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From Bending Forks To Designing Precious Jewels: Brad Weber’s Journey As a Goldsmith | July 30, 2014 (0 comments)
Carmel, CA—Growing up, Brad Weber of Weber Goldsmith Gallery wasn't planning on being an award winning jewelry designer. Growing up in a mechanical family, he was always the kid bending forks and spoons and was named “outstanding crafts student” three years in a row in high school. He put himself through college to get his teaching credentials in industry and technology, to be able to teach shop classes. Fate intervened when he took a job as a jeweler during college to pay his way. A jeweler with almost no experience.
"Happily, by the time they found out how little I knew, they already liked me and could see I had mechanical talent," said Weber.
Then, out of the blue, Weber was offered a job in Hawaii. After a few years, he opened his own store in Wailea, Maui. "It was a great store, successful," said Weber, who opened the store at the same time as a new local resort and ran it for the next decade. He chose to relocate when his circumstances changed.
"It was the perfect storm for me," said Weber. "I had kids becoming school-aged at that time and we wanted better schools for them; the shopping center I was in was sold and would be torn down. So it was decision time: do we stay here or do we take another opportunity?"
As it happened, another opportunity found him. "I was invited to take space at the world famous Lodge at Pebble Beach," said Weber. "It was kinda something you don't turn down. I thought it was a good lateral move; it became one of those times where someone grabs you by the scruff of the collar and says 'This is what you'll be doing.'" I tried both locations (Pebble Beach and Hawaii) for a while but the commute was tough. It negated my intent to give my kids and my family the best family opportunity. So I decided to let Hawaii go."
Weber spent the next eight years at Pebble Beach, then he was offered the location where Weber Goldsmith Gallery is now: the Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel, CA. "It's a great part of Carmel," says Weber. "Not as touristy, more a part of the community. It's taken a little longer to build the business but it's proving to be a nice long-term type of thing."
Exterior of Weber Goldsmith Gallery in Carmel, CA.
Weber is renowned for his custom designs. And that part of his business has grown exponentially. "In Hawaii, custom work was about 25% of my business; here it's closer to 60-70%," explains Weber. Custom work has become his niche in an über-competitive marketplace. The Carmel area boasts almost 50 jewelers in a five-mile radius.
"I'm known for unique designs. In this area, that's my forte," says Weber. He's won a good number of AGTA Spectrum Awards and has one of his designs, Neptune's Birth, on display at the GIA Museum Exhibit in New York.
So, is the entire inventory custom work? "Not at all," says Weber, who says it's actually easier for him to sell other people's works. "I have too much inventory, much of it is mine. I have a great representation of others’ works but no watches. I have a neighbor who has watches and does more traditional jewelry. We complement each other's inventory when needed. I'm more contemporary. In the cases, we try to have a little more diversification to show people that we can do whatever they need."
Weber's additional inventory includes Joshua J., American Jewelry Designs, Lika Behar, Spark, Hidalgo, Pascal LeCroix, Steven Battelle, and William Henry.
Along with serving the local community, Weber also has some famous names on his client list, including the likes of Sharon Stone, Elton John, former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kelsey Grammer, and baseball great Ryne Sandburg.
The marketing/advertising reach at Weber Goldsmith Gallery is continually changing. "We jump in and out of various media campaigns," says Weber. "The goal is to keep our name out there. We regularly do Carmel magazine, and email blasts, and we've done radio for a few years. We try to keep our ads educational and elegant. We also have a new website."
Weber Goldsmith Gallery is about 1,200 square feet and is positioned as an entry corner to a boutique shopping village. The space has lots of windows and 30-foot ceilings offering visitors an open, airy feeling when they come in.
Interior Shot of Weber Goldsmith Gallery. Photo from the Instore 2010 Cool Store Winners.
Weber credits much of his current success to his dedicated staff. His longtime store manager, Christine Carrington-Winters, first began working for him in Pebble Beach and made the move to Carmel. She's now managed the store for eleven years. Further credit goes to his CAD/CAM savvy goldsmith Robert Officer. And the store's marketing assistant is Honor Weber, Weber's daughter. Clearly they are a strong team.
Weber with store manager Christine Carrington-Winters.
Weber's passion for jewelry has found him a following as well as a magic touch at custom work and retail. Not bad for a guy who started out bending forks and spoons at the table.