Meet Charles Skibell of Skibell Fine Jewelry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Skibell.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a fourth-generation jeweler! My great-grandfather opened the first store in 1908 in Greenville MS. At the age of 13, I began working in the store. I fell in love with the retail business and jewelry. After college, I worked at Neiman Marcus in Fine Jewelry in Dallas before opening my own store. I studied Psychology at UT Austin and went on to study at the Gemological Institute of America and achieved a Graduate Gemologist Degree in Residence.

I opened my first store on Travis Street where Cafe Madrid is now in 1984 and am proud to say that I still have customers who shopped with me there.

We are known as THE PET-FRIENDLY Jewelry Store in Dallas. Our Senior Vice President of Sales is Sassy Skibell and she does greet everyone.

Today Skibell is entering the world of the Internet. We are engaging in internet sales to reach customers all over the world while staying true to our core values of personal service. We are known for advanced custom design as well as high-quality repairs. I am an expert at estate jewelry including liquidation and consignment and trade-ins. We offer a nontraditional model where you can trade your old jewelry in for new jewelry, re-purpose and upgrade to new styles at fair market prices. Our store is fun, it’s a combination of designer jewelry and estate jewelry that has been collected for the last 25 years. It is rewarding to help unwanted jewelry find a new home.

Has it been a smooth road?
Most good salesmen are not good managers. I most prefer to sell and create; which leaves a void in management skills. I am lucky to have a great team around me which helps lessen these struggles. Keeping a small business alive for 33 years has been rewarding but not without its challenges. In 2008, the recession took its toll but we managed to stay afloat. This is mostly due to our loyal customer base who never let us down. Plus, the commitment to the process of continuing to buy new merchandise even in the toughest of times.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a small boutique store with an emphasis on quality and uniqueness. There is not one piece I would not want my wife to wear and she would like to have them all. We cater to a sophisticated buyer who enjoys finding that unique piece that no one else has. We take great pride that we bring joy and pleasure to our customers.

Available 24/7 even upon that special occasion when you are in the Dog House and may need that special piece of jewelry. We are known for being able to find and source anything, even something as unique and rare as a five-karat natural green diamond.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas is a Jewelry Buying City. See and Be Seen! It is a great place to be in the Jewelry Business. There are likely more Quality Jewelers in the City than most Cities x 10.

There are not a lot of businesses like ours, most financial institutions will not loan money against jewelry. This has nothing to do with Dallas as a city but starting a small business -brick and mortar is a challenge.

Contact Info:

• Address: 8411 Preston Road Suite 110
  Dallas Texas 7525
• Website: www.skibellfinejewelry.com
• Phone: 214-691-5123
• Email: hello@skibellfinejewelry.com
• Instagram: @skibellfinejewelry
• Facebook: @skibelljewelry
• Twitter: @skibelljewelry
• Other: https://www.1stdibs.com/dealers/skibell-fine-jewelry/?search=skibell%20fine%20jewelry

Image Credit:
Jeff Henderson Photography
Lynne Armstrong Photography
Monkey Booth Photography

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