What’s it like running a jewelry store in the middle of a pandemic? According to Trisha Kennedy, owner of Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers, it’s a blessing.

But that’s not to say it’s been easy. “Like most business owners, I felt panic when we had to close in March. It was very scary, and there were a lot of unknowns. I thought, how are we going to do this? But also, OK, how can we still be involved with our loyal customer base?” Kennedy says finding ways to connect and still be relevant when the world is in crisis took priority.

“I took all my stuff home and really focused on interacting on social media. I wanted to really connect with people. We’re all wanting connection right now.” When Kennedy took to Facebook, she posted about jewelry of course, but also focused on just being human.

Through that connection, she quickly realized that despite everything, people still needed to celebrate. “People were still having birthdays and anniversaries. But ​at the time, reaching someone at a major retailer to set up special circumstances just wasn’t possible.” That’s when Kennedy says many people started turning to local mom and pops. “Many of our customers knew how to reach us, and some even have our personal phone numbers, so we were able to meet them at the store by appointment. We wear our masks, keep our distance, and sanitize everything, but we can still serve our customers.”

When Kennedy’s opened back up to the public in May, they made sure to follow the county’s guidelines and implemented strict safety measures, but they understand that everyone’s comfort level is different. “We’re finding ways to help people and meet them at their comfort level. We will do what we can to cater to them and make sure we’re taking care of their needs, whether it’s through meeting in person, email or even texting photos to them” explains Kennedy.

While Kennedy says her heart breaks for more restricted industries like restaurants, entertainment and hospitality, she can’t help but feel incredibly blessed. “With travel being cancelled, birthday, anniversary, big milestone trips are not able to happen. We’ve found that people are looking for alternatives for nice gift-giving and we’ve been fortunate that they’re turning to jewelry.”

Another positive thing Kennedy says she’s seen is a huge surge in engagements this year. “Couples are spending so much time together that they’re realizing they have their person. They discover that if they can spend this much time with someone, this must be who they’re meant to be with, so we are seeing lots of engagement rings right now.”

With the holiday season upon us, Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers is entering what is historically their busiest time of the year. “I want people to know that we’re here and ready to serve you in whatever way is best for you. We’re here for the long haul and we’re just so incredibly thankful for your support.” Visit Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers at https://www.kennedysjewelers.com/​ to shop or schedule an appointment.

Thank you to the City of Blue Springs, The Examiner, Community Services League Blue Springs, and Downtown Alive for supporting our local small businesses. Together, we are #BlueSpringsStrong!

Photos by Jaime Russell, Anthem Photography