Good Neighbor Podcast Estero
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of SWFL
Good Neighbor Podcast Estero
EP# 195 - From Hockey to Jewelry: Peter Sakaris' Inspiring Transition to Sakaris Jewelers
What happens when a professional hockey player trades the ice for sparkling diamonds? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we welcome Peter Sakaris, the dynamic founder of Sakaris Jewelers, who shares his remarkable journey from the rink to running a thriving online jewelry business in Naples. Peter discusses his seamless transition into the family trade, highlighting the personalized touch that sets Sicaris Jewelers apart in a crowded market. From custom engagement rings to unique diamond pendants, Peter’s dedication to crafting dream pieces for his clients shines through.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing; Peter opens up about the significant life change that brought him to Naples, Florida, driven by love and ambition. Moving to be with his fiancée, Peter faced the daunting challenge of starting afresh in a new city. Discover how this pivotal moment not only strengthened his personal life but also fueled the success of Sicaris Jewelers. This episode is a testament to the power of following your passion, embracing life’s unexpected twists, and the transformative impact of personalized service in building a successful business. Don’t miss Peter’s captivating story and the valuable insights he shares about his unique approach to the jewelry industry.
Sakaris Jewelers
Peter Sakaris
Naples, FL
(239) 293-6348
info@sakarisjewelers.com
sakarisjewelers.com
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Cabo Jim.
Speaker 2:Schaller. Welcome Good Neighbors. Episode number 195 of the Good Neighbor Podcast, estero. Today we have Good Neighbor Peter Sakaris from Sicaris Jewelers in Naples. Welcome, welcome. Thank you for having me. Absolutely Always a pleasure getting to know people here in the community and what they do. And, without further ado, let's jump right in. And why don't you share a little bit about what you do?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so my name is Peter Sakaris and I am the founder of Sikaris Jewelers. Sikaris Jewelers is an online jewelry retailer. You know we offer a wide range of pieces, but what really sets us apart is the personal touch we bring to every client interaction. On our website we have a beautiful collection available that customers can buy and we make sure every piece is tailored to fit them perfectly. But where we really stand out is with our custom work. You know, through our clients, we work really one-on-one with them to help them create their dream piece, whether it's a custom engagement ring, earrings, a diamond pendant, whatever it is. We really take their vision and help them bring it to life. And I think, to be honest, I think it's that personalized touch and that sort of hands-on experience that really makes us unique, and I know our customers truly enjoy it.
Speaker 2:That is great. So let's back up your story a little bit here. How did you get involved into the jewelry industry?
Speaker 3:Well, my family's been in the business forever. I used to play hockey. I played hockey my entire life growing up and I was fortunate enough to be able to play professionally as well. I played professionally for about six years, but I always knew growing up that, you know, whatever happens, I would end up in the jewelry industry. It's something I was always passionate about as a little kid. And then, finally, you know, you can't play hockey forever.
Speaker 3:So when it was time for me to step away from the game, I went full force into the, into the business. I was, you know, being taught everything from my father who planned on me taking over the business. And, you know, as soon as I jumped in, I started getting former teammates and opponents and just really anyone in the hockey, in the, in the, in the hockey industry, who you know knew about my career, my, my new career path, just calling me up hey, I'm getting married, I need an engagement ring. Or hey, it's Valentine's day is coming up, I need earrings, I need, I need, you know, a present, whatever. So, and with you know the vast, you know, with over 40 years of experience that my family had in the business, I was able to provide them with, you know, incredible, incredible pieces. And, you know, slowly, slowly work the mouse spread. And that's how, that's how it, that's how I, you know, jumped into the jewelry business and how it's been growing for me.
Speaker 2:That is great. That is great. So we've all had some type of challenge along our journey, whether personally or professionally, that we can kind of look back at now and say, you know what Not necessarily glad I went through it, but you know, maybe I'm in a better place now because of it. Is there something to happen along your?
Speaker 3:journey when I stopped playing hockey, obviously, I went back and joined the family business, as I just mentioned, and for me, I was, you know, being taught the ins and out of the industry so I could take over our business.
Speaker 3:And, you know, unexpectedly to myself and to my family, I ended up meeting my fiancee who is, you know, based out here in, uh, in Naples, florida, and I, you know, decided it was obviously very challenging and I knew it would be a tough, a tough experience, but I decided, you know what, I'm just gonna drop everything back home, uh, I'm going to stop the career path I'm on out here. And, you know, just jump in blindly and, uh, move to Naples, florida. And, you know, just jump in blindly and move to Naples, florida. And, you know, I had an idea of what I wanted to do and it was obviously going to be the jewelry business. But you know, as anything, you really don't know what any outcome is going to be. But you know, so it was very challenging to sort of just drop everything and move out here to Naples. But you know, I'm very glad I did that and, um, you know, everything has just been working out ever since. So it's, it was a challenge at first, but uh, I'm excited that I took uh took that lead.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it seems like things are working out great for you. So you mentioned you moved here for her, but where were you from originally?
