- Words by Tess Van Straaten Photography by Lia Crowe

Oak Bay jewellery store owner and entrepreneur Geoffrey Beattie is quite accustomed to people recognizing his voice, thanks to the distinctive New Zealand accent so many of us have heard on radio ads for Barclay91裸聊视频檚 Fine Jewellers over the last two decades.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had people come in and say, 91裸聊视频極h, I feel as though I know you already,91裸聊视频� and I91裸聊视频檝e had people come in and say, you91裸聊视频檙e much older, or taller, or shorter than I thought you were!91裸聊视频� laughs Geoffrey, who expanded to television ads on CHEK a few years ago.

91裸聊视频淲hen I came to Canada, I wasn91裸聊视频檛 sure if my accent would be a positive or negative, but I tried it all the same, and I actually found it91裸聊视频檚 been a benefit because it91裸聊视频檚 helped to differentiate me.91裸聊视频�

High-end jewellery in exquisite and unique settings has also helped to differentiate Barclay91裸聊视频檚 Fine Jewellers, which Geoffrey bought in 1999 after moving to Victoria with his Canadian wife, Chris.

91裸聊视频淲e were taking a big step, deciding where we wanted to live and raise a family,91裸聊视频� Geoffrey explains. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 been to Victoria several times and I always loved it here. We liked the size of the city. I was ready to open my own store, and this seemed like a good fit.91裸聊视频�

Geoffrey initially started his career in a management program with a big New Zealand department store, but jumped at a serendipitous opportunity to train with a jewellery store manager. He91裸聊视频檇 been working in the jewellery industry for 13 years and was managing stores in Christchurch when they decided to make the leap to Canada and his own store.

91裸聊视频淚 love dealing with customers91裸聊视频擨 guess that91裸聊视频檚 my strength91裸聊视频攁nd being able to relate well with people and figure out what they need or want,91裸聊视频� says Geoffrey, who does a lot of the jewellery designing. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a big creative aspect to it and, more and more, our product is a stand-alone product and you can91裸聊视频檛 get it anywhere else in Victoria.91裸聊视频�

On my visit, a glittering $126,000 diamond caught my eye, along with several spectacular rings that you would otherwise only see in big city jewellery stores.

91裸聊视频淥ne of the biggest lessons [I91裸聊视频檝e learned] is that a lot of places think they have to keep increasing customers or traffic. But really, for me, it91裸聊视频檚 not so much the amount of people coming through, but having the right product and appealing to a niche market,91裸聊视频� the 56-year-old says. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more about having the right customers come through your door.91裸聊视频�

The design and d茅cor of the store have been taken up a notch, thanks to an extensive renovation that was recently completed. The boutique-style space, infused with gold and grey tones, exudes luxury. It was created by Victoria designer Ivan Meade.

91裸聊视频淭his has just been a progression of 22 years of building and aiming towards a desire and a passion to have a beautiful store. That takes money and that takes time,91裸聊视频� Geoffrey says. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e just built things up over the years at a pace that91裸聊视频檚 comfortable, but there have been challenges at times.91裸聊视频�

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most recent challenge to navigate, even though the high-end jewellery market hasn91裸聊视频檛 taken the financial hit that91裸聊视频檚 impacted the bottom line of many other sectors.

91裸聊视频淥ur industry, as a whole, has been very fortunate because people haven91裸聊视频檛 been travelling and [so] they91裸聊视频檝e been spending,91裸聊视频� Geoffrey explains. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e all had to work within new constraints, but I don91裸聊视频檛 think I91裸聊视频檓 alone in saying there are a lot of pluses that have come from it91裸聊视频攐ne of them being that we91裸聊视频檝e been able to regulate the flow of traffic in the store with appointments, and that91裸聊视频檚 been a big benefit because I sometimes feel pulled in all directions.91裸聊视频�

Over the years, Geoffrey says, his biggest mistake was worrying too much, since 91裸聊视频渁 lot of what you perceive to be problems are often magnified in your mind.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 look back on the times I was worried91裸聊视频攎y rent went up a lot and that caused me to worry, and then I expanded to two levels instead of one and I was concerned about that. But if I could have not worried as much about the decisions I made and trusted that I was following my gut, I might have not had as much anxiety about the business. Generally, when you follow your gut you get it right.91裸聊视频�

Geoffrey says the challenging times have taught him to be resilient, pointing out that you don91裸聊视频檛 learn as much when the times are good.

91裸聊视频淭he learning or growing pains or whatever it is91裸聊视频攖hat91裸聊视频檚 actually what gives you confidence going forward. We91裸聊视频檝e had these major events along the way, like the tech crash and 2008, and when you know you were able to get through it and be okay, that just gives you more faith in the future going forward.91裸聊视频�

The future of this successful family business includes Chris, who does the books, and the couple91裸聊视频檚 daughter, Danielle Beattie, who started working at the store when she was 15 years old. Danielle didn91裸聊视频檛 think it would be her career but, like her dad, she91裸聊视频檚 found her passion.

91裸聊视频淚 really like the connection you get with people and I just love jewellery, too91裸聊视频攖hat91裸聊视频檚 probably been ingrained into me!91裸聊视频� laughs Danielle. 91裸聊视频淚 feel very fortunate that we have the kind of relationship where we91裸聊视频檙e able to do that because we91裸聊视频檙e together all the time.91裸聊视频�

For Geoffrey, it all comes down to doing what you love.

91裸聊视频淚 think you have to be very passionate about what you do because you are going to come across times of struggle, and when you know what you91裸聊视频檙e doing is what you believe in and enjoy, that helps you get through it.91裸聊视频�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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