while also offering vintage, custom, modern, and in-house designs. Catherine and her team work with unique gemstones, old European cuts, colored sapphires, vintage stones, and repurposed materials while combining traditional jewelry expertise with modern business technology.

In this episode, Catherine and Anthony get into the real operational side of running a growing independent jewelry store.

They discuss why systems become essential as a jewelry business scales, how Filigree tracks repairs and inventory, why Shopify became part of the operation, and how technology gives employees more visibility and ownership.

Catherine also shares how Filigree uses Gem Lightbox for jewelry photography, Claude and AI for product content and marketing, analytics to understand what customers are actually buying, and digital tools to make better marketing decisions.

But technology is only part of the conversation.

Catherine explains why hiring the right people, paying employees well, building a collaborative culture, delegating work, and understanding your own weaknesses as an owner can be just as important as any piece of software.

And as AI becomes more powerful, Catherine makes one thing clear: jewelry is still deeply personal.

Technology can improve the systems behind the business, but customers still want to feel heard, understood, and cared for.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How Catherine started Filigree Jewelers with only five rings

• Selling jewelry through Craigslist and meeting customers at coffee shops

• Reinvesting into inventory and growing step by step

• Building an antique and estate jewelry business

• Repurposing vintage gemstones into modern jewelry

• Lessons learned from evaluating diamonds and gemstones

• Why organization becomes critical as a jewelry store grows

• Using SWIM to manage jewelry repairs and workflow

• How systems give employees more ownership and visibility

• Using Shopify for inventory and point-of-sale management

• The challenge of managing one-of-a-kind jewelry inventory

• Knowing when an owner becomes the bottleneck

• Hiring specialists and delegating responsibilities

• Why Catherine believes great employees should be paid well

• Building a team culture where everyone helps close the sale

• How Filigree Jewelers uses Claude and AI

• Why Gem Lightbox became an important photography tool

• Using analytics to understand what customers actually buy

• Using AI to improve marketing decisions

• Why personal video content still matters

• What should—and should not—be automated

• Why making customers feel cared for remains one of the most powerful advantages in jewelry

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome to Bling Talks

00:41 Inside Filigree Jewelers

01:11 Starting with five rings

03:27 Craigslist, coffee shops and reinvesting

04:57 Learning from mistakes in the jewelry business

06:19 Building systems for repairs and growth

08:26 Organization, peace of mind and trusting your team

10:08 Shopify and moving beyond paper

14:31 Pricing, sourcing and the Filigree inventory model

17:52 Can the business run without the owners?

21:57 Knowing your strengths and what to delegate

25:08 Paying great people and building team culture

26:56 The technology behind Filigree Jewelers

27:19 Claude, content and Gem Lightbox

28:43 Shopify, customer tracking and integrations

30:28 What should—and shouldn’t—be automated?

31:39 Using AI and analytics to improve marketing

34:53 Why customer experience still matters most

36:00 Closing thoughts

ABOUT CATHERINE THIES

Catherine Thies is co-owner of Filigree Jewelers, an independent jewelry store in Minneapolis specializing in antique and estate jewelry along with vintage, custom and modern pieces.

Filigree Jewelers combines traditional jewelry expertise with unique inventory, repurposed gemstones, modern technology, digital marketing, and a highly personal approach to customer experience.

Explore Filigree Jewelers:

https://www.filigreejewelers.com/

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-thies-29ab8b27/

WATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE

Watch this episode of Bling Talks on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/2ofHowbrXFo

ABOUT THE HOST

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

GROW YOUR JEWELRY BUSINESS WITH JEWELRYBOX.AI

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai?sub_confirmation=1

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow Bling Talks wherever you listen to podcasts and share this episode with another jeweler or business owner.

Third-party platforms and products discussed in this episode are mentioned in the context of the guest’s experience. Any commercial relationship or sponsorship, if applicable, should be disclosed separately.

Why do natural diamonds still matter in a world where lab-grown diamonds are changing the way customers think about price, value, and jewelry?

