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Business & Tech

P. Church Jewelers Expanding Its Building, Offerings

The location is adding a second floor and expanding product lines.

The official sign may be missing from the front of the building, and a sign in the window may read “closed,” but that doesn’t mean P. Church Jewelers is going anywhere. Exactly the opposite is true - the location is expanding.

Just a few days ago, the building was covered by a large blue tarp. Now, rafters are rising for a second story, which will be completed by three dormer windows facing the street.

Business owner Patricia Church said that she is “thrilled” at the progress of the construction, especially considering how much work went into planning.

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“Looking at the architectural renderings, changing them three times around, changing how the second level will work,” she said were just a few of the tasks that had to be done before construction could start.

She describes the current construction process as going “extremely efficiently.”

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“The estimated shutdown of two weeks is in line, on target,” she said.

Church plans to have the store open and stocked by next week. Renovations will be on-going for a month or two after that, but it won’t impede the shopping experience.

“Not the pounding, like what is going on now,” she said.

As for the expansion, the location is moving all of its employee-related space to the second floor: kitchenette, computer room, offices, and storage. The move will free up the entire first floor for the display of jewelry.

“More than anything it’s all about storage,” she said of the upper story. Also adding to the shopping experience, Church is building new  showcases, and replacing the ceilings and floors.

Church said the expansion hopes to “broaden and diversify” what the store carries and have something to offer everyone, regardless of budget.

“We are expanding our jewelry lines to accommodate anything from a $20 range, to a $20,000 range,” she said. “We want to help people with the Sweet Sixteen diamond pendant, and we want to help people with the...50-year wedding anniversary.”

P. Church Jewelers has been in business for 28 years and has resided at the same location, 54 Chelmsford St., for more than 25 years.

Church attributes her initial love of the jewelry business to her job working for Finley Departments during college.

“I found that I really loved the retail jewelry trade,” she said. “And that’s what prompted me to stay and learn the industry.”

Church changed her major to marketing and accounting, and the rest was history. She worked in the jewelry business for about 10 years before exploring the option to open up her own jewelry shop.

“And here I am,” she said.

Along with Church’s extensive knowledge of retail jewelry, many of her employees have been in the business for 10 to 15 years.

“So we have a lot of experience, knowledge...and that’s experience in redesign, in gem quality, experience in diamond engagement rings,” said Church. “You’ll love my staff, I have the best staff in the world. They know their stuff and they’re right there to help you out.”

Church doesn’t have a date scheduled for a re-grand opening yet. That is something she says she will have to feel out in terms of how long the entire renovation takes. In her estimation, however, the grand re-opening will probably take place in September to October.

Church hopes that an expanded first-level showroom will not only increase her business, but will offer customers many more jewelry options. In the future, she also might be expanding PBAY services, an auction site for jewelry, as well as her estate jewelry lines.

“The added space is making us a stronger, better jewelry store,” she said. “It can only make us better for the community. It’s better for the community, it’s better for the customers, and it’s better for us.”

For Patricia Church and P. Church Jewelers, simple steps ensure the customer is satisfied and continues to patron her store.

“Our mission statement in the jewelry industry is: keep the prices right, keep the selection broad, and...be there to service people. Those three things haven’t changed since the inception of my business,” she said.

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