OCTOBER 2019 16
pays homage to a loved one, whether it’s
made from new materials or heirloom
elements. “It always has a meaning, and you
want to help [customers] have the most
wonderful experience and have the perfect
product to wear with great joy,” she says.
With more than 40 years of experience,
Jannie recognizes that we all have distinctive
tastes, especially when it comes to jewelry. If
someone comes into her store with an inherited
bracelet or a passed-down brooch they could
never see themselves donning, Jannie asks,
“How would you wear this?” She listens as
strangers share their memories of beloved
grandmothers or late husbands, taking
inspiration from these fond remembrances
to create irreplaceable keepsakes.
Even before sitting down at her work
bench and picking up her tools, Jannie
strives to get to know each patron. “I am
determined that my customers become my
friends and that nobody leaves unhappy,” she
says. Even when it costs her more time and
money, she will always redo a piece or make
changes to ensure complete satisfaction.
“If it isn’t quite perfect, it has to be made
perfect,” she says, attributing her strong
work ethic to her father. “My dad taught us
that you need a job, you need to take care of
yourself, because no one is going to take care
of you. [And] do something you love to do,
because you’re going to be doing this your
whole life.” Single until age 40, when she met
and married Tom, Jannie has undoubtedly
heeded her father’s advice to a T.
In addition to managing her small
company with great success, Jannie’s
primary role in the design process is model
making. “I carve whatever it is you want in
wax first, and then I cast it,” she says. Then,
she passes the jewelry on to her small team
of talented craftspeople as needed for
exquisite finishing touches like adding
gemstones and polishing the gold. “I’m not a
stone setter. I do polish, but I hate to get my
nails dirty,” Jannie says with a laugh.
“Together we make a beautiful product,
whether it’s a minor repair or something
major, and we make people happy.”
While she’s tailored her heart design by
adding birthstones or casting with different
precious metals, Jannie’s own version is
14-karat yellow gold adorned with a single
sparkling diamond. It’s a tiny reminder, she
says, to live everyday with love and
gratitude. “People come in here with a
thought in mind: ‘Jannie is going to make
something special for me.’” And for that, she
says, “Lord, I am thankful.”
For information, visit janniebean.com.