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Kaushal Shah, President of VEER, for a wide-ranging conversation about natural diamonds, independent jewelers, provenance, storytelling, Botswana, and the future of the jewelry industry.

Kaushal shares how growing up around rough diamonds shaped his career, why he chose the jewelry business over corporate America, and how years of traveling across the United States helped him understand the needs of independent retailers.

He also explains why VEER chose to double down on natural diamonds, how retailers can differentiate themselves beyond price, and why he believes provenance, traceability, and the human story behind a diamond can become increasingly important.

The conversation also goes deeper into Kaushal’s experience with Botswana’s diamond supply chain, the idea of radical transparency, and what retailers can do to create more value for customers in a market where price comparison has become easier than ever.

One of Kaushal’s strongest messages for jewelers is simple:

Retailers don’t necessarily need more product — they need a better story to tell.

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IN THIS EPISODE

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• Kaushal’s journey from rough diamonds to the jewelry business

• The 53-day cold-calling story that helped launch his career

• What years of traveling taught him about independent jewelers

• Why VEER doubled down on natural diamonds

• Natural diamonds vs. lab-grown diamonds from a retailer’s perspective

• How jewelers can compete beyond price

• Creating jewelry that is harder to comparison-shop online

• The importance of provenance and diamond traceability

• Kaushal’s experience inside Botswana’s diamond industry

• Why storytelling matters more than simply adding more inventory

• The people behind the natural-diamond supply chain

• Why human connection still matters in an increasingly technology-driven industry

• Kaushal’s advice for keeping the joy alive in jewelry

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ABOUT KAUSHAL SHAH

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Kaushal Shah is President of VEER.

His career in the diamond and jewelry industry began with early exposure to rough diamonds through his family, followed by experience working with retailers and traveling extensively across the United States.

Today, his work with VEER centers on natural-diamond jewelry, independent retailers, product differentiation, provenance, storytelling, and strengthening the connection between the diamond supply chain and the end customer.

Connect with Kaushal Shah on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushal-shah-8021358/

Website:

https://veer.diamonds/

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ABOUT ANTHONY HADDAD

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Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

Website:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai

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GROW YOUR JEWELRY BUSINESS WITH JEWELRYBOX.AI

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JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai

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FOLLOW BLING TALKS

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If you enjoyed this episode, follow Bling Talks on your favorite podcast platform and share it with a jeweler, retailer, or industry professional who would enjoy the conversation.

What happens when you enter the jewelry industry with no experience, no investors, and no family history in the business?

You build your own way in.

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Nillie Danesh, Founder & CEO of Glory Jewelry, to talk about the deeply personal transformation that became the foundation of her jewelry brand.

Nillie’s journey into jewelry didn’t begin with generations of industry experience. It began during one of the hardest chapters of her life.

While navigating a major personal transition, Nillie found herself drawn to the symbolism of the butterfly—a reminder of transformation, resilience, freedom, and becoming something new. That idea eventually became the story behind Glory Jewelry.

But creating the jewelry was only the beginning.

Nillie shares what it was really like to start the company from scratch, fund it herself, raise two boys as a single mom, learn an unfamiliar industry, and figure out the business systems she needed along the way.

Anthony and Nillie get into the side of entrepreneurship that doesn’t always make it onto social media: expensive mistakes, learning Shopify yourself, knowing when NOT to outsource, bringing on the right business partner, delegating effectively, and trying to protect your creativity while also being the CEO.

They also explore how Nillie is using AI inside the business for ideation, content, mood boards, and problem-solving—and why learning how to prompt AI effectively can completely change the quality of the results.

One of the biggest themes of this conversation is branding.

Nillie explains how she deliberately became known as the “Butterfly Girl,” why that identity made her more memorable, and how her personal story became one of the strongest ways to connect customers with the jewelry.

The episode closes with a conversation every jeweler and entrepreneur should hear: scarcity versus abundance.

Nillie believes the jewelry industry becomes stronger when founders, manufacturers, retailers, and creators collaborate instead of constantly worrying about who is taking business from whom.

Because sometimes the biggest opportunity isn’t competing harder.

