Gemologist and Director of Jarwa House, Avi Roy saw his father successfully carry forward the business created by his forefathers. He decided to take it to the next level by combining business knowledge with a deeper understanding of gemstones.
Upon completing his education in Retail Management, from Canada’s Seneca College, acquired a Diploma in Gemology from the renowned Canadian Gemological Association, which earned him the prestigious fellowship from the same institution. He is now a certified appraiser of diamonds and other jewels and his expertise in this fied certainly adds value to the exclusive line of jewellery offered by Jarwa House.
Recently, ICE Today sat in a conversation with Avi Roy, the only gemologist in Bangladesh, where we asked how his unique expertise was helping him create value for customers.
“A background in gemology enables me and our staff understand the jewellery we use, and helps us not only in dealing with the manufacturers, but also allow us to help customers make more informed choices while purchasing jewellery. Hence we can take separate care of different gemstones, which also offers Jarwa House a unique advantage over the rest in terms of the quality of gems and diamonds in the jewellery we sell,” he says.
Since the advent of internet has brought forth an assortment of the latest trends, he points out that the taste in jewellery among Bangladeshis has evolved immensely
While this knowledge has offered him differentiate Jarwa House from the rest, it isn’t the only factor that determines success in the business of jewellery.
Avi says, “Being honest with the business, customers and most importantly, with yourself is the first rule of success. The second is keeping in touch with current trends; this not only enables you to predict new trends but also create them. Which is why it is essential to travel and visit exhibitions to comprehend the tastes of consumers. It is also key to educate customers on what would be best for them so that they can make informed decisions; but one must also listen to what they want first to understand their preferences.”
Since the advent of internet has brought forth an assortment of the latest trends, he points out that the taste in jewellery among Bangladeshis has evolved immensely. For instance, modern Bangladeshi women prefer lighter diamond- or other gem-laden gold jewellery, unlike our previous generations, who preferred heavy gold jewellery.
“Gold is always the base, but now, people want different designs, accommodating various combinations of diamonds and other gems. Except for grand occasions like weddings, lighter jewellery is the preferred choice. Moreover it’s the occasions that demand a change in jewellery designs, because people want to look unique. That is why, the trend of customer choice is changing at a pace faster than ever before,” observes Avi.
For generations, Jarwa House has maintained its position as one of the most trustworthy jewellers in the country. How does a business successfully maintain this position on such a consistent manner? Avi Roy says, “An uncompromising stance for quality products and service is the key. There are families who have been shopping solely from us for generations. This comes through consistent quality services that establish a bond of trust between the customers and us. Not only do we cater to them directly, but we also provide them customised designs according to their preferences. People come to us not only because of the quality products we sell, but for the overall value we offer.”
Since joining, one of the major strategic moves that Avi has made is by expanding the business through opening an outlet in Chittagong’s Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View Hotel, as well as in the capital in Dhanmondi. “These two places have a lot of our customers who cannot always come to our flagship outlet in Gulshan 2. Since they can’t come to us, we’ve decided to go to them,” says a humble Avi.
While Avi takes enthusiasm in his work, he’s well aware of the fact that there are very few gemologists in the country. Hence he encourages young men and women to study the art, because there is a demand for experts in the field in the jewellery industry. “Although there are no institutional education or training to study this subject in the country, there are however neighboring countries like India, and other countries such as Singapore, and Thailand that have schools providing education in this field,” explains Avi.
Further down the line Avi Roy dreams of adding substantial value to the jewellery industry in Bangladesh using his business and technical expertise. He believes that Bangladesh has the potential to become one of the most enriched jewellery making nations in
the world, and wants to continue working to help our country achieve that potential.