Joslin’s new general manager, Shawn!
Meet the newest member of
the Joslin’s team – Shawn!
Joslin’s Jewelry’s new general manager, Shawn, recently made Kansas City his new home, moving to the metro just five months ago, all the way from Cape Town, South Africa!
Until his move here, Shawn had lived in South Africa his entire life. He is an ex-rugby player as well as an avid carpenter with a passion for building handcrafted pieces of furniture. His Cape Town heritage also gives him a love for fine red wine. His favorite sports teams are the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team, and, of course, the Kansas City Chiefs!
Shawn and wife, Henriette, enjoying a Kansas City Chiefs game.
Shawn and his wife Henriette have one child, Tacara-Lee. Shawn says, “My favorite color was always blue. That was until we had our only child, a girl. We dressed her in pink for so many years that it quickly became my new favorite color, as it made me happy seeing that pretty little girl dressed in the color so much!”
Son-in-law Tanner, daughter Tacara-Lee, and granddaughter, Taytum Ann.
Shawn and Henriette made the decision to move to Kansas City to be closer to their daughter and her family. Their son-in-law, Tanner, is actually the reason that Shawn found Joslin’s! Tanner’s family had been long-time customers and friends of the Joslin family and knew the store was looking to hire a new general manager. They connected Shawn with the Joslin family, and they quickly decided he was the perfect fit for the store!
As general manager of the store, Shawn has been hard at work getting to know both the staff and the customers, as well as bringing some exciting new updates to the store. Visitors to the store can expect to see some fresh paint in the showroom and the iconic stained glass piece behind the desk aglow once again. Behind the scenes, Shawn used his 25 years of experience as a systems engineer to upgrade Joslin’s to a custom POS (point-of-sale) system. Before relocating to the United States, Shawn worked with hundreds of mom-and-pop businesses across South Africa, helping them streamline operations and develop reliable software solutions.
Shawn quickly noticed just how important ‘family’ is to Joslin’s. According to Shawn, “Gary and his staff have created an incredibly welcoming environment. Customers feel like they are at home here and have a great experience every time they visit. In fact, many of the store’s returning customers are greeted by name when they walk through the door.”
And it’s true, Joslin’s really has built an incredibly loyal following, with hundreds of customers returning – as well as second or even third generations of their families shopping at Joslin’s. That same level of loyalty to Joslin’s customers extends to the store staff as well, evidenced by the familiar faces that greet returning customers year after year.
Shawn and Henriette
To Shawn, Joslin’s is unlike any other jewelry store. “The staff here never pressures customers to buy. Their goal is always to help them find something they will love. Their kindness, knowledge, and genuine passion for people are what have built such a strong community.” Shawn said he enjoys helping customers find exactly the item they are looking for.
In particular, Shawn said he is drawn to versatile jewelry pieces, such as diamond studs. “They really add sparkle to any outfit for any occasion,” said Shawn. He continues, “Diamond studs are a staple in any jewelry collection. Whether dressing up or going casual, diamond studs make every occasion a little more special.”
Shawn always encourages customers to take advantage of the benefits that come with shopping at a family-owned business. “Joslin’s provides complimentary services for returning customers, including free jewelry cleaning and rhodium treatments, as well as free inspections to ensure their fine jewelry looks beautiful for years and years to come.”
One thing Shawn also emphasized was just how talented the Joslin’s jewelry repair team is. “There are so many customers who come in with a damaged piece of jewelry and say, ‘I don’t know if this is something you can fix…’ and almost every time it is!” The jewelers at Joslin’s are experts at repairing fine and delicate pieces as well as those with cracked or missing stones. Reviving family heirlooms and treasured newer pieces of jewelry is a major cornerstone of the full Joslin’s experience.
Shawn said one of the most memorable moments thus far at Joslin’s was working with a customer who wanted to have a ring’s size adjusted. The ring no longer fit comfortably, and she was looking for a jeweler who could install an adjustable clasp on the ring. She had visited other area jewelry stores to see what the work might cost, and it was looking like a very expensive investment.
But, when she visited Joslin’s and received a quote for the work, she was shocked. Joslin’s price significantly beat out all others – in fact, it would be half as much as other quotes. The customer proceeded to have Joslin’s jewelers complete the work. Shawn said when the ring was done and the customer picked it up and tried it on, she happily proclaimed, “Joslin’s now has a customer for life!”
