STEVEN PAIGE
SHANNON MARY
Co-owners
Clayton Jewelers
Located across the street from The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, Clayton Jewelers has established its roots with a loyal clientele, made up of the crème de la crème of St. Louis.
Co-owner Steven Paige has been making custom jewelry in St. Louis for 30 years. His business partner, Shannon Mary, is a jewelry designer with a passion for fine quality. The two operate the store, offering fine-quality jewelry that is manufactured in-house. Whether clients are interested in designing their own ring or having jewelry repaired, Paige and Mary themselves work on the project. Paige shared some of his experiences that led the way to his dream of opening Clayton Jewelers.
Career Path
My family has lived in St. Louis for several generations. My grandfather, father and one brother are all tool and die makers. We were always building things, and I always had an interest in art. My first job during high school was with Zales Jewelers. I fell in love with the industry because of the hands-on experience that combines artistic design and technical expertise. After graduating from college with a degree in jewelry arts, I was hired by a custom jeweler in Plaza Frontenac, where I refined my skills and learned how to run a business. I owned and developed Clarkson Jewelers in Ellisville, Missouri, for 30 years. I sold my interest in 2013, and began planning Clayton Jewelers with my business partner, Shannon Mary.
Biggest Mentor
My dad was my biggest mentor because of his passion to build and his dedication to precision. Growing up, I was by his side during many projects and observed how meticulous he was. The job was never done just to be adequate, but performed with such intensity to ensure the result would hold up for generations. It had to be absolutely perfect. When I am at the bench today, I use that same mindset to provide the highest quality work.
Future Goals
When Shannon and I first opened this jewelry store, we surprised many of our business associates. Everyone knows that brick-and-mortar stores have been challenged, and many jewelry stores were closing. Still, we were confident in our abilities and driven by passion for what we do. Fortunately, we have been blessed with success. As our five-year anniversary of Clayton Jewelers approaches, our business is growing rapidly, and it’s been a goal of ours to expand our staff. We have had such success with only the two of us running this store, I can’t imagine how much we would thrive if we had a larger team.
Favorite Pastime
I love to win clients over! As a business owner, I’ve poured everything I have into making the shop the best it can be. I’ve spent my entire career designing and hand-making jewelry, so it means the world to me when a customer tells me they shopped at 12 other stores before ultimately choosing Clayton Jewelers. It feels like a huge victory to have the community appreciate and support our efforts to be the best custom fine jeweler.
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