Interview with David Kushnir, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I’m a second-generation jeweler. I learned a lot of my fundamental skills from my father at the age of 18. I got involved in the jewelry business because I’ve always liked working with my hands and being creative. It’s a form of artistic expression for me.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: The one major aspect of our business that distinguishes my store from most others is the fact that all of our services related to jewelry are done in house; nothing gets sent away. Most jewelry stores outsource to other companies for their repairs, custom work or appraisals. At D&D, we do it all in the store. We’re also one of only a handful of jewelers that has full CAD/CAM equipment for custom design and manufacturing in-house as well. Also, all of our custom work comes with a full lifetime warranty — no questions asked.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: The No. 1 thing I like best about being a jeweler, especially one who specializes in custom work, is taking an idea and making it into a reality. It’s a very humbling feeling when presenting the jewelry to the customer and seeing their appreciation for my craftsmanship. In my current role as owner of D&D, I’ve come to greatly appreciate the creative freedom I have with my designs and the ability to not only make jewelry by customer orders but to work on my own ideas for lines and one-off pieces.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: One of the biggest challenges we face is expanding and gaining new clients. As with any small business, advertising is always a hit-or-miss venture. With our business, word of mouth is the best form of advertising. When dealing in a business where trust is a big issue, this seems to work best. Knowing that, we focus greatly on providing a high level of customer service to anyone who comes in our store.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: When taking ownership of D&D in 2013 at 32 years of age, I was the youngest registered jewelry store owner in the state. At the age of 28, I was the youngest jeweler in the country to receive the Jewelers Association Master Jeweler Certification.
Profile
Business: D&D Fine Jewelry
Address: 3839 E. 120th Ave., Thornton
Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Founded: 2013
Contact: 303-451-1885,
Employees: 4
