Opportunity Knocks
It was the summer of 1973, and a young man working as a gas pump attendant received some troubling news. The gas station he worked for was converting to a self-serve station, and he soon would no longer have a job. Later that week, one of his regular customers came by to fill up his car. The young man told his customer that he was going to be out of a job and that he was about to start looking for work. The gentleman quickly replied “Son, you don’t have to go look for a job. I just bought a jewelry store by LSU, and you’re coming to work for me!” The young man was Richard Elgin, and that is how he first got in to the jewelry business.
Campus Jewelry was located just outside the gates of Louisiana State University. It was here where Richard honed his craft and developed his passion for diamonds and jewelry. Under the guidance and mentorship of Mr. Marion Alessi, Richard gained all the experience he would need to one day open his own store. When the time came, he left Campus Jewelry to pursue his dream of being a business owner. He continued to make house calls for his customer’s jewelry needs until he was able to secure all the funds needed to open Elgin’s Fine Jewelry. On March 14, 1986, his dream came to fruition. With the help of his mother, Sue, and newly hired manager Art Martinez, Elgin’s Fine Jewelry opened its doors to the public.
Setting Himself Apart
Elgin’s was the new kid, so to speak, amongst a number of well-established jewelry stores in the area. Richard knew in order to be successful, he was going to have to do a few different things to set himself apart. He experimented with different methods, mail-outs, event sales, and various forms of other advertising, with limited success. At the time, very few other jewelers were advertising on the radio. He saw this as his opportunity to not only stand out, but, by doing the commercials himself, he could let his personality and passion shine through. Richard has one of those fill the room personalities, and his positivity is infectious. This was a perfect fit, and business began to flourish.
Family
“Welcome to the Family!” Something you will here with frequency here at Elgin’s. We love telling this to our new customers when they make their first purchase. We truly mean it. Family is so important to us. Our customers, team members, vendors and business partners, are all part of the Elgin’s family. We cannot overstate how important this is to us. As with all families, there are times of great joy, memorable occasions, and special moments. Getting to share these times with our family members is one of the best things about our business. There are also times when things are not going so well. We always strive to help in any way possible. The relationships and personal connections we have made over the years with our Elgin’s family members are truly cherished. As our business continues to grow, so does our family. This means everything to us.
We Love Jewels
Jewelry is so awesome! A fine piece of jewelry can represent so many things. Engagement, marriage, anniversary, birthday, a religious celebration or milestone, retirement, among many others are all special moments that are commemorated with jewelry. It can invoke a wealth of emotions to the person who wears it, as well as the person who gave it. The strongest one being love, of course. If you surveyed a group of women and asked them what their most prized possession is, a good majority will say it is a special piece of their jewelry. Every piece of jewelry is bathed in love. From its creation, to the acquisition, to the presentation, love is involved in every step. Jewelry is a unique combination of beauty, rarity, artistry, and craftsmanship, made from nature’s most precious elements and gems. Jewelry tells a story, and we love to hear it.
Looking Ahead
The future is bright here at Elgin’s, Richard and I are so excited about the direction we are heading. We continue to hold true to what got us here, but we are also exploring new ideas and technologies to keep improving as a business. We look forward with great excitement and enthusiasm as we move into the next chapter of our story.
