Family First at Fakier

BY DREW MILLER

The locally and family owned Fakiér Jewelers has not only been providing fine quality jewelry to the people of Houma but also customer service since 1928.

Founder George Fakiér Sr. made sure to keep it a family business. He worked with his family–three of his kids and wife helped at the store. The business later passed to George Jr., who continued the tradition of family involvement, bringing his wife, Lois, into the business as well.

In 1979, George Jr. died from cancer, just two years after his father passed away. Lois went on to work in the business fulltime. Her and George Jr.’s sons, Greg and Glenn, decided to take over the business but first had to finish high school and later obtain specialized education in the field. Greg went to a special jewelry school in Switzerland and Glenn went to California to become a gemologist–an expert jeweler who identifies precious stones and gems.

Greg’s wife, Manon, whom he met in Switzerland, came in to the company in 1983, after she and Greg got married. The main team then consisted of Greg, Glenn, Lois, and Manon with help from Greg’s sister, Susan; and brother, George III; when they were needed.

“George took a different path, but he’s always been there for the business,” Greg says. “Susan sometimes works from home, but she’s always been there for the business too. It’s quite a happy family affair.”

The family has been able to prosper over the years, even though they faced their fair share of adversity. Just five months after George Jr. died, the jewelry store was robbed and completely cleaned out.

“The robbery was a big challenge because financially, they wiped us out. We didn’t have correct insurance coverage. We had some, but not 100% correct. It was a financial burden,” Greg says.

Unfortunately, Glenn passed away in 2004 which led Greg, Manon, and Lois to persevere through the tragedy and “carry the torch.”

In 2017, the same year Fakiér Jewelers made 50 years in their old location on Main Street, they relocated but remained on Main Street and in the historic Downtown Houma. Not only did the 90-year business create a new unique, stunning building with a museum-like atmosphere, they also added some exciting features to make the shopping experience better for their customers.

One unique feature of the shop is that it’s a shoulder-to-shoulder store. The jeweler and the customer are on the same side of the showcase, which makes for a friendlier experience.

“There’s not a person on one side and a person on the other side, with a barrier in between them. We’re a shoulder-to-shoulder, barrier-less store,” Greg says. “It’s a very open-minded concept. We’re looking at the jewelry together.”

Another added convenience is the in-store “audio tour.” Shoppers are able to get on Fakiér’s Wi-Fi, go to their website (www.fakier.com), type in the number located below the piece of interest, and listen to audio that gives information on the jewelry.

Fakiér built a pergola in the back of the building that oversees Bayou Terrebonne. Couples who buy their engagement rings at the store get an engraved padlock they can lock on the fence of the pergola, like the famous Pont des Arts in Paris. This is just another way the company puts their patrons, whom he Greg says he doesn’t want to just sell to but also build relationships with, first.

“We always believe that a person that walks through our door is the most important person in the world,” Greg says.•