Local shop celebrates diamond anniversary
Plaza Jewellers recently celebrated its 60th birthday.
The store has been seen many changes in the community in the years of its existence and today its doors remain open to welcome customers.
Plaza Jewellers, in Rietfontein Road, Primrose celebrated its 60th birthday on December 24, last year.
Owned by Anthonie (65) and Aniska (72) Smith, the shop has a wealth of history.
“The shop was opened by my parents Andries and Elizabeth (Bettie) when I was in Grade One,” Anthonie said.
“For as long as I can remember the shop has been part of my life.”
Anthonie grew up in Primrose and attended Daeraad Pre-Primary, Laerskool Die President and then matriculated at Hoërskool Jan de Klerk.
After school he went into the air force and once finished with military service he started working at a Peugeot factory in Alberton and then later at a steel company.
“I then decided to go into the jewellery business and started my own in Secunda.
“However, things did not work out in my personal relationship and I decided to move to Pretoria where I went into the property business,” Anthonie said.
This is where he met Aniska (who works in the credit field) and love bloomed.
Shortly thereafter they returned to Primrose to help Anthonie’s parents in the shop and in 2004 the couple bought the business.
The shop specialises in everything to do with retail jewellery; they manufacture jewellery, repair antique clocks and watches and do engraving.
The shop has also been used by SABC3 in three movies over the years.
They have customers from all over the country and Anthonie said each day is a challenge which keeps them going.
“Each customer has their own ideas and this makes the work interesting,” he said.
Aniska told the GCN that often they will get clients who are not well off coming into the store looking to buy a wedding band.
“It’s funny how this always happens near the shop’s birthday,” she said.
“Anthonie will then make something for the couple for a fraction of the cost and the family will always come and thank us after the wedding.”
The couple said the secret to a successful business is excellent service.
“We focus on the customer and rely on word-of-mouth to get our name out there,” Aniska said.
“It is amazing that after all these years the business is still in the Smith family and we are looking forward to serving our customers in the years ahead,” Anthonie said.
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