Chau Lui

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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_01: It's Edmonton's podcast on the Canada's podcast network.
[00:08] SPEAKER_00: Hello, this is Mario Ponteguni, coming to you today with Edmonton's podcast,
[00:13] SPEAKER_00: and we're a Canada's podcast network where we talk to the entrepreneurs who are making
[00:18] SPEAKER_00: it happen in Edmonton, Alberta, so you can listen, discover, and engage.
[00:24] SPEAKER_00: Today's guest is Charles Louis, owner of Paris Jewelers.
[00:29] SPEAKER_00: Thanks for joining us today, Charles.
[00:31] SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for having me.
[00:33] SPEAKER_00: Tell me this, first of all, a little bit of the company's background and history, and what's going on for you?
[00:41] SPEAKER_01: Okay, so Paris Jewelers is a retail jewelry brand with 25 stores in four provinces across Canada,
[00:48] SPEAKER_01: and we are really passionate about celebrating our customer stories.
[00:52] SPEAKER_01: We believe that jewelry is so much more than just something you put on.
[00:56] SPEAKER_01: It's something that's treasured and brings you back to that special moment or milestone just every time you wear it.
[01:03] SPEAKER_00: So what year did it start?
[01:05] SPEAKER_01: In 1987.
[01:08] SPEAKER_00: 1987 and first store in Edmonton, I presume?
[01:11] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, our first store is actually in St. Albert, Alberta, tiny 400 square foot store.
[01:16] SPEAKER_00: Okay, can you tell me a little bit of the history of how that started?
[01:20] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
[01:22] SPEAKER_01: So my parents immigrated from Vietnam when we were very young, just looking for a better life for our family.
[01:29] SPEAKER_01: And when they landed in Canada, really, they were just trying to make ends meet working odd jobs while going to English as a second language classes just to learn language.
[01:39] SPEAKER_01: And they continued to do that and they worked really hard and we grew up watching that.
[01:44] SPEAKER_01: And by sheer opportunity, they got the chance to train us Goldsmiths at what is now a competitor's jewelry store and they learn the trade.
[01:53] SPEAKER_01: And then a couple years after that, we had the opportunity to open up in St. Albert Center in St. Albert, Alberta,
[01:59] SPEAKER_01: was a small 400 square foot store and they took that opportunity and they opened that one store.
[02:05] SPEAKER_01: So imagine a really small store at the time, there was no computers, all the tags were handwritten and at the time they still didn't speak English.
[02:13] SPEAKER_01: So they would take a Vietnamese English dictionary and translate with customers when they came in.
[02:18] SPEAKER_00: So today, how many cities are you in?
[02:22] SPEAKER_01: So we are in, oh my gosh, we have 25 locations in four provinces.
[02:26] SPEAKER_01: I don't know how many cities were.
[02:29] SPEAKER_01: We have a lot of stores in Alberta.
[02:32] SPEAKER_00: Okay, so fairly recently you had a couple of new things happening with Paris jolars. Can you talk a little bit about that?
[02:41] SPEAKER_01: Yes, yes. So we just opened a new store in Cologne and Orchard Park Mall and then we also renovated our flagship location in West Edmunds Mall moved into a different location.
[02:50] SPEAKER_01: So two very exciting things that happened at the end of the year last year.
[02:53] SPEAKER_00: Okay, and so the West Edmunds and stores are kind of a new concept store for you, correct?
[02:58] SPEAKER_01: Yes, it is a new concept store. It's a fresh new design.
[03:01] SPEAKER_01: Really it's a dream for us to be in that mall and to have this design moving forward as we continue to grow and open.
[03:08] SPEAKER_00: And what are your plans for the company's growth over the next few years?
[03:14] SPEAKER_01: That's a great question I think for us for being really smart and strategic about where we open.
[03:18] SPEAKER_01: It's not so much about footprint as it is about which community do we want to open in?
[03:23] SPEAKER_01: Do we believe that we can do great business and really connect with the people in that city?
[03:28] SPEAKER_01: So we do plan to can you know grow it might not be as aggressive as we used to be.
[03:35] SPEAKER_01: But we do have one store in the works this year. I can't say anything yet, but we're very excited about it.
[03:40] SPEAKER_00: So there's a lot of June stores out there. What do you think separates what Paris jules does from what all the others do?
[03:49] SPEAKER_01: I think that's a really great question. I think there's so many amazing jewelry companies out there.
