Three generations of the Cartwright clan have had the privilege of being part of the memorable moments of their customers’ lives.
Cartwright Jewelers is wrapping up a milestone of its own, as 2013 marks the 80th anniversary of the business founded – by accident – by James Daniel Cartwright in New Westminster in 1933.
“My grandfather was a fisherman on the Fraser,” said Susan Cartwright-Coates, the third generation jeweler in the family. “He had a fishing accident and was unable to fish anymore.”
Cartwright’s best friend’s father was a watchmaker, and he began apprenticing as a watchmaker. Some clients started asking for jewelry pieces – and a store was born.
Don Cartwright later followed in his father’s footsteps, overseeing the store for many years.
“I did wander from the business for a few years. Being a young person, I was very interested in automobiles,” he said. “I did come back into the business.”
Originally located on Columbia Street, the store later moved uptown to a location across from Woodward’s.
“We moved to the uptown in 1965,” Cartwright-Coates said. “That is really where we became established as a full-blown jewelry store.”
As a child, the three Cartwright girls spent many a day in the family business. The tiled floors were an ideal place for playing hopscotch.
“Grandpa’s philosophy was if you were old enough to see over the counter, you get to work,” said Cartwright-Coates, who officially joined the family business in 1985. “You were head gopher. That was going to get the lunch orders at the Woodward’s food floor.”
Grandma Ina was an integral part of the store, working as the bookkeeper, doing sales and wrapping gifts in a way that’s been passed down through the family. Granddaughters Susan, Barbara and Colleen have all been involved in the family business at various times, with Colleen having ran it in the past and Barbara, a trained jewelry appraiser, doing appraisals.
While fine jewelry has been a staple at Cartwright Jewelers from the early years, other lines and specialty items have come and gone through the decades.
“We used to be a very, very large watch dealer,” recalled Cartwright, who trained as a watchmaker. “Now the watch businesses is almost nothing. The young generation doesn’t even wear a watch – they use their cellphones.”
In the 1960s and 1970s, Cartwright Jewelers carried items such as flatware, dishes, china and giftware such as Hummel’s and Royal Dalton figurines at its Sixth Avenue location, later carving out a niche with the sale of Trollbeads.
“Trollbeads have been around for about six years,” said Cartwright-Coates. “They are that modern charm bracelet.”
Cartwright Jewelers was one of first jewelry stores in Lower Mainland to carry Canadian diamonds.
“Probably our biggest claim to fame has been our Canadian diamonds,” said Cartwright-Coates. “We were one of the very first in the Lower Mainland to carry Canadian diamonds.”
Adapting to the times has been a critical component of Cartwright Jeweler’s longevity.
“You change with the marketplace,” Cartwright said. “You don’t exist if you don’t.”
Throughout the year, the longtime business has been celebrating in the Royal City with a number of events and sales. It’s also been a year of celebrating the shop’s expanded premises on Sixth Street, a move done in advance of the anniversary celebration.
“We have had a great year,” Cartwright-Coates said. “The expansion of the store has been so well received by the community.”
When space beside the Sixth Street jewelry store became available in 2012, Cartwright-Coates seized the opportunity to expand as the increased space provided room to offer more jewelry lines and create a lounge area where customers can sit and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed java from the coffee bar. She said the expansion reaffirms the business’s commitment to its customers and the community.
“We have been in this location for 18 years now,” she said. “After 80 years, we are very pleased to have such a deep customer base. Referrals are the backbone of our business.”
Three generations of the Cartwright family have operated the jewelry store – sometimes tending to third-generation customers of the shop.
“I enjoyed the people most as far as the business is concerned,” Cartwright said. “It is an emotional business.”
Cartwright-Coates and her staff have been privy to more than a few wedding proposals, when grooms-to-be pop the question while browsing with their sweethearts.
“The surprise can be part of the journey,” she said. “That is when the Kleenex boxes come out for all of us.”
While jewelry is often part of celebrations such as births, engagements and weddings, it’s also something that creates an emotional connection to clients – even in death. The shop is able to remake family heirlooms into legacy pieces that hold the memories of the original owner, but meets today’s needs.
“That is where that memory starts again,” said Cartwright-Coates.
This year’s anniversary has been memory making and a time of reflection – and looking ahead – for members of the Cartwright Jewelers’ family as well.
“I think the future is good for us, for Cartwright Jewelers. We have that legacy of customer referral, the ability to treat all our customers with respect,” she said. “I see us continuing to grow and prosper.”
