|
|
Business spotlight: Jeweler Margaret Ellis
Nancy DeVille -
March 10, 2009
Margaret Ellis is co-owner of Margaret Ellis Jewelry with
her husband, Fred Ellis. She answered questions about her
busines.
I always loved jewelry, and once I took a jewelry making
class I realized that was what I really wanted to do. At
that time I was teaching junior high school art for Metro
schools. I started by designing my first set of samples
in 1983 and went directly to New York to market it.
I honestly didn't want to try to start selling in Nashville
because I was afraid that if I were rejected I would stop
there. I decided that if I were going to fail, I'd just
go ahead and fail big.
Fortunately, I sold enough that first season to encourage
me to keep at it, and I've been keeping at it ever since.
New York is still our only market for wholesale, and we
do three shows a year there where we see our store customers
from all over the country. All the better stores go to market
in New York, regardless of where they are located.
We have to find creative ways to market our jewelry and
to make it attractive in this economic climate. In designing
our most recent collection, I was very conscious of controlling
the costs, and came up with a new group that is both appealing
and affordable.
Fortunately, our jewelry is timeless rather than trendy,
and our customers tend to be loyal, long-time collectors.
We do a fashion product that is made completely by hand.
We have been doing handcrafted, unique jewelry for the past
26 years. The jewelry is made by three very talented metalsmiths
who were all trained in my studio and have been with me
for years: Edward Tomlin, Anjy Smith and Rose Hillis. Our
jewelry is sold in specialty stores all around the country,
but people can visit our studio in Cummins Station and work
with me directly.
We do custom designs as well as our collection of fashion
jewelry, which has been worn in the TV series Sex and the
City, and the movie, The Devil Wears Prada. In our wholesale
jewelry, we put an emphasis on the things we can provide
best, a high-quality product and good customer service.
We put the same emphasis on the work for local customers
who visit our Nashville studio.
We fell in love with Cummins Station when it was first being
developed 15 years ago. It is a fascinating old building,
well renovated, and really fills our needs. It is easy to
get to, has its own restaurants, good parking, and we love
our space, which itself was custom designed for us by Manuel
Zeitlin. Also, our dog, Pinky, can come to work with us
every day.
|