Speaker 3:From Canada, from Montreal, canada for her. But where were you from originally?
Speaker 1:from canada, from montreal, canada, yeah a little colder up there, huh a little bit colder out there, yeah, but you know what?
Speaker 3:I can't complain. I'm really enjoying, uh, escaping the four or five feet of snow in the winter.
Speaker 2:Yep, I was born in wisconsin, so not quite canada, but close enough where you get it, you get it yeah, I don't want to be shoveling any more snow yeah, exactly, I'm.
Speaker 3:I'm done with I'm done with that I get it.
Speaker 2:I get it. So are there any maybe myths or misconceptions surrounding what you do?
Speaker 3:that maybe we could kind of clear for our listeners um, well, something more recently in the jewelry industry is really the introduction of the lab created diamond.
Speaker 3:Um, it's something that has really taken the industry by storm over the last, you know, five to 10 years and more recently now it's this is the first year it's really exceeded over 50% of the market.
Speaker 3:But a really common misconception is more sort of internally in the industry, where you have, you know, the, the dealers who deal in natural, and then you have the dealers who deal in lab and there's sort of a conflict there because this new player is coming in and really taking over a lot of their business. So a common misconception in the industry is that it's not a great product and you should stick to the natural diamond. But in my opinion, a jeweler who's really studied this for a long time and I really don't have any skin in the game one way or the other in my opinion did the exact same thing. They just figured out a way to recreate a diamond in a controlled environment as opposed to the natural way, which is heat and high pressure over millions of years. But now you're really on a molecular level, you're getting the same exact product for a much more affordable price and I think that's a big misconception in the industry.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Sometimes you can't hold back technology, and sometimes it works out for the better as well too. So you mentioned that was trending. Are there maybe other trends in the industry, whether it's design, wise or other applications?
Speaker 3:it's always changing. It's always changing and it's it's cyclical too. Things are coming, you know, things are no longer in style and then they're coming back in style. Right now, you know, white gold is is a big one. Everyone wants white gold engagement rings, white white gold tennis bracelets. But 10 years ago it was all yellow gold, yellow gold, and then yellow gold is going to come back, and so really in the industry it's cyclical. It comes and it goes, and vintage is in, but it wasn't in 10 years ago. Now everyone wants the vintage pieces. So it really comes and it goes. But at the end of the day, a nice, well-made piece of jewelry is what the clients really want, whatever the trends are at the time.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah, much like fashion everything is changing, but everything comes back around every once in a while. Exactly so you mentioned you played hockey. I know running a business can be a little demanding. You probably don't have a lot of free time, but what do you enjoy doing outside of work when you do get a moment of free time?
Speaker 3:Well, I got a little dog, a little husky Pomeranian mix, so she's like a tiny little husky and my fiance and I we love taking her out, playing with her, taking her for walks. Aside from that, I love to just hang out with friends and uh and golf. I love golfing as well, so obviously florida's the the right place for that?
Speaker 2:absolutely still get to play hockey, or no?
Speaker 3:uh, I, right now I've been really busy, yeah, but when I brought my equipment down and I've been trying to play at uh in at the uh everglades, some men's league, yep, but right now I've been really busy with everything. But I do like to try and get out as much as I possibly can.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Business first, though. Absolutely so. Is there one thing you wish our listeners knew about Sakeris Jewelers that maybe they don't know?
Speaker 3:Really, it's just the effort and the quality of our pieces. I mean, we are not trying to mass produce and sell as many pieces as we possibly can. Every order that comes in we really take our time with it and we try to make it, you know, as perfect as we possibly can. We put a lot of effort and quality into the pieces we make and I would really love for the workers to just know that you know the pieces we make and I would really love for the workers to just know that you know the pieces we make. We know that our clients are are buying something that they want to keep for a lifetime and they want to, you know, pass down to their kids or to a loved one one day, and we want to make sure that the piece, the pieces that we create for them, will really withstand the tests of time and their pieces that they'll have forever absolutely, and I love it.
Speaker 2:It's about quantity, or quality rather than quantity, and as well, too, is building those memories. So how would our listeners go about contacting you if they had any questions?
Speaker 3:concerns needed some jewelry created yeah, so we're all over social media. So we're on facebook as sakaris jewelers, we're on instagram and tiktok as sakaris dot jewelers and through our website, www. sakarisjewelers. com. They could go on there and they'll find links to our phone numbers, our emails, whichever way they prefer to to reach out, either through our dms or through the website, by email or by phone or uh. We're available to help them answer any questions.
Speaker 2:They can absolutely find you, so any last words for our listeners.
Speaker 3:Just check us out. You know you'll see us on Instagram and you'll see us, you know, slowly, slowly, showing a lot more of the products that we're working on and you know if you're into, if you're interested in anything, give us a call and hopefully we could help you with any pieces of jewelry that you wish to add to your collection.
Speaker 2:I love it. Peter, it's been a pleasure getting to know you. Thank you for being such a good neighbor and I hope to see you out in the community soon. Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast, estero. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpestero. com. That's gnpasterocom, or call 239-296-2621.