Parkbench is a local Toronto East Danforth community page. They sat down with Adam, the third generation here at Edwards and Davies, to chat about the store, challenges as a business owner, and favourite community spots!
Read below or click here to view the interview on ParkBench.
Edwards and Davies Jewellers is a retail jewellery store and custom jeweller design company. Spanning three generations, it has been a mainstay of the East Danforth community since 1945.
Describe your business
Edwards and Davies Jewellers is a retail jewellery store specializing in custom designed pieces as well as a variety of affordable earrings, necklaces, bracelets etc. We also offer a wide range of high-quality repair services.
What drives you to do what you do? What motivates you?
I am constantly motivated by the excitement of making different pieces of jewellery. Everyday brings something new. Making jewellery is also about being part of people’s special moments and life events. It is as important for me to make high quality jewellery that is representative of these occasions.
What has surprised you most when owning a business?
The most surprising thing about owning a business is how unpredictable things can be. There are always new challenges and obstacles to overcome. I’ve learned that you can’t predict the future but maintaining a positive attitude and outlook can make navigating these challenges a lot more successful.
What was it like when you first started?
Being third generation, this business was already established when I started working here full-time. This was just before the era of websites and social media. It was a simpler time, but there are certainly greater benefits to being able to access existing and new customers in a way that wasn’t possible before.
What would your customers say they love most about your business?
The first thing I would say is our customer service. It has always been our number one priority. We have a lot of long time customers that we value greatly and I think that is a result of exceptional customer service. Second, quality in our workmanship is also something that is highly valued. We have always stayed the course of quality over quantity which is evident in the pieces we produce. Also, we like sharing the unique pieces we make on social media regularly, which I think is something our customers like to see.
What are some odd requests you’ve had from clients?
We get a lot of traffic through our store and so we do get our fair share of odd requests.
What are some of the toughest challenges you’ve had in life and business?
I think that the challenges in business end up being the same challenges in your personal life when you own your business. It’s hard to separate the two. I’m fortunate to not have had any significant challenges that couldn’t be overcome. We do set some tough goals for ourselves and achieving those goals can sometimes be challenging.
What are your favorite restaurants in the neighborhood?
Some of my favourites would be right next door at Danforth Roti, Duckworth’s Fish and Chips, Two Brothers Shawarma and a recent discovery Ethio Natural Coffee. I highly recommend it!
What do you want to see improve the most in this neighborhood?
I would like to see more coffee shops and restaurants. More outdoor patios and places for people to interact (after the pandemic of course).
Why do you think it’s important for people to shop local?
There is more to a purchase than just an exchange of product or service for money. When you shop local, you are developing a relationship with the people who work and run these businesses. Finding businesses you can rely on and trust is especially important in my industry.
What are some of the highest highs you’ve had in life so far?
Getting married and having children would be the biggest highlights of my life. In business, there are lots of moments to celebrate. We turned 75 years old (as a business) in 2020. Recently, we were voted number one jewellery store in Toronto for 2021, I’m very proud of this achievement.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love being outdoors. Spending time with family and friends up at the cottage is top of the list.
What is the best way for customers to contact you?
Calling or emailing is the best way to contact us. You can also reach us through our social media platforms.
If a young person asked you for advice on how to live their life, what would you tell them?
I know it’s an old one but find a passion or something you really like to do and try to make a career out of it. It’s not work if you love what you do.