It’s growing together.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Starting a jewelry brand with zero industry experience

• The personal transformation behind Glory Jewelry

• Why the butterfly became the symbol of the brand

• Building recognition as the “Butterfly Girl”

• Self-funding a company without investors

• The mistakes nobody warns new entrepreneurs about

• Why founders should learn their own systems before outsourcing

• Learning Shopify and managing the back end yourself

• Finding the right business partner

• Delegating based on strengths

• Protecting creativity while running a company

• How AI is being used inside Glory Jewelry

• Why prompting is critical when working with AI

• Using storytelling as a jewelry marketing advantage

• Entering a traditionally generational jewelry industry as an outsider

• Why collaboration beats scarcity

• Gratitude, resilience, and continuing through difficult seasons

ABOUT NILLIE DANESH

Nillie Danesh is the Founder & CEO of Glory Jewelry.

Her journey into jewelry grew from a personal story of transformation, with the butterfly becoming a symbol of resilience, beauty, freedom, and embracing new chapters in life.

Known as the “Butterfly Girl,” Nillie has built a memorable identity around both her personal story and the mission behind Glory Jewelry.

Connect with Nillie:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nillie-danesh/

Explore Glory Jewelry:

https://gloryjewelry.com/

ABOUT THE HOST

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

Bling Talks:

https://blingtalks.com/

Watch Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/Yb-pBHzo_wo

GROW YOUR JEWELRY BUSINESS WITH JEWELRYBOX.AI

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Subscribe to Bling Talks:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai?sub_confirmation=1

Content note: This episode includes discussion of divorce and an abusive marriage.

Ramez Khoja never expected jewelry to become his career.

After high school, he went to college for musical theater. Then COVID changed the plan and brought him back into the family jewelry business—not as the kid who spent school breaks around the store, but as an adult beginning to understand why customers kept coming back and where the business could grow.

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Ramez Khoja of Shaan’s Jewelers in Augusta, Georgia to talk about the realities of operating and evolving a family jewelry business.

Ramez shares how the business grew gradually from smaller-ticket merchandise into gold, diamonds, custom jewelry, and luxury watches. He also explains what makes selling jewelry inside a mall different, why customers may negotiate more when competing stores are only steps away, and why great salespeople have to adapt their communication style to whoever walks through the door.

The conversation also gets into Rolex and Cartier, custom watches, aftermarket parts, and Ramez’s perspective on icing out a Rolex—especially when someone is thinking about the watch as an asset rather than simply buying it because they love the look.

Anthony and Ramez then move into customer follow-up, CRM systems, GoHighLevel, iMessage, and the challenge of introducing new technology to experienced employees who have been working successfully for years.

Ramez also explains how he has started using AI to help employees create more personal customer responses and repair updates—without losing the human side of the relationship.

And one of the most memorable parts of the conversation comes when Ramez shares the story of being pepper-sprayed during a Rolex theft by someone he trusted, and how that experience changed his approach to security and encouraged stronger communication between local jewelers.

𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄

• Growing a jewelry business from a mall kiosk

• Ramez’s unexpected path from musical theater to jewelry

• Why COVID brought him into the family business

• Expanding into gold, diamonds, custom jewelry, and luxury watches

• What makes mall jewelry sales different

• Why mall customers may negotiate more

• Rolex, Cartier, and custom watch conversations

• Whether icing out a Rolex can affect its value

• Original vs. aftermarket watch components

• Adapting your sales approach to different customers

• Customer follow-up inside a jewelry store

• GoHighLevel vs. iMessage

• Why personal communication still matters

• Using AI to help employees communicate with customers

• The challenge of introducing new technology to experienced staff

• Building stronger communication between local jewelers

• The Rolex theft that changed Ramez’s approach to trust and security

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐙 𝐊𝐇𝐎𝐉𝐀

Ramez Khoja is part of the family behind Shaan’s Jewelers in Augusta, Georgia. In this conversation, he shares his experience growing up around the jewelry business, later entering it full-time, and helping introduce new ideas around products, sales, technology, customer communication, and AI.

𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄

Shaan’s Jewelers

https://www.shaansjewelers.com/

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒

Bling Talks brings together jewelers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders for real conversations about sales, marketing, technology, growth, challenges, and the future of the jewelry industry.

Listen and learn more:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐑𝐘𝐁𝐎𝐗.𝐀𝐈

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Book a Demo:

https://jewelrybox.ai/demo-call

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Watch Bling Talks on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai

Comments regarding watches, resale value, or investments reflect the speakers’ individual perspectives and are not financial advice.

What if some of the biggest untapped opportunities in the jewelry business are already sitting inside the safe?

In this episode of Bling Talks, Anthony Haddad sits down with Marissa Ann Kofer, founder and CEO of Borrow Luxury, to explore a different way of thinking about jewelry inventory, luxury ownership, and how valuable pieces can reach more customers instead of simply sitting unused.

Marissa shares the thinking behind Borrow Luxury and the opportunity she saw in the traditional jewelry model: jewelers and suppliers can hold significant value in inventory, while consumers may want access to fine jewelry without necessarily purchasing every piece they want to wear.

That creates a powerful question for the industry:

What if existing jewelry inventory could work harder?

Anthony and Marissa discuss how rental can create a new experience around fine jewelry, how consumer behavior is changing, and what new business models could mean for jewelers, suppliers, and customers.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why valuable jewelry can spend so much time sitting inside store safes

• The opportunity Marissa Ann Kofer saw in the traditional jewelry business

• The idea behind Borrow Luxury

• How fine-jewelry rental can create another way for consumers to experience luxury

• Why access versus ownership is becoming an interesting conversation in jewelry

• How existing inventory could potentially reach new customers

• What changing consumer behavior could mean for jewelry retailers

• Why innovation in jewelry goes far beyond design and manufacturing

• The challenges of introducing a new business model into an established industry

• What entrepreneurs can learn from questioning the way an industry has always operated

For independent jewelers, manufacturers, suppliers, and jewelry entrepreneurs, this conversation is about much more than rental.

It is about looking at the assets already inside a business and asking whether there is a better way to create value from them.

ABOUT MARISSA ANN KOFER

Marissa Ann Kofer is the founder and CEO of Borrow Luxury, a fine-jewelry rental platform focused on creating a new way for consumers to experience luxury jewelry while giving jewelers and suppliers another avenue for their inventory.

In this episode, Marissa joins Anthony Haddad to discuss the opportunity she saw in jewelry sitting unused, the thinking behind Borrow Luxury, changing consumer attitudes toward access versus ownership, and what a rental model could mean for the future of fine jewelry retail.

https://www.borrow-luxury.com/

ABOUT THE HOST

Anthony Haddad is the host of Bling Talks and founder of JewelryBox.ai. He interviews jewelry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business builders to uncover the strategies, challenges, and stories shaping the future of jewelry and modern business.

GROW YOUR JEWELRY BUSINESS WITH JEWELRYBOX.AI

JewelryBox.ai helps jewelry businesses improve marketing, lead generation, customer communication, sales follow-up, content, CRM, funnels, and automation without managing disconnected systems.

Learn More:

https://jewelrybox.ai/

Bling Talks:

https://jewelrybox.ai/bling-talks-podcast

Free AI Tools:

https://jewelrybox.ai/top-10-tools

Subscribe on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Jewelryboxai?sub_confirmation=1

Watch the full video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdQK0UjbQ5c

If you own a jewelry store, work with fine jewelry, manage inventory, or want to understand where the jewelry business is heading next, follow Bling Talks for more conversations with the founders, operators, and innovators shaping the industry.

#BlingTalks #JewelryBusiness #JewelryIndustry #FineJewelry #JewelryRetail #JewelryEntrepreneur #JewelryBoxAI

Julie Weintraub joins Anthony Haddad on Bling Talks to discuss the story behind Gold & Diamond Source, building one of Tampa Bay's best-known jewelry businesses, creating lasting customer relationships, and the future of independent jewelry retail.

If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, engagement rings, family business, or the jewelry industry, this episode offers valuable insight into what it takes to build trust that lasts for generations.