Former teacher takes online jewelry business local with new Pitman shop

While she was pregnant with her now-nearly 2-year-old daughter, Juliette, Amos-Smith created an online business selling vintage jewelry.

“We were listing 40 to 50 pieces of jewelry every day on the site so we decided we needed more space,” she said. “So the store, Juliette’s Jewels (named after my daughter) was born. We started in a smaller location and then moved here to South Broadway a couple of months ago. Now we have more room and more exposure.”

Juliette’s Jewels is a fashion boutique featuring not only sterling silver, gemstone and costume jewelry but also a wide range of designer clothing, scarves, handbags and other accessories.

“We have clothing in junior sizes, misses and plus sizes from cocktail dresses to casual wear,” said Amos-Smith. “It’s all brand-names from Anne Klein to Lucky Brand and Anne Taylor and some of it is previously-owned, but we’re moving into having all new items.”

She said that Pitman, besides being the town she and her husband chose to live and raise a family in, is a perfect setting for the boutique because it has become such a “destination.”

“We have the theater and multiple new restaurants as well as clothing and home decor stores,” said Amos-Smith. “People can come spend the day and shop. Plus I have a real fondness for Pitman.”

For the jewelry, Amos-Smith purchases large estate lots and then sells pieces individually. Most of the vintage jewelry sales are still conducted online at her eBay store, juliettesauctions.com, while the store features a large selection of more modern jewelry from colorful cocktail rings to formal silver pieces.

“We have a nice selection of jewelry which complements the clothing,” said Amos-Smith. “Many times women will buy jewelry to go with a new outfit. Our sales are about half and half (clothing/jewelry) and people are usually shocked at the size of our selection. We’ll have even more jewelry available for the holidays.”

Amos-Smith said, as a lifelong bargain shopper, she looks for name-brand items she can sell at exceptional prices. So far, much of her business has been walk-ins and referrals from local shoppers. She also writes fashion articles for the Women of Gloucester County website.

“I hope people do their holiday shopping here,” she said. “We have really concentrated on making sure we have jewelry and clothing for all ages here for everyone from the teenagers who stop in after school to their parents and grandparents. We had three generations in here one night and they all found something they liked.”

Amos-Smith credits her husband Jeffrey and her children Jeffrey, 3, and Juliette, who’s nearly 2 as being her biggest support system and calls the business a “dream come true.”

“It’s a truly wonderful way to spend time with family while I do something I love, giving women a bargain-friendly experience with an upscale feel,” she said. “I love that I can walk to work if I want to and that I’m helping to support the town.”

Juliette’s Jewels is located at 52 S. Broadway. For more information, call 856-589-0100 or visit www.juliettesjewels.com.

Monday, November 15, 2010
By Jessica Driscoll
jdriscoll@sjnewsco.com

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