This is a story of a young boy who at the age of 12 dreamed of being a watchmaker, and like all good stories, this has a very happy ending.
Now 71, David Brownson has certainly come a long way since he was 12. He now owns Brownson’s Jewellers in New Plymouth, an extremely successful jewellery business that his father began in 1929, but through David’s willingness to embrace technology, his client base stretches far and wide.
David was in his teens when he began to learn about the jewellery business. “At the age of 16 I was not that keen on learning French and heading down an academic path,” he says.
At 18 David joined forces with his father in the family business, Brownson’s Jewellers in New Plymouth, which he eventually took over when his father retired. Things seemed to be going well and falling into place nicely for David, but like anyone in business knows, you have your ups and your downs.
“One of the mistakes I made,” David candidly admits, “was trying to compete with the multi-nationals on price. The more I did this, my turnover increased but it seriously eroded my profits to the point where the margins were all but non-existent.”
He then took a radical step: he stopped all advertising, got back to the basics and moved into one-off manufactured jewellery. He not only bought new machinery to create the pieces, but also the computer software needed to create the unique designs which has had a welcome add-on effect.
“I have the best job in the world,” David declares. “I now get all these hugs from women who just have tears in their eyes when they see the final piece created for them.”
Retaining that family legacy, David’s son Wayne is now part of the business and David laughs at any suggestion he may retire soon.
“My father worked until he was 75 so I look forward to learning a lot more yet.”
David also says he is appalled when he hears people can’t understand the latest technology. “It’s all a mindset. There is no reason for anyone not to continue learning and taking up new challenges. My motto is ‘never say die’. When it got tough we looked at what we could do differently and the answer was there in the computer.”
This attitude has seen the business nearly double in growth over the past two years, to the extent they have to expand their floor space.
David has a new range of special Kiwiana jewellery in the making, which includes a silver fern he is particularly proud of. He also points out that aside from the diamonds, everything about his products are New Zealand made, even down to the castings.
“I love my work and I love making people’s dreams come true.”
So as we stated in the beginning, this story has a happy ending for everyone.
