If there is one thing I have learned during my lifetime, it’s that change is to be expected. You can’t be sure what’s going to happen or when it’s going to come, but you better be able to pivot and flex as life throws you the inevitable curveballs. At this time last year, we were feeling fortunate to have survived a difficult pandemic year. Dealing with the pandemic brought while also going through a business rebrand and moving our retail space back to the Square was no easy job. But seeing so many of our loyal clients continue to support us through it made all that stress worth it.

As we transitioned from Studio 2015 Jewelers to Studio D Jewelers, we had no idea the scope of changes that would continue to come throughout 2021. John Lennon may have said it best with “life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” because call me crazy, but this year didn’t feel too different from last. However, what did make it different were the good things that we could savor as a team and as a family.

In the space that was Studio 2015, we built out a new corporate office facility for our Thumbies Fingerprint Keepsakes business. The renovated building incorporates our administrative, accounting, customer service, IT, and marketing teams all under one roof. Thumbies has been lucky enough to expand their team this year and hire more employees, with the same holding true for our manufacturing facility. We added more equipment to launch new products and hired additional team members within the community. But maybe the most remarkable aspect was how each team member supported each other through this continuing pandemic year. Everyone respected each other’s needs for social distancing, masking, vaccines – no one judging anyone else.

This collaborative effort extended to the new Studio D space on the Square as well. The team found its footing with more permanent members and said goodbye to one long-time member, Sonia, who retired after 30 years in the jewelry industry. Luckily for us, she will still come by to say hello and help us on the floor now and then for old-time’s sake.

Our move back to the Square also came more involvement within the community. We dove into events like the Diversity Series, Woodstock Pride, Mexican Independence Day, Ladies Night Out, the Wine Walk, and even more. We’re very grateful for all the things that have helped this year feel a little more “normal”! And speaking of normal things, we were extremely happy to be able to host our Roundtable Gemstone event again this fall after a hiatus last year. We missed getting together with some of our most passionate patrons and gawking over a collection of stunning gemstones. All while enjoying some delicious drinks and tasty treats. Those have been some of our most fun nights, and we were grateful to host them again this year.

But this year has been wonderful for my family and me as well. In October, my wife Melanie and I welcomed a new addition to our family, making us complete at a foursome. We now have two healthy sons whom we will raise here in Woodstock. We dearly hope that they will grow up to be who they want to be. Whether that happens here or somewhere else, we hope they will always consider Woodstock their home.

As we head into the next year, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in 2021 and throughout the years. I’ve known many of you literally for decades, and I wanted to say that we wouldn’t be here without you. The Dougherty family, our entire team, and I can’t thank you enough for your business and friendship. We wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season spent with those you love the most, and we hope for a healthy and brighter 2022 for all of us.

Sincerely,

Bret Dougherty on behalf of the Studio D Jewelers team