Good Neighbor Podcast: TN-WNC-SWVA

EP#274: Gems & Generations: The Story Behind Goodman Jewelers of Bristol

• Skip Mauney & Blake Collins • Episode 274

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What makes Blake Collins with Goodman Jewelers a good neighbor?

Nestled in the heart of downtown Bristol sits a jewel of a different kind—a family business that sparkles with tradition, craftsmanship, and generational wisdom. Meet Blake Collins, the third-generation bench jeweler behind Goodman Jewelers, who carries forward a legacy that began in 1971 at the same State Street location where it stands today.

Blake's journey into the world of fine jewelry wasn't just a career choice—it was his birthright. From childhood days spent cleaning display cases with Windex to learning the intricate art of watch repair, his progression from "the jeweler's kid" to master craftsman unfolded naturally. Today, he specializes in creating, repairing, and customizing fine jewelry with a level of personal attention that chain stores simply cannot match.

During our conversation, Blake dispels common misconceptions about independent jewelry stores, particularly the assumption that they're always more expensive than big-box retailers. The truth, he reveals, is quite the opposite—local jewelers often forge deeper relationships with suppliers and customers alike, resulting in higher quality pieces at competitive prices. When you purchase from Goodman Jewelers, you're not just buying an accessory; you're investing in a relationship built on trust and expertise honed across generations.

Beyond the showcases filled with precious metals and gemstones, Blake's life resonates with rich Appalachian traditions. A musician at heart, he grew up picking bluegrass and attending fiddlers' conventions with his family band—a passion now being passed to his 10-year-old daughter. When faced with the sudden loss of his father in 2015, Blake found that stepping up to preserve the family business became an unexpected anchor during his grief, demonstrating the profound connection between personal resilience and professional purpose.

What truly distinguishes Goodman Jewelers is summed up in Blake's own words: "We value and honor your trust." Each piece that passes through his hands represents not just material worth, but the milestones, memories, and emotions of his customers' lives. Visit Blake at 532 State Street in Bristol, call 423-764-1332, or email goodmanjewelers532@gmail.com to experience the difference that five decades of dedication to craft and community can make.

To learn more about Goodman Jewelers go to:

https://www.facebook.com/BristolGoodmanJewelers/

Goodman Jewelers

(423) 764-1332



Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Monty.

Speaker 2:

Well, hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast of the Tri-Cities. So we're really excited to have a very special guest with us here in the studio and we're excited to learn all about him and his business. So I'm sure you will be as well, because today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Mr Blake Collins, who is the owner-operator of Goodman Jewelers.

Speaker 3:

Blake, welcome to the show. Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 2:

Glad to have you and, like I said, excited to learn all about you and Goodman. So if you don't mind, why don't you kick us off by telling us what you do?

Speaker 3:

Yes, sir. Well, I'm a third generation bench jeweler. We have a got a family owned and operated jewelry store in downtown Bristol on State Street 532 State Street, Just a couple of doors down from the Paramount. Everybody knows where the Paramount's at, oh yeah, and I specialize in fine jewelry sales, repairs and customization.

Speaker 2:

Sales, repairs and customization. Awesome Third generation man that's nothing to sneeze at. Yeah it's pretty, pretty cool how many, how many years have you been a vendor?

Speaker 3:

um the store opened there at 532 in 1971 wow yeah, yep, so, uh, you know 50, 54 years or so, and it was actually. There was another jeweler in that same location prior to that. So it's, it's been a jewelry store for golly probably 75 years.

Speaker 2:

Wow, well, dumb question your third generation. I was going to ask, how did you get into this business? But it sounds like you kind of were born into it.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, pretty pretty much. My dad took over ownership of the store, I think around 95.

Speaker 3:

So I would have been eight or nine years old and so yeah, I spent a lot of time just just growing up being a kid down there walking across the street to the comic book store, and then that turned into cleaning the counters with with Windex, being a kid down there walking across the street to the comic book store, and then that turned into cleaning the counters with Windex, which turned into doing a watch battery here and there, and you know just the natural progression of being the jeweler's kid.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely, you grew up in it, yep Well, what are some myths or misconceptions in the jewelry business? That's a good question. I would say probably the most common misconception would be that independent jewelry stores versus big box stores. You know that the price of the independent stores is always higher. I feel like people probably assume that the large chain stores, due to their size and buying power, they can offer better deals or discounts, but actually, in reality, the independent stores often provide a more personalized experience, higher quality custom designs that bigger stores can't match and definitely a closer relationship with with the suppliers and the customers. So if you're if you're looking for a more personal experience, I would say definitely go visit your local jeweler.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. I'm a big fan of my local, not a big fan of Chang's myself.

