More than 20 years ago, Melissa Booth opened Melissa Designer Jewelry on Churton Street in downtown Hillsborough, and she’s been striking gold ever since. This week, the goldsmith and small business owner will hold the grand opening for her new location — less than 100 yards up the road — marking an impressive run of continued success.
“This will be the fourth move on this block, each time bigger,” said Booth, who has been a professional jewelry maker and goldsmith for about 40 years.
The Big Move
But this move should hold her and her team for a while. On Sept. 7, Booth and her staff will bring gold to King Street, filling the space vacated by the Ballard Agency after it closed its office in the spring, and celebrating with a grand opening event from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Unlike her previous expansions that were necessary, but added minimal square footage, the new location will provide Melissa Designer Jewelry with plenty of room to spread out and show off — and create — its riches.
“We have been on top of each other here, and this space is just far too small for what we’re trying to do at this point with this many employees, with this much business coming in,” Booth said.
Seizing the Opportunity
The space issue had been on Booth’s radar for some time, but the opportunities for bigger space downtown are rare. Still, when she heard David Ballard was retiring from the Ballard Agency, Booth inquired about the plans for the insurance agency’s location.
“I always loved looking at that space and it had great frontage for the street, but the arrangement that he had made when he sold the Ballard Agency (to Herring and Bickers Insurance) was for them to continue to work out of that space,” she said.
Years later, Kelly Davis, who had taken over operations at the Ballard Agency, told Booth of the decision that was made to consolidate the Hillsborough branch of the agency into the Durham location. Suddenly, a fever rushed through Booth, and she again set her sights on the space at 105 W. King St.
Expanding Possibilities
Still, Booth recalled, she wanted to make certain another expansion was the right decision for her and her business. She sought support from Gallery Manager Kathy Hodges, who has worked with Booth for more than five years.
“Kathy had come to work, and I said, ‘Take a walk in the alley with me,’” Booth said. “I said, ‘I want you to tell me that I’m crazy.’ I told her what I had learned from Kelly and David (Ballard). We walked to the Ballard Agency and looked around in there. When we got back, Kathy said, ‘You are not crazy.’ I mean, I already knew. So, we just started the ball rolling.”
Exciting Upgrades
The new location will have approximately three times the 900-square-feet of space at the previous home of Melissa Designer Jewelry. The interior of the former Ballard Agency will have been completely overhauled, with bright displays, cabinets, fresh paint, carpeting, lighting, and even raised ceilings. The new space will also include works of art by local artist Jim Adams.
Rich purple and yellow-gold paint will replace the office’s Ballard-ship gray exterior, and three large, brightly-colored ceramic planters will adorn the sidewalk at the entrance of the jewelry store.
While Ballard will continue to own the space, it’s clear Booth has made a hefty investment for her latest move.
“It’s going to be absolutely stunning, though,” she said.
Enhanced Offerings
The new location will feature an expanded gallery space for the jewelry, dedicated office space, a formal break room, and a space to make and repair jewelry that will be far enough removed from other areas so that the machinery won’t drown out conversations and interactions with customers.
More gallery space means an expanded offering of jewelry.
“We’re just going to kick it up a notch,” Booth said. “So we have several lines coming in from Italy. There’s a great artist out of Nashville, Tennessee.”
Booth added she is looking to hire several part-time sales people and is in the process of bringing on a jewelry maker who is now working as an apprentice.
Full Steam Ahead
With the grand opening rapidly approaching, and the official public opening coming fast (Sept. 11), does Booth still think she made the right decision?
“Absolutely,” she said without hesitation. “Once we got rolling, I was pretty determined to do it. Once I make a decision, I make a decision. We are so happy with the decision and the way this has progressed. I have zero regrets.”
Updated hours of operation for Melissa Designer Jewelry are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grand opening is 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 7. The opening to the public is Sept. 11.
Insight:
– Moving to a new, larger space is a significant milestone for any small business owner like Melissa Booth.
– Inquiring about opportunities and seeking feedback from others before making a big decision can help ensure success.
– Investing in upgrading the physical space can create a more inviting and appealing environment for customers.
– Expanding offerings and services can attract new customers and increase revenue streams.
– The grand opening event can generate buzz and excitement, driving foot traffic and interest in the business.
