8 newportbeachindy . com NOVEMBER 11 , 2022
LOCAL FOCUS
After Three Decades Royal Jewelers Prepares to Bid Farewell to Loyal Customers
By Richard Simon | NB Indy
After 30 years offering truly one-of-akind creations from her popular Bison Ave . store , Royal Jewelers at Newport North owner Melissa Weiler has announced she ’ s closing shop .
Of the millions of dollars of sparkling jewels that have graced her display cases , Weiler feels the purest “ gems ” of all have been her loyal customers , many of whom started as young newlyweds when she first opened and have since become proud grandparents , as well as lasting friends .
Although she worked for several years in the time-demanding corporate world of sales for the likes of Coca Cola and Merrill Lynch , Weiler realized that her passion lay not in employment for global entities , but in the running of her own small business .
This instinct crystalized during her MBA studies at UC Irvine . As if her two-year-long academic effort didn ’ t consume enough time , she also was married and expecting her first child , as well as working and learning retail .
Weiler thrived behind the counter interacting with customers — so much so that she wondered if she might own and operate her own jewelry business .
Upon graduation with her MBA , she faced a hard choice : corporate life with a steady salary and benefits , or take the bold risk of starting her own business .
So coupled with the knowledge garnered from her graduate studies , Weiler researched the “ Three L ’ s ” ( location , location , location ), market potential , demographic mix , local economy and competition . Conclusion : Take the risk ! After some serious negotiations with the leasing agent for the Irvine Company at that time , “ they agreed to let me establish at Newport North versus another location at which another jewelry retailer had vacated . That was the first real challenge . The second was opening my store with no money or inventory ,” Weiler shared .
Fortunately , her sister lent her $ 20,000 , to be paid back within two years at 10 percent interest . “ I paid off the debt well before that time ,” she said with pride . “ In the beginning and for two years after , I worked alone six days a week .”
In the few hours she had to herself , Weiler studied correspondence
JEWELERS Page 11
Royal Jewelers owner Melissa Weiler