[03:54] SPEAKER_01: I think what's celebrate what makes us different is that we want to celebrate the customer story.
[04:00] SPEAKER_01: Even though we have 25 stores, we still have that family feel where it's a very much a personal connection and not just about the merchandise you're purchasing, but really about the moment that you're celebrating.
[04:10] SPEAKER_01: I believe that that's separate.
[04:12] SPEAKER_00: Okay, what's your vision for the company as you go forward that in terms of how the company will look and be like in the next couple of years?
[04:22] SPEAKER_01: Great question. So you know our vision has always been the past couple of years.
[04:26] SPEAKER_01: We want to ensure that everything customer that comes into our store has a great experience no matter what regardless of who they're shopping with, which city they're in.
[04:36] SPEAKER_01: So as we continue to grow, we just want to ensure that that experience is still there and it's consistent.
[04:41] SPEAKER_00: What has been the toughest thing as a non to praner in setting up and doing this business?
[04:49] SPEAKER_01: Gosh, there's a lot of tough things. There's a lot of challenges.
[04:52] SPEAKER_01: When people ask me about the toughest thing, I would go back to the year of 2010.
[04:57] SPEAKER_01: So the year of 2010 was a year where we opened five stores and for us, we're a little bit smaller company.
[05:03] SPEAKER_01: So opening five stores was every two months in that year.
[05:07] SPEAKER_01: We were opening a store, you know, designing that store, getting merchandise, figuring out what works in that community.
[05:14] SPEAKER_01: And we were really stretched then.
[05:16] SPEAKER_01: And so that was a very challenging year for us as we continue to grow.
[05:21] SPEAKER_01: I don't think we had the foundation to really set up our people to succeed and deliver that exceptional customer experience we expect.
[05:28] SPEAKER_01: So I think for us, it was really to slow down and think about where do we want to open and how are we going to do it right?
[05:36] SPEAKER_00: So, you know, we almost like an updated basis these days, you're seeing views out there about retailers closing and bankruptcies and a lot of store closures, etc.
[05:50] SPEAKER_00: How do you think the environment is out there for the retail sector and you being in that industry?
[05:56] SPEAKER_01: You know what I still really believe in retail. I still really believe that there's opportunity.
[06:01] SPEAKER_01: I think we've had to shift the way we think about retail.
[06:04] SPEAKER_01: We've had to shift the way we do business, but we continue to focus on that customer experience because at the end of the day, you're going to hear it and you're going to read about it.
[06:13] SPEAKER_01: People will spend more and they will choose companies again and again where they feel that they connect to a brand.
[06:20] SPEAKER_01: So we really focus on that.
[06:21] SPEAKER_00: You know, it's interesting you mentioned that customer experience because the one thing that I noticed in talking to a lot of retailers, you know, about obviously the online industry and the challenges with the economy and all that stuff.
[06:35] SPEAKER_00: They always come back to that experience part of it as being a key going forward, right?
[06:42] SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
[06:42] SPEAKER_00: Over the years, I had a lot of people you dealt with and talked to.
[06:48] SPEAKER_00: Do you recall any piece of advice that sits with you as being sort of a key thing that helped you and you followed?
[06:58] SPEAKER_01: Yes. So I don't even remember where I heard this, but it's something that I heard that really stuck with me and it's the grass isn't greener on the other side.
[07:07] SPEAKER_01: It's just greener where you water it. So I find that the more effort and the more intentional effort I am putting into something, that's the area where things are going to flourish.
[07:16] SPEAKER_01: They're going to grow and they're going to improve.
[07:18] SPEAKER_01: It's so easy for us to really compare and look everywhere else and say, OK, I want that.
[07:22] SPEAKER_01: I want to do that, but I just find where we focus our intentions is where we're going to see improvement.
[07:28] SPEAKER_00: OK, then.
[07:28] SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to switch gears a bit here and ask you a few personal questions.
[07:34] SPEAKER_00: First off, if you weren't doing what you're doing now, any thoughts of what kind of a career or profession you'd be in?
[07:43] SPEAKER_01: That's a really hard question. I really love what I do.
[07:46] SPEAKER_01: I love being in this environment.
[07:48] SPEAKER_01: I think I would find a way to work with amazing foundations, such as the Children's Wish Foundation.
[07:52] SPEAKER_01: They do such great things for a community.
[07:54] SPEAKER_01: I think I'd really want to make a difference there.
