- 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害羞草研究所檚 Fine Jewellers over the last two decades.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e had people come in and say, 害羞草研究所極h, I feel as though I know you already,害羞草研究所� and I害羞草研究所檝e had people come in and say, you害羞草研究所檙e much older, or taller, or shorter than I thought you were!害羞草研究所� laughs Geoffrey, who expanded to television ads on CHEK a few years ago.

害羞草研究所淲hen I came to Canada, I wasn害羞草研究所檛 sure if my accent would be a positive or negative, but I tried it all the same, and I actually found it害羞草研究所檚 been a benefit because it害羞草研究所檚 helped to differentiate me.害羞草研究所�

High-end jewellery in exquisite and unique settings has also helped to differentiate Barclay害羞草研究所檚 Fine Jewellers, which Geoffrey bought in 1999 after moving to Victoria with his Canadian wife, Chris.

害羞草研究所淲e were taking a big step, deciding where we wanted to live and raise a family,害羞草研究所� Geoffrey explains. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 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.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檇 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.

害羞草研究所淚 love dealing with customers害羞草研究所擨 guess that害羞草研究所檚 my strength害羞草研究所攁nd being able to relate well with people and figure out what they need or want,害羞草研究所� says Geoffrey, who does a lot of the jewellery designing. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a big creative aspect to it and, more and more, our product is a stand-alone product and you can害羞草研究所檛 get it anywhere else in Victoria.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淥ne of the biggest lessons [I害羞草研究所檝e learned] is that a lot of places think they have to keep increasing customers or traffic. But really, for me, it害羞草研究所檚 not so much the amount of people coming through, but having the right product and appealing to a niche market,害羞草研究所� the 56-year-old says. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more about having the right customers come through your door.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� Geoffrey says. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e just built things up over the years at a pace that害羞草研究所檚 comfortable, but there have been challenges at times.害羞草研究所�

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most recent challenge to navigate, even though the high-end jewellery market hasn害羞草研究所檛 taken the financial hit that害羞草研究所檚 impacted the bottom line of many other sectors.

害羞草研究所淥ur industry, as a whole, has been very fortunate because people haven害羞草研究所檛 been travelling and [so] they害羞草研究所檝e been spending,害羞草研究所� Geoffrey explains. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e all had to work within new constraints, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think I害羞草研究所檓 alone in saying there are a lot of pluses that have come from it害羞草研究所攐ne of them being that we害羞草研究所檝e been able to regulate the flow of traffic in the store with appointments, and that害羞草研究所檚 been a big benefit because I sometimes feel pulled in all directions.害羞草研究所�

Over the years, Geoffrey says, his biggest mistake was worrying too much, since 害羞草研究所渁 lot of what you perceive to be problems are often magnified in your mind.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 look back on the times I was worried害羞草研究所攎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.害羞草研究所�

Geoffrey says the challenging times have taught him to be resilient, pointing out that you don害羞草研究所檛 learn as much when the times are good.

害羞草研究所淭he learning or growing pains or whatever it is害羞草研究所攖hat害羞草研究所檚 actually what gives you confidence going forward. We害羞草研究所檝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.害羞草研究所�

The future of this successful family business includes Chris, who does the books, and the couple害羞草研究所檚 daughter, Danielle Beattie, who started working at the store when she was 15 years old. Danielle didn害羞草研究所檛 think it would be her career but, like her dad, she害羞草研究所檚 found her passion.

害羞草研究所淚 really like the connection you get with people and I just love jewellery, too害羞草研究所攖hat害羞草研究所檚 probably been ingrained into me!害羞草研究所� laughs Danielle. 害羞草研究所淚 feel very fortunate that we have the kind of relationship where we害羞草研究所檙e able to do that because we害羞草研究所檙e together all the time.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 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害羞草研究所檙e doing is what you believe in and enjoy, that helps you get through it.害羞草研究所�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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