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Markman’s Diamonds Featured In Local News January 04, 2021 (0 comments)
Knoxville, TN—One of the hardest things about being an independent family-owned jeweler is convincing the next generation of your family to also want to be independent jewelers. Image: Jeff and Steve Markman
At Markman’s Diamonds, a two-store operation in Knoxville and Chattannooga, TN, jeweler Steve Markman thankfully was able to put that worry aside when his son, Jeff, joined the business a little over three years ago. The jeweler recently was featured in a writeup in Knox News, in its Shopper News section.
The 45-year-old store was founded by Harold and Ida Markman in 1976. Steve, one of their two sons, took over the business and inherited their passion for diamonds. Prior to the pandemic, Steve regularly traveled to Belgium to buy stones—and is meticulously picky about them—while Jeff focuses on the business management side of the operation, says the article.
Harold and Ida Markman at their store opening in 1976.
“Seventeen years later, I decided to come home,” said Jeff of his career that started after he headed off to the University of North Carolina to college and was also highlighted by a stint at Duke getting an MBA. “Dad honestly said he needed help.
“I have a lot of experience in a variety of businesses, and I have enjoyed different educational experiences,” he said. “But there is nowhere I get to apply everything I learned to make impactful business decisions than in this building where the family name is above the door.”
Like many other jewelers, Markman’s was pleasantly surprised that fine jewelry has been as much in demand as it is since the pandemic began.
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“We are experiencing what feels very much like a typical holiday season,” Jeff Markman told the paper.
Markman’s Knoxville location. Photo: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel