This Pandosy Street staple is ticking towards its final days

• Jewellery business and retail has changed
• Internet has had impact on storefront sales
• Time to spend more time with family

For over 40 years, the Neciuk family has been in the jewellery business and more than 20 of those have been spent operating William & Son Jewellers on Pandosy Street.

Supervisor, goldsmith, and watch repairman, Stephen Neciuk joined his mom and dad several years ago to continue the business.

He started working at the family-run store as a teenager, first in Vernon and later, Kelowna.

But, that time has come to an end.

“We have chosen after many years to finally close down and retire, and spend time with grandkids and children,” Neciuk told Kelowna10.

A few factors are influencing the decision to shut down; COVID-19 has made it very difficult to travel and see family, and the building’s owner has decided to remodel.

“We just thought that this was probably the best time to make a change,” Neciuk said.

He added the internet has cut into the retail brick and mortar part of the business.

“More and more sales are happening online as you can imagine, with many products.”

According to Neciuk, however, the service aspect of the business has grown exponentially.

“There’s always room for another jewellery store, especially if it caters to service, [and] repairs, there’s always a need for lots of service and repair,” Neciuk said.

What really stands out the most to Neciuk, is all the people they’ve been able to help over the years.

“That’s what we’re going to miss, is just the loyalty of our customers, and to be able to service them over the many years.”

He said meeting and helping customers was always his favourite aspect of the business.

“A lot of the customers have become our friends, and that is what I’m going to miss.”

The store will remain open for the next few weeks.