When you meet Jill Donovan for the first time, she is so charismatic you quickly want the attorney turned jewelry designer to be your new best friend. Those living in the Tulsa area are fortunate they can make that personal trip to the Rustic Cuff showroom to pick up their latest order, most hoping for a chance encounter with Jill. If and when you do meet her, you will not be disappointed.
Each time I visit the Rustic Cuff showroom, I see those people (you know who you are) trying to peek behind the door curtains, hoping to see what magic might be found there. In this article you will find out what magic is behind those curtains, about a “new magic staircase,” what new is coming and more. Even better, the video tour is guided by Jill Donavon herself.
When I asked Jill if I could come visit, and bring a camera guy with me , I told her I needed about 30 minutes of her time. I thought that would be plenty of time to cover everything for a 5 minute video on her expansion(s). My 30 minute request turned into an hour and a half. Besides being very hospitable and informative, Jill is quite a comedian, so there was no way to cut my interview down to only 5 minutes without missing some good stuff. That said, instead of a full length feature movie, I am sharing an array of video clips that cover each topic.
I have known Jill since she moved her little cuff business out of her bedroom and into the space that is now the showroom. I love watching her vision and business ventures ignite her excitement in others. As we both started businesses in our bedrooms then expanded, I feel a sort of kinship with her. I love watching her dreams not just come true but explode! I have witnessed her giving nature over and over again, and her overwhelming generosity rub off and resonate into so many others.
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So, here we go……
In the beginning, the new showroom was where all the fun treasures were simply laid out. Jill and her small staff at the time thought that was the best way to keep track of what she had designed, had on hand and where to go from there. Soon people began picking up their online orders at the showroom, and soon found out they could catch a glimpse of things to come while they were there.
In video one, hear about the beginning of the Rustic Cuff showroom and her big leap of faith. From guest bedroom to showroom, how it began:
In the beginning, Jill took a leap of faith moving her business out of her house:
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As Rustic Cuff quickly grew, the need for more space also came quickly. A year after moving in, Jill knocked out her first wall, and in to the office up the sidewalk to the east. It wasn’t long before that was not enough and she knocked out another wall, down the sidewalk to the west, then up the sidewalk again. Now two years into her office and showroom she is knocking out more walls, this time moving up…way up. I was surprised that through all the moves and construction, she has kept her original office in the first showroom. I asked her about that and more in the next video.
Personal Zoo, Sky Walk and Moving Sidewalks, Oh My!
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So now you see that the showroom is expanding upward, production is moving upstairs, inventory is moving downstairs, so what happens to the current downstairs area? Where is everything going?
Growing Pains
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Besides style watching, Jill also listens to you, the Rustic Cuff Fans and what you want to see next. What is the number one requested item right now? Will she make it happen? Find out below.
You want me to make what? What is on the top of Jill’s to-Do List
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Another thing I have heard people ask, including myself is “where can I get that RC logo hat, or shirt or jacket?” Will there ever be a time when those are available to more than just your staff? If not can I come to work there?
Plans for the Future
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So, though the first curtain is where all the magic happens. With walls of hanging python, leather and stingray, and drawers full of beads, this is where all of Jill’s elves are happily making her creations come to life. When I say happily I really mean it. The RC girls seem to be one big happy family.
Through the first Curtain – Where it all Happens
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It seems Jill has made it easy for any day to be a “take your kid to work day.” What a great perk for her employees. Children were happily working/playing on iPads, while their moms were working on your next favorite piece of jewelry.
Camp RC – Third Add On
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Behind curtain number two were more magical elves busily creating items, and getting them ready for shipping. The room itself is actually designated as customer service, internet and design, but much more goes on there.
Behind Curtain Number Two
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What do you do when you need even more space and there are no more walls to break through? If you are Jill Donovan you make a vision come true and build a skywalk that goes up, way up.
Vegas Visions Going up!
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I will admit though I love my cuffs, which are many, three is the most I have adorned at any one time. To make up for only wearing short stacks, I just change them out more than one time per day. That makes up for it, right?
When I requested my time with Jill, I wanted to bring something to you that maybe you had not seen before, or for you to learn something that maybe you had not heard before. When the new addition and magic staircase are finished, I hope to go back and bring that to you as well. Maybe at that time Jill will share her next great vision with me to pass along. Honestly, it is just an excuse to go visit.
When I do interviews, they have never been done like this and I seldom share “out takes.” I felt in this case I needed to, so you could see why I could not cut much of anything out, and to show you that Jill must have been a stand up comic in a previous lifetime.
Out Takes
The current Rustic Cuff collection can be found at www.rusticcuff.com. New specials and fun finds can be found there almost daily. You can also follow the fun on their Facebook page by clicking here.
And of course whether you are near or far, you can you can make the magical trip to the showroom which is located at 4150 South Harvard Avenue in Tulsa….. just look for the sky bridge 🙂