[07:56] SPEAKER_00: OK, everybody has a bucket list these days, a personal bucket list.
[08:02] SPEAKER_00: Do you have one?
[08:03] SPEAKER_00: And if so, I'm just wondering what would be on top of it these days?
[08:07] SPEAKER_01: I do.
[08:08] SPEAKER_01: I keep dreaming.
[08:09] SPEAKER_01: I want to run that half marathon at Disney World.
[08:12] SPEAKER_01: It's really been our bucket list for a couple of years.
[08:15] SPEAKER_00: Oh, why was that?
[08:16] SPEAKER_01: I just, I heard that it's amazing.
[08:18] SPEAKER_01: I heard that it's a very supportive environment and I love everything Disney.
[08:23] SPEAKER_01: I've done half marathon before and I just think that environment would be so much fun, such an experience.
[08:28] SPEAKER_00: OK, if you had one word to describe yourself, what would it be and why?
[08:34] SPEAKER_01: OK, that's a tough one.
[08:36] SPEAKER_01: I think resourceful growing up, we didn't have a lot.
[08:40] SPEAKER_01: So I'm really used to doing doing things with less.
[08:43] SPEAKER_01: So I always fall that model.
[08:45] SPEAKER_01: You just got to do more with less.
[08:47] SPEAKER_00: OK, just in terms of personal interests, what do you do?
[08:52] SPEAKER_00: I obviously, you know, very successful and very busy business woman.
[08:58] SPEAKER_00: You know, everybody talks these days above work, life balance, etc.
[09:02] SPEAKER_00: How's your work like balance these days?
[09:06] SPEAKER_01: So this is a struggle.
[09:08] SPEAKER_01: I want to be totally honest.
[09:09] SPEAKER_01: I struggle with this and this is the answer that I'm always trying to find.
[09:13] SPEAKER_01: But when I'm with my children, I'm really intentional about that time I have with them.
[09:18] SPEAKER_01: I think it's, you know, quality over quantity.
[09:20] SPEAKER_01: So if I'm with them, I am unplugged.
[09:23] SPEAKER_01: I'm focused on them because they're the most important thing to me, you know, in those moments.
[09:27] SPEAKER_00: OK, what kind of things do you do, I guess, outside of work?
[09:31] SPEAKER_00: Like what are kind of your hobbies, passions, etc.
[09:36] SPEAKER_01: OK, I love running.
[09:37] SPEAKER_01: Running is just a great way.
[09:39] SPEAKER_01: I think being active is really important.
[09:42] SPEAKER_01: I don't know if people know this about me, but I love crafting.
[09:44] SPEAKER_01: I actually, you know, hand make cards for people in our company and for friends.
[09:49] SPEAKER_01: And I do a lot of crafting with my daughters.
[09:51] SPEAKER_01: I have two girls aged five and seven.
[09:53] SPEAKER_01: So they love that.
[09:54] SPEAKER_01: I spend a lot of time doing that.
[09:55] SPEAKER_01: And I love to read.
[09:56] SPEAKER_00: Oh, what do you read?
[09:58] SPEAKER_01: You know what, I just finished the alter ego by Todd Herman.
[10:01] SPEAKER_01: He was really, really great.
[10:03] SPEAKER_01: But my favorite books that I always keep going back to is Good to Great by Jim Collins and Stephen Covey.
[10:09] SPEAKER_01: The seven habits of highly effective people.
[10:11] SPEAKER_01: And the other one that he did that's really good was the seven highly effective habits of healthy marriages.
[10:17] SPEAKER_01: I think that's a really, really good.
[10:19] SPEAKER_01: OK, do you travel a lot?
[10:21] SPEAKER_01: I do. Now that my kids are older, I do try to get to our stores more often.
[10:26] SPEAKER_01: There was one year I traveled a lot.
[10:28] SPEAKER_01: I made a commitment to get to every single one of our stores in a year.
[10:31] SPEAKER_01: That was a lot of travel.
[10:33] SPEAKER_01: Now we just kind of pick a province and we toward that province before Christmas.
[10:37] SPEAKER_01: And we take our staff out to a holiday dinner.
[10:39] SPEAKER_01: I think that's really important.
[10:40] SPEAKER_01: But I do try to get it to the store as much.
[10:43] SPEAKER_00: Any particular place that you've gone to over the years that that is a favorite?
[10:48] SPEAKER_01: You know what?
[10:49] SPEAKER_01: I.
