Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Landa.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a degree in politics, I moved to NYC to do quite the opposite. My first gig was working with fashion designer Donna Karan and her mens’ DKNY label. It was a great first job that I unexpectedly liked. That experience enabled me to jump-start my own work in jewelry.
Growing up in South Texas (McAllen) with an entrepreneurial mother who owned a jewelry store, it was an easy transition. I definitely credit my mom as the first person who gave me the passion to start my own brand. Her support has been monumental.
I settled in Houston and opened my boutique in Rice Village in 1999. The store has taken on many manifestations, but the vision has been the same. I LOVE curating and styling clients with my jewelry.
At first, I was mostly a house of brands (Chan Luu, Alexis Bittar, Dian Malouf, Dogeared) and that quickly changed. I started designing and selling my own jewelry. I run production in NYC and Houston. My clients really love my point of view, and it was logical that selling my own brand in my own store was the last piece to the puzzle.
I continue to design and travel around the world seeking inspiration from many cultures and incorporating their aesthetic into my jewelry/collections. J. Landa has grown into a multi-channel business – our online store and the brick & mortar.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the digital world has been the biggest challenge for me. Learning how to navigate from brick & mortar to online wasn’t easy, but completely necessary. How to convey my brand’s voice in a digital way is an ongoing project.
My clients come to the store to see me, and I”m trying to extend that in-store experience into the digital world. We want all of our customers – online and in-store – to feel connected to us and have that personal J. Landa shopping experience. It’s not *just* about jewelry. We want to be a place of refuge from life’s stresses for our customers – we want people to feel *good.* Conveying that in a purely digital way – without face to face interaction – is difficult.
Please tell us about J. Landa jewelry.
J. Landa jewelry is a highly curated jewelry store in Rice Village that harnesses a passion for style, travel, art, culture, religions, and history. It has become a destination for women (and men) to shop for one-of-a-kind, artful pieces that add to or expand their personal style.
Our customers – the J. Landa tribe, if you will – our family, and we love establishing these friendships. Need a gift? We have it, Looking for an investment piece? We have that, too. Helping clients jump out of their comfort zone is our niche. We love to encourage everyone to *drag it out.*
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Traveling with my mother and two sisters was always an adventure, and my fondest memories are spending time with them exploring cultures different than my own.
Pricing:
- Gifts staring at $30
Contact Info:
- Address: 2412 Rice Blvd
Houston Texas 770005 - Website: www.j-landa.com
- Phone: 713-807-1644
- Email: info@j-landa.com
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
