Writer / Kathi Moore
Photographer / Dancing Rooster Studio
Long before there were big box stores and Amazon-to-your-door shopping, there was the neighborhood jeweler. This person worked with you over the years, came to know your family and always seemed to be part of important events like weddings, anniversaries and other gift-giving occasions.
That’s exactly how Joan Carter “The Jewelry Lady” is and wants to continue to be known. Her store has successfully been doing business at Shadeland Station for nine years, however she had been selling jewelry for another 10+ years earlier than that. She has a passion for what she does and believes she is blessed to be able to be part of the joyful events of her customers. She was born to be in sales, she says, but God helped direct her to this passion for jewelry.
“We are a local, family-owned business,” Carter stressed. “Its not about the money or making huge profits. For me, it is about relationships and keeping prices low so everyone has the chance to have beautiful jewelry.”
Daughter Ashley (soon to deliver Joan a grandson) joined the family business after graduating with a Purdue University Business Management/Marketing degree. She has helped to streamline the processes making the backend business work more smoothly, allowing her mother to work closer with customers. They pride themselves on their boutique-type atmosphere allowing warmth and welcome where customers often drop in just to visit. They encourage everyone to drop in to meet them, even if you aren’t wanting to buy anything right now.
As you look around the store, there is a wide variety of classic watches, gold,diamond and platinum jewelry, but also a mix of popular mens fashion jewellery that you don’t find in other stores, plus many custom designs.
“Our inventory is as big as you can imagine,” said Ashley. “If you don’t see exactly what you want, we can design it for you or find it with one of our many wholesale suppliers.”
Custom work makes up a large part of Jewelry Lady’s business. If you have pieces you just don’t wear because they’re no longer stylish, bring them in for a redesign. They love to ‘create something new and exciting out of something old’.
The Jewelry Lady also likes to participate in community events and with local non-profit organizations such as the Ken Thorpe Foundation Adult Prom Fundraising Gala on Nov. 14.
They are also the chosen jeweler for the Indianapolis Masked Ball to benefit the local United Negro College Fund, Dec. 12 at the Downtown Marriott. For information on the event, visit www.uncf.org/sections/WhoWeAre/SS_UNCFOffices/Indianapolis/calendar.asp
Jewelry Lady
7427 N. Shadeland Avenue
Shadeland Shopping Center
M-F 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat. 10-5 p.m.
317-578-2500
www.jewelrylady.info
Comments 3
Love the square necklace, do you have a bigger image of it as it looks stunning 🙂
I design and make jewelry… but not like you are looking for. But I did meet someone at the Norwalk (CT) Oyster Festival last fall. They were one of the many vendors there.
Good job.