Business: Evergreen Goldsmiths
Address: 28225 Colorado 74, Evergreen
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; open Sundays in December
Founded: 2000
Contact: 303-670-0730; evergreengoldsmiths.com
Employees: 4
Interview with Nancy and Walt Pawluczkowycz, owners
How did you get involved in this business?
I took a jewelry class in college to break up the academics of a psychology degree. I had always been interested in any type of art, and jewelry was something that I could actually make a living with. My first job was with my professor at his shop in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Walt just happened to walk into a watchmaking class at a college in Daytona, Fla., and was enrolled two weeks later. He went on to pursue jewelry making as well in Washington, D.C.
What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
We moved back to Colorado after nine years on the East Coast in Maryland. We missed the mountains, so, when we came back, that was reflected in the jewelry we designed and made. Our first signature piece was a stylized elk pendant that represented one of Evergreen’s most popular activities – elk viewing. We felt that we had found our niche in coming up with designs that reflect Colorado and the mountains. We have continued with other wildlife pieces, The Heart of the Rockies, the Coolest Snowflake and Quakies. We are a full-service jewelry store as well, and do a lot of custom work, one-of-a-kind pieces and repairs, but I think that it is our original jewelry lines that differentiate our store.
What do you like best about your line of work?
The creativity that is involved in making, displaying and selling jewelry, and the fact that our customers are coming in to pick out something that celebrates a special event or occasion. Even fixing a favorite piece of jewelry can count as special.
What is your business’ biggest challenge?
Just having enough time in the day to finish what you set out to do. Oh, and getting away long enough to call it a vacation.
Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
My husband and I both grew up in the Washington, D.C., area. When we met in Evergreen, we discovered that we had been living in parallel universes our entire lives. We had grown up 20 minutes apart, had both gone to the University of Maryland, knew a lot of the same people and both become jewelers.
To suggest a business for us to profile, e-mail soelrich@denverpost.com.
