‘We have so much to be thankful for.’
For Steve Floyd and Tom Williams, it seems like just yesterday Floyd & Green was “the new kid on the block.” Now the South Carolina store is celebrating its 25th anniversary, a milestone they feel blessed to have achieved.
“We have so much to be thankful for,” said Williams, co-owner of Floyd & Green.
“We are so fortunate to have wonderful customers and to be living in a place where people want to see their friends and neighbors succeed.”
Floyd & Green is dedicated to the Aiken community and to keeping the store local. In its 25-year history, it has achieved many goals, including moving from a 1,250-square foot store in Centre South to its current freestanding, 10,000-square foot facility; adding top-rated national and international brands; growing its staff from six to 16 employees; and maintaining the highest industry standards – one of the reasons it is an American Gem Society (AGS) certified store. In addition, Floyd & Green now houses an Accredited Gemological Laboratory. It is one of only three AGS-Certified Labs in South Carolina.
“We are excited about how we do business and what we’ve been able to achieve at Floyd & Green,” said Floyd, co-owner. “We want to offer Aiken the best products and services and to use our success to help this community grow and thrive.”
Floyd and Williams had both been in the jewelry industry for years before they met and later became business partners. Floyd worked for the parents of his then girlfriend, now wife in their jewelry store in Florence, SC. After getting married, Floyd moved to Aiken and became a sales associate at Galloway & Moseley Jewelers. While working at Galloway & Moseley, Floyd met Ron Leitzel, the CEO of Mountz Jewelers in Carlisle, PA. Leitzel knew immediately that Floyd would eventually go out on his own one day.
“It wasn’t but a few months later that I received a call from Steve sharing his desire to go out on his own,” Leitzel said. “And that was the start of my confidence and trust in Steve’s entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his honest nature, passion and drive, which never made me doubt that he would be successful.”
Williams worked for Krementz Gemstones with territories spread across the South, including Aiken. Williams met Floyd when calling on Floyd & Green. Floyd later asked him to join the Floyd & Green team as a sales manager. Several years later, Williams bought into the business and the two officially became business partners.
“When Tom joined Floyd and Green, he was instrumental in the continuation of its success,” explained Lietzel. “Tom’s energy, personable nature and complementary skill set to Steve were magic. They worked tirelessly to build an incredible team and to source the finest brands for their valued customers,” Leitzel said.
Throughout Floyd & Green’s history, the store has remained focused on staying local, giving back and maintaining the highest level of service and offering the best national and international brands. They decided early on that it was important to offer customers the same quality and selection found in much larger markets.
Floyd and Williams have maintained their store’s reputation and kept its standards high.
As a member of the American Gem Society (AGS) for the past 25 years, Floyd & Green holds a certification that only 5 percent of jewelers can claim to possess. AGS is dedicated to proven ethics, gemological knowledge and consumer protection. Its members are held to the highest ethical standards in the industry. While this may seem like the pinnacle in the industry, Floyd & Williams are always looking to “the next.” Their newest achievement? The addition of an in-house certified gemologist appraiser, making their store one of the few in the country to have one.
Though keeping their “Crown Jeweler” designation is a priority, giving back to the community remains at the heart of all they do. For the past 25 years, Floyd & Green has donated to hundreds of local charities, with Floyd and Williams creating the “Night of Giving Back” so customers can be a part of supporting the community’s many great charities. This event, which happens every November, allows customers to purchase items and then designate 10 percent of their purchase to the local charity of their choice. In addition to Night of Giving Back and regular donations to many other charities, Floyd & Green also sponsors four scholarships at the University of South Carolina Aiken.
While maintaining high standards and giving back, Floyd and Williams have never lost sight of the importance of treating their staff like family. Their staff is “a family,” with several employees having been part of Floyd & Green for 15 to 20 years. Time and time again, members of the Floyd & Green family express their appreciation for the support Floyd and Williams provide.
“It is a real privilege to work for Steve and Tom,” said Caroline Andrews, bookkeeper for Floyd & Green. “I have learned so much from them. I feel we have grown professionally and personally over the 20 years I have been here. They have integrity and they care about and give back to the community.”