Whether you are shopping for beautiful baubles for a personal collection or a special gift for a loved one, doing business with a local jewelry store instead of a chain is worth considering. Independent shop owners often thrive on repeat customers, which is why they strive to go above and beyond to fulfill clients’ requests. Here are additional reasons to shop locally for fine jewelry.

4 Reasons Local Jewelry Stores Are Better Than Chains

1. Pricing

From accounting fees to telephone bills and utility expenses for each location, national and regional jewelry store chains often have high overhead costs. To help cover expenses, merchandise prices are often much higher than actual value. Operations are considerably smaller at most independent shops with lower overhead expenses to match. This reduces the risk of being overcharged for products and services.

2. Staff Expertise

The turnover rate can be high at big-box retailers, which means sales associates might not possess the experience to field questions or provide additional information about diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals. Local shops are often manned by a few employees or family members. They operate as a team, ensuring everyone has the proper training to better serve customers. The sales force often consists of professional jewelers. This means you can rest easy knowing they have the qualifications to help you find high-quality pieces that will last a lifetime.

3. Onsite Services

Beyond selling premium merchandise, many independent jewelry stores often offer in-house services to extend the life of clients’ investments. Because staff members are already familiar with pieces, they can provide expert jewelry repairs to restore broken or damaged items to their former glory. Since repairs and work are done in-house, overhead costs are lower than in chain stores the time it takes to complete those repairs is much lower. They will also work with you one-on-one to brainstorm designs to create custom jewelry that’s truly special.

4. Customer Experience

Because many chains have set quotas for given time frames, associates are often encouraged to pressure customers into sales. The pressure to make decisions on the spot can make for a very unpleasant experience. Independent retailers realize buying a new piece is an investment, which is why they don’t apply pressure to close a sale.

If you are looking for a reputable jewelry store with a diverse array of high-quality services, turn to Jewelry Clinic. People throughout Monroe County, NY, visit the shop to have Bob Colombo lend his 35 years of custom jewelry design experience to their projects. To learn more about in-house custom work, as well as jewelry and watch repairs, available in Rochester, call (585) 232-5920. Visit the shop online to read client testimonials and Facebook to see pictures of Bob’s creations.