The summer visitor season is coming to a close in the Berkshires and it has been an exciting season, full of big announcements, a growing and healthy economy, and a successful 1Berkshire marketing campaign. Part of our ongoing success comes from our independent shop owners who work tirelessly in all seasons and serve as the face of the Berkshires to our visitors. Because of this, we are shining our spotlight this month on Heirlooms Jewelry, a family owned small business located in the crosshairs of the tourism industry in downtown Stockbridge.
Located at one of the epicenters for summer tourism in the Berkshires, Heirlooms Jewelry is housed in a converted carriage house, or Mews, that were once used by the Red Lion Inn. The independently owned boutique stores at the Mews “provide an interactive shopping experience that reaches people through an emotional connection that is hands-on and personal.”
The owner, Robin Fleet, is creative and colorful with an expressive personality and the store is reflective of that. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Robin was able to share her passion for the arts, culture, and travel through her volunteer service, working with artists in Thailand on hand-crafted arts and fabrics.
After traveling the world, Robin and her husband and business partner, Phil Coleman, moved to the Berkshires in the early 90s. The jewelry store, put simply, just happened. One afternoon, Robin and Phil walked into Heirlooms looking for a ring, learned the place was for sale and bought the store shortly thereafter. It wasn’t a hard decision.
“Stockbridge is a charming attractive town. Everyone loves it.” – Phil Colman
The customer base at Heirlooms is a healthy mix of visitors and locals and a microcosm of the tourism and hospitality economic cluster in the Berkshires. “People are finding us from all over the world,” says Phil. “We see people from California, Canada, Israel, and Europe. More interesting, is the increase we are seeing in visitors from eastern Massachusetts over the last couple years.”
Over the last six years, 1Berkshire has employed a strategic targeted marketing campaign in the Boston metropolitan area: “We’re seeing people who traditionally vacationed in the Cape and North Shore come to the Berkshires. It doesn’t hurt that MASS MoCA, the Clark, Jacob’s Pillow and Tanglewood are growing and expanding. We’re also pretty close to Kripalu and the Norman Rockwell Museum.” stated Phil.
This year, Heirlooms Jewelry made a huge community investment and purchased Liberty Workshop in West Stockbridge, a local supplier of historic and architectural themed jewelry. Heirlooms Jewelry was able to secure Liberty’s inventory as the exclusive proprietor of silver-smithed work from Berkshire County, preserving the legacy of another family-owned small business in the Berkshires.
Community collaboration is also on the rise in Stockbridge and the Berkshires in general. Cooperative grassroots initiatives like Shop Local. Shop Stockbridge, a group that Heirlooms Jewelry is part of, and community events like the upcoming Berkshire Young Professionals Social bring people from all walks to learn about what the community has to offer and get involved: “The work 1Berkshire and the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce are doing is having an impact, bringing people here, and increasing revenue summer after summer,” says Phil, “we are very proud to support 1Berkshire and the work the organization provides on behalf of businesses across the region.”
Follow Robin Fleet and Phil Coleman and Heirlooms Jewelry on Facebook!