Why you need to invest in quality wedding rings – Tracy Uwom, of Saint Tracy
As her name implies, ebony-skinned- Ebony Tracy Uwom heads bespoke luxury jewelry brand, Saint Tracy, which spans for 8 years.
The mother of two,who is a graduate of Marketing from the University Of Calabar and Lagos Business School, played host to a number of guests at the official launch of Saint Tracy signature’s diamond collection in Lagos on Sunday, December 2nd, 2018.
Clients and guests were treated to an afternoon of cocktails and food while they fed their eyes on the unique designs of accessories that is synonymous with Saint Tracy Signature in an atmosphere of soothing music.
Speaking on her brand, Tracy Uwom stated that the whole idea was to create fond memories and experience as well as impeccable service for clients.
Allure Vanguard caught up with this jeweler with great panache and business IQ in a chat where she talked about how it all started, what clients should consider in buying accessories and more.
See excerpts from the chat below:
Would you say you are applying Marketing to what you are doing currently?
I am not saying I am applying Marketing really? School is just for education and exposure really.
Why did venture into the Jewelry business?
Okay so, it came as a need. When I was getting married, my fiance then had to get a ring and he didn’t know where to get the ring . As at then, we lived in Port Harcourt. He had to ask his brother abroad to get him his engagement ring and when it was time for the wedding band, he also asked his brother to buy it. We had that issue and so many other people also have the issue. As at that period we went to get rings, it occurred to me that if people have such issues, it is something I could do . So I started by buying rings from Dubai and selling until where we are now where we make our own designs for wedding and engagement rings.
And now, we are launching our flagship store . Here we have necklaces, we have diamonds rings, pendants. Now we have added wrist-watches, bracelets , earrings so that’s what we are launching now.
What is the essence of the unveiling of new collection of accessorizes?
For today, we launching a new collection, a diamond collection rings. Our precious stone collection too. So we have precious stones mined in Nigeria. Nigeria is blessed with so many precious stones that people buy all over the world.
Today we are launching this pieces so that people can see we have diamond earrings.
Someone birthday is coming or maybe your daughter or friend’s daughter, instead of buying her pampers, you can buy our diamond earrings. She can wear it for years to come.
What would you say about customers who think you are out of their league?
Then, well… they are not our customers. We are catering to a particular set of people who understand luxury. They travel abroad so they know the prices of these accessories in the international market . They know how these precious stones costs. My customers are educated, they are informed of the prices abroad. We are actually selling a little less than those abroad. And the accessories are of the same quality and value. My customers know that what we offer and don’t see it as expensive. We are operating on the international level so my customers don’t see us expensive. There are rings for every level. It depends on where they place themselves. We know that as things get back, in the future, they can change to better rings.
What should couples/ people look out for?
I would say plan and save for your wedding and engagement ring because it is the only piece of item that you are going to have after your wedding day.
The make-up would wash off, the dress you won’t wear again, the shoe may be too tight and you would not want to wear again but the ring is the only thing you have. A week after the wedding, nobody would know if you are married except what you have on your finger.
And it is something you are going to be wearing for five years, ten years, twenty years so they should save for your wedding ring. It mustn’t be too expensive, don’t compromise on what you want because of budget knowing that this is the only thing you would be having after everything is knocked out. Save for it. Shop together if you can.
How do you tell fake jewelry from real ones?
I won’t use the word fake. I would rather they there are different qualities. Your calling it fake, does not mean it is fake. It simply means that is the level the person can afford. There are rings of ten thousand naira, they are not fake, it is just that the kind of metal used for that is different from something that is hundred thousand naira.
You want something beautiful, you would to spend more and that would lasts for years.
What is your leading edge?
Well, we design and produce all our wedding and engagement rings ourselves. We design. We work with factories that manufacture and produce for us outside the country . so our designs are unique to us. We don’t just buy from a shop and sell. No. We design and produce our accessories ourselves. They are all customised, our names are encrusted on them. on out products just like when you buy a designer’s shirt, so the name of the person would be there. So all our accessories are customised. That means when you buy from us, you are buying a unique piece from all over the world or if you look through social media.
Are there challenges you face in the course of jewelry business?
Of course, there are challenges that include staff to work, marketing, power,
We are bespoke with over 8 years in the business,and we keep overcoming the challenges. We had a challenge of structure, but we have overcome. Now we have 4 branches, 2 in Lagos, 1 in Abuja and 1 in Port Harcourt. There were challenges before we got to that level but we keep overcoming. The next level comes and we overcome. I work closely with my consultant, so I am learning everyday.
