Island jeweler celebrates birthday with July 17-19 event
A popular island retailer will celebrate its birthday with the introduction of new services and products at its landmark store.
Lily & Co. Jewelers celebrates eight years as America’s “Coolest Jewelry Store” with the opening of its certified pre-owned Rolex Watch Boutique, the latest “Sea the Islands” collection, and a glass-encased design center planned for a Sept. 1 opening.
Co-owner Dan Schuyler said the eight-year journey is forever interesting and fun.
“It has been a thrilling journey since we opened our doors in July 2006,” said Schuyler, co-owner with Sanibel realtor Karen Bell. The firm is named after Bell’s pet dog. “We are grateful for the success of the past eight years. It is due to our jewelry designer partnerships, faithful guests and Sanibel-Captiva residents, who have continually supported us throughout these eight years. They have made us who are today.”
Lily & Co. will celebrate its anniversary over three days beginning July 17. There’s an open house open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (July 17). Refreshments will be supplied by Bailey’s; a cake ceremony is also scheduled for 1 p.m. The public is invited.
Schuyler and Bell are veterans in business: Bell in real estate, Schuyler in the jewelry industry. He started in the industry at age 17. The store on Tarpon Bay in Sanibel is a former schoolhouse, doctor’s office and bank that opened in 1915 as church owned by the Florida Baptist Convention of Jacksonville. Bell handled the re-design of the building that had sat vacant, Schuyler the merchandise, he said. The company carries some 25 lines of jewelry.
A side benefit to the community has been Lily & Co.’s charitable work. The firm last year gave some $260,000 of in-kind donations, including its hosting of several large fund-raisers. The Animal Rescue Center in Fort Myers is a focus of the firm’s donations. The most recent funder for the shelter raised $13,000.
“Because of our friends and guests,” Schuyler said, “we been allowed to give back a tremendous amount. Life is not always about money, it’s about trying to live full circle, to build something to be proud of.”
Lily & Co.:
Rolex: A new boutique will feature southwest Florida’s largest collection of certified pre-owned Rolex watches. Rolex is geared for deep-sea diving, aviation, mountain climbing and scientific exploration. Guests can customize their certified pre-owned Rolex with a selection of stainless steel, two-toned bracelets, bezzels and dials. Trade-ins and trade-ups are honored. Lily & Co. is not an authorized dealer for Rolex USA or affiliated with any of its subsidiaries, but is a member of the International Watch and Jeweler Guild.
‘Sea the Islands’ Collection: Designers Nicholas De Stefano and Dan Schuyler are partnering on wearable art. De Stefano sculpts sand dollars, starfish, sea turtles, dolphins and shells that can be found along the island beaches in white, rose, green or yellow gold pendants, rings or bracelets.
Voted “Coolest Jewelry Store” in the nation by INSTORE magazine. Today, it has garnered national recognition as a “5 Designer Retailer” awarded by Jewelers Circular Keystone (JCK), as well as named a “5 Star Store.” It earned the “Top Dog Award” from the 2011 Smart Show in Chicago. Locally, it has received “Best of the Islands” for seven consecutive years.