[10:50] SPEAKER_01: I loved opening the store in clone.
[10:52] SPEAKER_01: I found everybody in clona really, really supportive and really welcoming.
[10:57] SPEAKER_01: So I, and I do love visiting all of our stores.
[11:00] SPEAKER_01: But I do recall our last trip in December was to BC.
[11:05] SPEAKER_01: And it was so wonderful.
[11:06] SPEAKER_01: Supportive communities.
[11:07] SPEAKER_01: Great teams.
[11:08] SPEAKER_01: I loved it.
[11:09] SPEAKER_00: OK.
[11:09] SPEAKER_00: Now, obviously, you're very busy in your career.
[11:14] SPEAKER_00: Obviously very busy with family life.
[11:17] SPEAKER_00: Do you have a routine that you follow every day?
[11:21] SPEAKER_01: I really, I really try.
[11:23] SPEAKER_01: So this is something that I try to be really consistent with.
[11:26] SPEAKER_01: I try to get up at 5 30.
[11:27] SPEAKER_01: I go for 20 minute run.
[11:29] SPEAKER_01: If it's in the winter, it's on the treadmill.
[11:31] SPEAKER_01: If it's during the summer, try to get outside.
[11:33] SPEAKER_01: And then I spend just a couple of a bit of time setting my intentions and my goals for the day.
[11:38] SPEAKER_01: And then after that, it's at 7 15.
[11:41] SPEAKER_01: I get the kids up ready for school, get them fed.
[11:44] SPEAKER_01: And I'm out the door by 7 45 to do job.
[11:46] SPEAKER_00: OK, do you find that, you know, you mentioned running a few times.
[11:50] SPEAKER_00: Do you find that you get inspiration and ideas when you run?
[11:54] SPEAKER_01: I do, I do.
[11:55] SPEAKER_01: I, you know, there's this joke that people say that, you know, my best ideas come from the treadmill.
[12:00] SPEAKER_01: I just love being outside and running and clearing my head.
[12:03] SPEAKER_01: And we're having a podcast or listening to that audio book.
[12:06] SPEAKER_01: I really find that it's so good for your mind and for your body to be out.
[12:11] SPEAKER_00: OK, so I'm going to ask or present to you a scenario, OK, and get your response to it.
[12:17] SPEAKER_00: So imagine this beautiful tropical island in the middle of the ocean.
[12:22] SPEAKER_00: OK, we're going to drop you off at that island on your self, right?
[12:27] SPEAKER_00: The island has no technology whatsoever.
[12:30] SPEAKER_00: It has one phone booth.
[12:33] SPEAKER_00: You'll be able to, OK, you'll be able to call us and say, hey, get me out of here and make that one phone call.
[12:42] SPEAKER_00: So I'm just curious, how long do you think it would take for you to make that phone call?
[12:48] SPEAKER_00: And then secondly, like, what do you think you would be doing on that island while you were there?
[12:53] SPEAKER_01: I don't think I'd last very long because I'd miss my children, but you know what I do?
[12:57] SPEAKER_01: I would take the longest nap that I could because sometimes when you're running a business and you have young kids, you're very sleep deprived.
[13:04] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I take a nice nap on the beach and then I would call my husband.
[13:07] SPEAKER_01: So probably a couple hours.
[13:10] SPEAKER_00: OK, one thing I forgot to ask you, you're obviously being in the jewelry jewelry business.
[13:16] SPEAKER_00: That's a tough word to say.
[13:19] SPEAKER_00: Do you have any special or and favorite types of jewelry?
[13:24] SPEAKER_01: Oh gosh, I do.
[13:27] SPEAKER_01: You know, I have these necklaces I'm wearing today and they're just, you know, we got the made company and they have my daughter's names on them.
[13:34] SPEAKER_01: So I wear them most most all the time.
[13:37] SPEAKER_01: It just reminds me of them and keeps them close to me.
[13:40] SPEAKER_00: OK, super then. Well, thanks a lot for joining us today, Chao on Edmonton's podcast.
[13:46] SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for having me.
[13:48] SPEAKER_00: Thanks for taking the time today to listen to Edmonton's podcast on Canada's podcast network.
[13:54] SPEAKER_00: We hope you enjoyed the show today.
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[14:09] SPEAKER_00: You can also check out what other entrepreneurs are doing across the country.
[14:13] SPEAKER_00: See you next time.
[14:17] Speaker UNKNOWN: Bye.