Secrets of America's Coolest Stores

Podcast: Debbie Fox on the Power of Social Cause Marketing and the Rise of Fox Fine Jewelers

She discusses key high and low points in her journey.

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

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Inclusive Industry Education

Published

6 years ago

February 14, 2018

David Squires

WELCOME! YOU’RE INVITED to listen to the debut episode of a new INSTORE Live! podcast series, Secrets of America’s Coolest Jewelers.

The series kicks off with an interview of one of INSTORE’s favorite jewelers, Debbie Fox of Fox Fine Jewelers in Ventura, CA, winner of 2015’s America’s Coolest Stores (Big Cool category). David Squires, former INSTORE editor-in-chief and group editorial director of SmartWork Media, does the interviewing.

In the podcast, Debbie discusses key high and low points of the journey she has taken with her husband George, a highly talented jeweler, as they built their business from a 100-square-foot store barely large enough to fit two customers at a time into one of the country’s very best jewelry stores.

“I never thought that I’d be this successful,” Debbie admits. “[But] I will tell you that George always knew that we would be this successful.”

Debbie also gives insights into Fox Fine Jewelry’s unique social-cause marketing initiatives. One of the most successful examples of these came in 2009, when the store gained national attention for giving away sterling silver necklaces one Valentine’s Day season to people who had lost their jobs in the Great Recession.

In a special addendum to the interview, Debbie talks about possibly her business’s biggest-ever social cause marketing initiative, where Fox Fine Jewelry provided free community-themed diamond necklaces to people who had lost their homes during California’s devastating Thomas Fires in December.

Debbie tells of some of the dramatic events around the fire, including customer reaction to her emotional radio advertising, and tells one funny story of the fire’s aftermath when she found herself sobbing in front of the destroyed house of an acquaintence.

Podcast: Debbie Fox on the Power of Social Cause Marketing and the Rise of Fox Fine Jewelers

Community-themed necklaces on offer from Fox Fine Jewelry include the Ventura Wave, the Ojai Mountains, the Montecito Islands, or the Thrive 805. COURTESY: FOX FINE JEWELRY

SECRETS OF AMERICA’S COOLEST STORES EPISODE 1: DEBBIE FOX (69:52 MINUTES)

SECRETS OF AMERICA’S COOLEST STORES EPISODE 1 EXTRAS: DEBBIE FOX ON THE THOMAS FIRE (19:56 MINUTES)

David Squires

David Squires is the Group Editorial Director of SmartWork Media. He believes that the first role of business media is to inspire readers.

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