A Diamond Reputation
Customer service sparkles at Dunkin’s Diamonds
Anyone who runs any kind of business is ultimately looking for one thing: satisfied customers. In the case of Dunkin’s Diamonds and the jewelry store’s founder, Stuart Dunkin, that goal has been elevated to achieving raving fans. Those who are loyal to the way Dunkin operates his chain of retail showrooms are testimony to the company’s continued success.
“From the minute you walk in, you can feel that the people there are honest, helpful and not at all aggressive,” says Marlene Price, a Sanibel resident. She and her husband, island physician Gary Price, have been to a lot of local jewelry stores, “but we’ve never encountered a place and a staff that has made the whole experience fun, stress-free and just a real delight,” she says of their experiences at Dunkin’s.
This kind of client makes Stuart Dunkin beam with pride, as he realizes that his passion for the jewelry industry was his true calling. Dunkin started in his father’s store as a boy, at first just observing, then getting more hands-on as his love for the business became set like a precious stone. Right out of high school, Dunkin embarked on his own jewelry career, borrowing a small amount of money to open his first store. Now, in keeping alive a family tradition in the luxury jewelry business that has endured for three generations, Dunkin operates three retail showrooms in Southwest Florida and seven stores in Ohio, employing about 140 people overall.
EXCUSE THE PUN, BUT WORD OF MOUTH IS GOLDEN IN THE RETAIL JEWELRY BUSINESS.”
—STUART DUNKIN
Staying vital in the jewelry business is the key to success, and Dunkin is always on the lookout for the latest consumer-driven trends in unique custom jewelry and high-end gemstones. His nickname, “The Diamond Man,” came naturally over decades of providing his clients with only the finest quality and innovative diamond designs, coupled with unparalleled customer service. Staying on top of what diamond buyers want—a legacy handed down from his grandfather and then his father—is what Dunkin feels has led to the company’s respected position today. “The diamond business is what I know, and I’m thankful that people appreciate the way we do business at Dunkin’s Diamonds,” he says.
Inside all of the glistening Dunkin’s showrooms, customers find a huge array of fine-quality diamond wedding jewelry in every style, color, cut and size to match any future bride’s dreams. The store is also one of a select few jewelry retailers that offer custom, loose diamonds that Dunkin obtains directly from the source, the cutter. Dunkin adds, “We can create virtually any diamond design one could imagine, and that’s one
of the most exciting and rewarding parts of our business—to be such a big part of a couple’s most memorable moment.”
Don’t let the jewelry retailer’s name fool you. True, the Dunkin’s Diamond stores in Southwest Florida are the exclusive retailer for the Hearts on Fire line of diamonds, known as the most perfectly cut diamonds in the world, but Dunkin’s Diamonds has more to offer its customers. It is also a retailer of exclusive timepieces, including fully certified, restored and authentic Rolex watches and a dazzling line of fine gold and silver jewelry, from elegant bracelets to shimmering earrings, and everything in between. The company also puts a lot of time and effort into its online presence, offering what Dunkin calls “worry-free retail and the lowest prices guranteed on the Internet.” Dunkin’s full selection of fine jewelry is backed by a 100-percent guarantee of quality and satisfaction, as well as a warranty covering the lifetime of the item or gemstone. Complimentary cleaning, inspections and adjustments are all part of the Dunkin’s experience, with goldsmiths in every store.
“Excuse the pun, but word of mouth is golden in the retail jewelry business,” notes Dunkin. “I’ve always been passionate about first-class customer service, and I feel that has been a huge reason for the amount of repeat customers we have.”
Quality is a word on which the Dunkin’s shining legacy was built, and it applies to its extensive product line, as well as its approach to customer service. Dunkin’s clients have discovered that once you find a business that treats you well, it’s worth staying loyal. Brian and Sunni Hammermeister have been buying jewelry at Dunkin’s for almost 15 years. “Our experiences with them have been fantastic,” says Brian, who has purchased a Rolex watch and engagement and wedding jewelry at two of the retailer’s showrooms. “They always have exactly what we are looking for, and the service we get from the staff there is why we keep going back.”