“My goal in life is to one day have my work in a league with such greats as Fabergé, Cartier, and Tiffany,” said Holly Mayer, who recently opened her own jewelry store – Holly Mayer Designs – on East Commerce Street in downtown Smyrna.
Mayer graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of fine arts degree in metals. For the past 12 years, she worked in the commercial jewelry business, creating all types of jewelry and doing repairs.
Now that her children are older, she has more time to devote to her craft, and the availability of an affordable store space helped create this opportunity.
“It made it easier to take that leap,” she said with a smile. “I figured, ‘If not now, when?’”
Mayer has created a variety of interesting designs in a wide range of prices. She offers jewelry repairs and ring resizing.
She also creates pieces customized to her customers’ requests.
“Jewelry is important as a symbol,” she said, and she’s able to offer affordable, personalized pieces.
“Everyone who comes in to buy something for someone else is trying to find a piece that symbolizes something about that person – a hobby, a profession, something they like,” said Mayer. “People think you have to spend a fortune to get a custom piece, something personalized and unique, but you don’t.”
That’s because she’s doing the work herself.
“I can offer better prices,” she said. “Customers can get a lower price than retail because I don’t have a middle man.”
Mayer enjoys creating exactly what someone is looking for.
“The customer is involved in this process along with me,” she said. “They can tell me what they want or give me a drawing, or we can work on a design together.”
Her store also offers the Chamilia line, “the modern version of the charm bracelet,” said Mayer. “It’s very easy to start, and you can add a piece for a birthday or holiday gift.”
Chamilia offers charms that reflect a person’s hobbies or career, such as a teacher’s apple, music notes, or ballet slippers.
Mayer, who is married and has three children, said she understands how busy people can be with work and school schedules, so she tries to make shopping as convenient as possible.
“Customers can check my website or email me to see what pieces I offer, the prices, or to ask if I have something in stock or if I can order something for them,” said Mayer. “I can email back when their item is ready. Then they can just drop by the store and pick it up without a long wait.”
