- 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 Barclay香蕉视频直播檚 Fine Jewellers over the last two decades.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e had people come in and say, 香蕉视频直播極h, I feel as though I know you already,香蕉视频直播� and I香蕉视频直播檝e had people come in and say, you香蕉视频直播檙e much older, or taller, or shorter than I thought you were!香蕉视频直播� laughs Geoffrey, who expanded to television ads on CHEK a few years ago.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I came to Canada, I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 sure if my accent would be a positive or negative, but I tried it all the same, and I actually found it香蕉视频直播檚 been a benefit because it香蕉视频直播檚 helped to differentiate me.香蕉视频直播�

High-end jewellery in exquisite and unique settings has also helped to differentiate Barclay香蕉视频直播檚 Fine Jewellers, which Geoffrey bought in 1999 after moving to Victoria with his Canadian wife, Chris.

香蕉视频直播淲e were taking a big step, deciding where we wanted to live and raise a family,香蕉视频直播� Geoffrey explains. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 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.香蕉视频直播�

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. He香蕉视频直播檇 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 love dealing with customers香蕉视频直播擨 guess that香蕉视频直播檚 my strength香蕉视频直播攁nd being able to relate well with people and figure out what they need or want,香蕉视频直播� says Geoffrey, who does a lot of the jewellery designing. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a big creative aspect to it and, more and more, our product is a stand-alone product and you can香蕉视频直播檛 get it anywhere else in Victoria.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of the biggest lessons [I香蕉视频直播檝e learned] is that a lot of places think they have to keep increasing customers or traffic. But really, for me, it香蕉视频直播檚 not so much the amount of people coming through, but having the right product and appealing to a niche market,香蕉视频直播� the 56-year-old says. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 more about having the right customers come through your door.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� Geoffrey says. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e just built things up over the years at a pace that香蕉视频直播檚 comfortable, but there have been challenges at times.香蕉视频直播�

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most recent challenge to navigate, even though the high-end jewellery market hasn香蕉视频直播檛 taken the financial hit that香蕉视频直播檚 impacted the bottom line of many other sectors.

香蕉视频直播淥ur industry, as a whole, has been very fortunate because people haven香蕉视频直播檛 been travelling and [so] they香蕉视频直播檝e been spending,香蕉视频直播� Geoffrey explains. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e all had to work within new constraints, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 think I香蕉视频直播檓 alone in saying there are a lot of pluses that have come from it香蕉视频直播攐ne of them being that we香蕉视频直播檝e been able to regulate the flow of traffic in the store with appointments, and that香蕉视频直播檚 been a big benefit because I sometimes feel pulled in all directions.香蕉视频直播�

Over the years, Geoffrey says, his biggest mistake was worrying too much, since 香蕉视频直播渁 lot of what you perceive to be problems are often magnified in your mind.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 look back on the times I was worried香蕉视频直播攎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.香蕉视频直播�

Geoffrey says the challenging times have taught him to be resilient, pointing out that you don香蕉视频直播檛 learn as much when the times are good.

香蕉视频直播淭he learning or growing pains or whatever it is香蕉视频直播攖hat香蕉视频直播檚 actually what gives you confidence going forward. We香蕉视频直播檝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.香蕉视频直播�

The future of this successful family business includes Chris, who does the books, and the couple香蕉视频直播檚 daughter, Danielle Beattie, who started working at the store when she was 15 years old. Danielle didn香蕉视频直播檛 think it would be her career but, like her dad, she香蕉视频直播檚 found her passion.

香蕉视频直播淚 really like the connection you get with people and I just love jewellery, too香蕉视频直播攖hat香蕉视频直播檚 probably been ingrained into me!香蕉视频直播� laughs Danielle. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel very fortunate that we have the kind of relationship where we香蕉视频直播檙e able to do that because we香蕉视频直播檙e together all the time.香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淚 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 you香蕉视频直播檙e doing is what you believe in and enjoy, that helps you get through it.香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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