Co-owner Amanda Mendes was Amplify POC Cape Cod’s very first sponsor, providing crucial seed capital when we were just getting started; she also now sits on our board. Amanda and her husband Todd spoke with Amplify’s Rachael Devaney.

Pressure busts pipes — it also creates diamonds. With high economic and financial tension collapsing jewelry stores across Cape Cod, Todd and Amanda Mendes, owners of Adrene Jewelers, have managed to embrace those challenges — turning their store into a shining diamond in the rough.

A family business, Adrene Jewelers was established by Amanda’s father Steve Albright in 2006. After 12 years in the business, Albright felt that Todd and Amanda had the potential to run the GIA-accredited shop on their own.

Seizing the opportunity, the duo immersed themselves in the world of jewelry and gemstones, and Todd — who has an extensive background in sales — became a certified gemologist and studied under Albright for months, learning the complexities of jewelry types, brands and styles as well as the history of how jewelry connects to customers.

As the husband-and-wife team began to make the store their own, Todd (who is Cape Verdean and a Cape Cod native) said he began to realize it was the connections with community that he enjoyed the most.

“Knowing what styles and brands my customers are looking for is just part of what we do,” Todd said. “The special part is bonding with my clients and fostering the feelings of joy, inspiration, and comfort that special pieces can offer.”

For Amanda, who is a tireless advocate for racial and social justice, Adrene Jewelers has become a way for her family to help customers’ visions come to fruition.

“We specialize in custom work and Todd really found his creative and artistic side with building jewelry,” Amanda said. “He will come up with designs and work with customers to give them something they truly love and that’s often the best thing about this business.”

Amplify: What does your company have to offer?

Amanda: We have such a variety of brands and styles including Cape Cod jewelry, Cape Cod bracelets, Kovel Collection Jewelry, nautical jewelry and largest selection of LeStage Convertible Jewelry on the Cape. We also specialize in custom pieces, repairs, appraisals, estate jewelry, and we have watches, diamonds and gemstones - anything precious metals like silver, platinum, gold, and precious gemstones. We have one of the largest pearl selections on the Cape as well - including some really unique pieces. We also buy gold, silver and platinum, and have great deals.

Amplify: What are your best-selling products?

Todd: The convertible line is a big chunk of business - nautical Nantucket baskets, shells, sand dollars, star fish - customers really want that Cape Cod jewelry and we have it at an amazing price. It really is competitive on Cape Cod when it comes to the nautical jewelry.

Amplify: How have you made this business your own?

Amanda: Growing up, my dad worked in a bunch of government jobs and when he retired and moved to the Cape, he got a job with friends, who owned a jewelry store - so he learned the business through them. He became a certified gemologist and then decided he wanted to own his own business so that’s what he did. When he was ready to pass it on, he hired Todd to start learning the business, and we eventually bought the business in 2018 through a promissory note - and then it was our turn to really put our own spin on things.

Todd: When I interviewed for the job, he (Steve Albright) said he head plans to retire within three to five years and he really wanted to keep the business in the family. I thought about making the career change from the sales industry I was in and decided to go for it and became an accredited GIA. I was a former manager of Olympia Sports and Footlocker - so I had 25 years of sales and retail experience, but I was nervous because I was so used to what I was doing. But once I started learning things, it was easier to transition from an established big business corporation to a small family business. Steve also had a very unique eye, and I learned a lot from him. He definitely knew what sells and I tried to take that and begin to cultivate my own eye and learn to understand what people are looking for. Steve did a good job building Adrene’s foundation and then I was able to expand to a younger customer base and was excited about focusing on my community and my customers.

Amplify: What is one of your favorite things about the jewelry business?

Todd: The unique pieces. Part of that is knowing that every piece of jewelry out there is different. Let’s say you have two amethyst stones in front of you. They may be same color, but they are both different - they have their own unique internal structure, so no two gems are alike. That comes into play when you are making sketches for custom pieces. For example, I had this customer Leora, and she inherited a black star sapphire ring from her mother and the sapphire was huge and it was a gorgeous stone. The way the light hit it, it looked like a tiger eye. She knew she wasn’t going to wear this giant ring, so I suggested that we make it into a bracelet. We ended up working together and made a 14k gold cuff bracelet - using the gold from ring - and my bench jewelers did all the work, and it came out beautiful. She wears it every day and it was so special for her because we were able to repurpose everything. It’s something she can wear for rest of her life.

Amanda: Todd really found his creative side with building jewelry, so we can really take the time to specialize in custom work. Jewelry has changed over the years - so he has so much to work with. We also have estate jewelry from as early as the 1900s and really vintage looking pieces for engagement rings.

Amplify: Todd, as a person of color, have you faced challenges as a business owner?

Todd: During the election process, people started coming into the store, and were being bold about what they would say. I’m reserved and quiet and choose not to respond because I’ve learned to let things like that roll off my back. It’s also a hard line when you own a business. You need to be a professional, and in all honestly, I can’t lose business. In the past five years, there have been seven jewelry stores that have closed. Monahan Fine Jewelers in Harwich was in business for 200 years, and they were forced to shut their doors pre-covid. I try to ignore when people are racially charged or are making subtle racist remarks. I would rather do what I need to do for my business.

Amplify: Has Covid-19 affected your business?

Amanda: In store traffic yes - especially in the beginning. If we didn’t have our online stores, we would have been done. We ended up giving our website a makeover and it really has helped a lot and online sales increased. We also had money in savings and that kept us afloat, plus I work for the state, so we had my income. But If it wasn’t for PPP and EDIL loans, it would have been a serious possibility that we would have lost the business.

Amplify: Where do you see Adrene Jewelers going in the next five years?

Amanda: We would like to expand the store into a second location. And while Todd manages everything, I will also be getting more involved by creating blog pieces for the website - which will also talk about different causes we are supporting including Amplify. It will be a blog about what’s happening in the community - and a space where we can make announcements. We are also creating room inside the store to feature artwork jewelry - highlighting local artisans and crafters. We want them to be able to sell their items in the store for a month - for free no fee - and we will be posting their pieces on the website as well.

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On the Web: https://www.adrenejewelers.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdreneJeweler
On Instagram: @AdreneJewelers