Venus Jewelers

Sep 19

In their own words

“We decided to stay with one store because we believe that we have to give whatever it takes to satisfy the client, to make them an eternal client, to make them ambassadors of our business, to make a friend. I think we have managed to do that over the years.”

-Peter Stavrianidis

Jason’s Interview with Peter

Jason

Today we get to know Peter from Venus Jewelers. How did you get into the industry?

Peter

The name of the company is Venus Jewelers. We have been in the same location for forty years which is Somerset, New Jersey, part of Franklin Township. We have expanded three times throughout the last forty years.

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Jason
Tell us the moment that you decided to join the family business.

Peter
It was back in the late 70s. It was an unfortunate incident that happened in my father's store in Queens, New York. There was an armed robbery. My mother was injured. Fortunately, she survived to live another forty years. She just passed away at ninety-five. But it was a really dramatic event. My father didn't want to stay in New York anymore. He decided to move to New Jersey and open up another store there with my sister. I was in school. I was finishing my MBA. My goal was to go to law school. As a matter of fact, I had passed the LSAT and I was planning to do that. When I saw that my father was ready to close the store in New York City, I confronted him and I said, “How can you do this? It's a very successful store.” It was a much smaller store than the one that we have here today. He looked me straight in the eye and said “You can take over temporarily and then sell it.” I was much younger and my ego was much more inflated, so I took him up on this and I took over the store and tripled the business.

I grew up in the jewelry business. I learned from my grandfather and then with my father. And here was the opportunity to test myself. And I did. The rest of the story is that I stayed in the business, I loved that business. It also gave me the opportunity to work in a wholesale business in the Diamond District in New York. And then in 1989, I moved to New Jersey to actually join my father and my sister in amplifying the store, making it bigger, better, more profitable. We decided to stay with one store. In the beginning, it was temporary. But then I got to love the business. I studied gemology, every course that exists on the planet. And here I am today.

I have the ability to interact with people, with nonprofit organizations. I'm involved with the state theater in New Jersey. I'm involved with the arts. I was just appointed Commissioner of Arts and Culture in Somerset County.

Jason
What are some of the causes that you're passionate about?

Peter
I am on the Executive Board of the state theater of New Jersey, which is located in New Brunswick. I think it's probably the biggest theater in the state of New Jersey. I'm involved with the Harvest of Hope, which is a nonprofit organization which selects or finds abandoned babies and our mission is to find foster homes for them. I’m involved with the local Chamber of Commerce. As a matter of fact, I was just appointed Commissioner of Arts and Culture because as a former musician, music and the arts is part of my persona. I teach occasionally. That’s a way to be in touch with the youth and contribute to their education. I'm always available to do seminars about business. I'm always available to do lectures about the history of jewelry. I quite often do that.

Jason
I want to talk about some of the hero pieces that you love.

Peter
I have created my own collection under the pseudonym Peter Samson. I select exotic or less common gems, and then I get my two fine jewelers and we design an original piece. One-of-a-kind. The one that I have right now is a big tanzanite. It's about eighteen carats. And it’s triangular, a trilliant shape. Top-quality. I haven't sold that yet.

Jason
Tell us about your craft. What sets you apart from other jewelers?

Peter
One of the things is our hundreds of reviews that come from real people. Anybody can see what they say about us. I think that's the number one thing. We have about 550 reviews right now.

Jason
Here's your chance to say whatever you like to Meet the Jewelers.

Peter
The minute they walk in, they’re going to feel that this is a relaxed place—they're going to feel like they are part of the extended family. What we do is not just a job. It's a legacy. It's our mission. We love what we do. We’re dedicated and educated.