Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Hasen
Hi Melanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started in the jewelry business when I was 18 years old. A friend of mine’s stepdad owned a jewelry store and needed someone to cover Friday evenings. I was a senior in high school and decided to help out. I was primarily there to greet customers and keep the glass counters clean. That was 18 years ago this month! I started in 2007, which I always say was my stroke of luck because the jewelry store was rather slow due to the recession we were in. So, I got to sit with Terry, the previous owner and watch him make, repair and create jewelry. He was a master jeweler, and I was so lucky to be able to learn so much from him. As I watched him, I was able to anticipate his next needs and started prepping and handing him the tools he would need. Then I started polishing when he was finished repairing/making. Soon we became a great team. I also have always been a numbers nerd, so I really dug in and helped him with the buying/selling and management of the business. I went to college a few years after high school and actually studied nursing. I got my bachelor’s degree in nursing and did both nursing and worked at the jewelry store. Which, Terry was an ex-paramedic, so we always joked that people were safer in the store than they realized since at the time I worked in the Emergency Department. Eventually I was fully managing the books and helping out in the shop. I even hired my sister, Melissa, to come help as business became busier. In 2019 I purchased Lake Saint Louis Jewelers from Terry, and we moved the store to a new lakefront location. It was a lot of work, but Terry, Melissa and I made it happen with so much support and love from my husband who never wavered in his excitement and enthusiasm. He knew I could do this long before I did. I put my nursing cap up and became a full-time jewelry store owner and jeweler. We are almost 6 years in the “new” location and going strong. Unfortunately, in January of 2021 Terry had a heart attack and passed away. He was the best mentor and friend I have had. We spent many years together in the business and I still keep his picture by my bench to help me through the days. It has been a wild 18 years, and the industry has changed so much.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say it has been a rather smooth road. We grew incredibly fast since moving locations. Growing pains are a real thing, but it has been good problems to have. I have a great team and lots of emotional support from my husband.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Lake Saint Louis Jewelers in a fine jewelry store. We specialize in custom design, fine jewelry and repair. We love to create beautiful jewelry that is custom to an individual. Don’t get me wrong I love buying jewelry for my cases and love when people come buy straight from the case. BUT I love creating something new from the stones/gold that a person already has. The repurpose side of the jewelry industry is endless. We have customers trust us with their heirloom items and get to be part of the story.
We can do full CAD custom as well. Bring us your inspiration pictures and we can make it come to life! Our custom process is really exciting as most of the time we can have digital imaging back to the customer within 24 hours!
One thing that we do at Lake Saint Louis Jewelers that I absolutely love and so do our customers is Wish Lists. We encourage women and men to come play and let us measure your ring size and necklace length you prefer. We can make endless notes to really capture your style and what you are looking for. Then we can send the items to your significant other or just keep it on file for when you or someone else is looking to get a gift. Everyone wins. Someone gets a gift they will actually wear, and someone didn’t spend money on jewelry that will just sit in a jewelry box.
We also offer 4Ever Fused Permanent Jewelry. All of our options are solid 14k gold. We have been doing this in house since August of 2021 and were one of the first in the area to offer it! We love permanent jewelry and so do the people who get it! It is kind of addicting.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people do not know I am a Registered Nurse (RN). When it comes up in conversation people are always surprised. It’s a fun part of the story. I will always love that part of my skill set.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lakestlouisjewelers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsljewelers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSLJewelers
