- 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 BarclayB次元官网网址檚 Fine Jewellers over the last two decades.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had people come in and say, B次元官网网址極h, I feel as though I know you already,B次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檝e had people come in and say, youB次元官网网址檙e much older, or taller, or shorter than I thought you were!B次元官网网址� laughs Geoffrey, who expanded to television ads on CHEK a few years ago.

B次元官网网址淲hen I came to Canada, I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if my accent would be a positive or negative, but I tried it all the same, and I actually found itB次元官网网址檚 been a benefit because itB次元官网网址檚 helped to differentiate me.B次元官网网址�

High-end jewellery in exquisite and unique settings has also helped to differentiate BarclayB次元官网网址檚 Fine Jewellers, which Geoffrey bought in 1999 after moving to Victoria with his Canadian wife, Chris.

B次元官网网址淲e were taking a big step, deciding where we wanted to live and raise a family,B次元官网网址� Geoffrey explains. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 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.B次元官网网址�

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. HeB次元官网网址檇 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.

B次元官网网址淚 love dealing with customersB次元官网网址擨 guess thatB次元官网网址檚 my strengthB次元官网网址攁nd being able to relate well with people and figure out what they need or want,B次元官网网址� says Geoffrey, who does a lot of the jewellery designing. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a big creative aspect to it and, more and more, our product is a stand-alone product and you canB次元官网网址檛 get it anywhere else in Victoria.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the biggest lessons [IB次元官网网址檝e learned] is that a lot of places think they have to keep increasing customers or traffic. But really, for me, itB次元官网网址檚 not so much the amount of people coming through, but having the right product and appealing to a niche market,B次元官网网址� the 56-year-old says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more about having the right customers come through your door.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭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,B次元官网网址� Geoffrey says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e just built things up over the years at a pace thatB次元官网网址檚 comfortable, but there have been challenges at times.B次元官网网址�

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most recent challenge to navigate, even though the high-end jewellery market hasnB次元官网网址檛 taken the financial hit thatB次元官网网址檚 impacted the bottom line of many other sectors.

B次元官网网址淥ur industry, as a whole, has been very fortunate because people havenB次元官网网址檛 been travelling and [so] theyB次元官网网址檝e been spending,B次元官网网址� Geoffrey explains. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e all had to work within new constraints, but I donB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檓 alone in saying there are a lot of pluses that have come from itB次元官网网址攐ne of them being that weB次元官网网址檝e been able to regulate the flow of traffic in the store with appointments, and thatB次元官网网址檚 been a big benefit because I sometimes feel pulled in all directions.B次元官网网址�

Over the years, Geoffrey says, his biggest mistake was worrying too much, since B次元官网网址渁 lot of what you perceive to be problems are often magnified in your mind.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 look back on the times I was worriedB次元官网网址攎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.B次元官网网址�

Geoffrey says the challenging times have taught him to be resilient, pointing out that you donB次元官网网址檛 learn as much when the times are good.

B次元官网网址淭he learning or growing pains or whatever it isB次元官网网址攖hatB次元官网网址檚 actually what gives you confidence going forward. WeB次元官网网址檝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.B次元官网网址�

The future of this successful family business includes Chris, who does the books, and the coupleB次元官网网址檚 daughter, Danielle Beattie, who started working at the store when she was 15 years old. Danielle didnB次元官网网址檛 think it would be her career but, like her dad, sheB次元官网网址檚 found her passion.

B次元官网网址淚 really like the connection you get with people and I just love jewellery, tooB次元官网网址攖hatB次元官网网址檚 probably been ingrained into me!B次元官网网址� laughs Danielle. B次元官网网址淚 feel very fortunate that we have the kind of relationship where weB次元官网网址檙e able to do that because weB次元官网网址檙e together all the time.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 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 youB次元官网网址檙e doing is what you believe in and enjoy, that helps you get through it.B次元官网网址�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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