Speaker 3:

Yes, sir, we're all in this together, you know.

Speaker 2:

That's right. That's exactly right. Well, outside of work, Blake, what do you like to do for fun?

Speaker 3:

Well, I'd say my main hobby would probably be music. I love to play music. I grew up in a musical household. My dad was a great musician. So you know grew up picking bluegrass and going to fiddlers' conventions and all that sort of thing. We had a family band and always had a lot of fun doing that. So I still try to keep that fire burning. And aside from the music, you know, I've got a lovely wife and two kids and we like to go camping. And my daughter Laurel she just turned 10. And she's playing the fiddle. She's showing promise in the musical area. My son Roan, who's about to turn six. He's decided he's a fisherman. Now he and I we're getting back into fishing, which is pretty awesome. What kind of fishing.

Speaker 2:

Any kind.

Speaker 3:

Well, right now I think we've caught a couple bluegills so far, so we're still a little wet behind the ears, but we're getting there, we're working our way up. How old is your son? He'll be six next month.

Speaker 2:

Oh wow, oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you're in blue girl country, so let's switch gears for a second. Blake, can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've overcome and how it's made you stronger in the end when you came out the other side?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, definitely, I mean for sure that there's, you know there's. We've all had many, but, uh, I think the biggest one for me was definitely the sudden passing of my, my father, uh, which happened back in 2015. Um, and it was just, you know, the our family, we were just completely blindsided by it and, you know, I feel like it. That situation definitely had the potential to to put us all into a pretty serious tailspin, um, but I knew that, um, I needed to step up and, and, you know, handle, at least, you know, help steer the ship in terms of the business, and that kept me. You know, in hindsight, having that response and feeling that responsibility and sort of stepping into that in that moment kept me.

Speaker 3:

So I was so preoccupied with that that, you know, it kind of saved me. I feel like, from falling into, you know, it kind of saved me. I feel like from falling into, you know, a deeper despair. I mean, we certainly I definitely grieved and but I was, I was so focused on what needed to happen with the business to keep it afloat and just keep things, you know, sort things out, that I didn't have a whole lot of time to think about myself, you know. So that was sort of a saving grace during that time, and I'm sure your dad's looking down very proud about what you've done too, I'm sure.

Speaker 2:

Thank you Absolutely, Absolutely Well, if, Blake, if you could think of one thing that you would like our listeners to remember about Goodman Jewelers, what would that be?

Speaker 3:

I would say, probably you know just how much we value. I would say probably you know just how much we value and honor your trust, because it's very much. You know, it's of times have sentimental value that far exceed the monetary value, and we don't we don't take that lightly whatsoever. We, you know it's an honor to be able to do that. So that's probably, that'd probably be the one thing.

Speaker 2:

The one thing to it. Good thing to remember, trust is very important and you know it makes a big. It makes a big difference when you know you. I'm sure you have customers that come in, that your dad helped, probably, and that have been coming to do business with you for years and that provides word of mouth advertising, which is probably the best advertising you get is absolutely from good experience, and and you don't get that.

Speaker 2:

You don't get that at a chain store where the employees have been there three months and in high school. You know this is true, yep, yep. Well, for those of us who are interested, have a need, you know, have something that needs to be repaired or cleaned, or they're thinking about getting hitched and need something serious going on. How can we learn more about what you do?

Speaker 3:

Well, just come by and see us. We're at 532 State Street. Give us a call 423-764-1332. And email is goodmanjewelers532 at gmailcom 764-1332. And emails GoodmanJewelers532 at gmailcom. We're still pretty old school. We don't have a website, don't do any business online, so we like to do it face-to-face and we'd be happy to help you. We've got jewelry for any and all occasions. We do custom in-house, in-house repairs, so we're happy to help any way we can.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely Well old-fashioned is good in my book and there's a lot of people that appreciate that and the service of face-to-face so awesome yes sir. Blake, I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today and for sharing with our listeners all about Goodman Jewelry and moving forward. We wish you and your family, and your jewelry store and your clients all the best.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much, skip. It's an honor to be here and, uh, really appreciate you having me thanks so much.

Speaker 2:

Well, like I said, it was an honor for us and maybe we can have you back sometime. You can bring, bring your axe with you and play some bluegrass for us. Hey, I'd love that. Let's do it all right, man? All right, sounds great. You have a great rest of the day you too.

Speaker 1:

Thanks, man thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnptry-citiescom. That's gnptry-citiescom, or call 423-7197-3.