Forty Years of Fine Jewelry

What began as a modest jewelry display housed inside of another business has grown into a household name in Gastonia, N.C.

Doug and LouAnne Harris are celebrating 40 years of helping people tell their love story, preserve family heirlooms and much more at Douglas R. Harris Jewelers.

The Harris family launched their business in 1982 as a jewelry counter at Lou Anne’s parents’ florist shop in Akers Center. The combination of flowers and jewelry went well together, but Douglas R. Harris Jewelers quickly outgrew the shop and needed a space all their own.

The jewelry store operated out of a small shop for another year before moving next door to the Myers Family House, also hiring a jeweler and sales associates. “Our growth, I believe, and our longevity are due to our ‘from the heart’ customer service,” explains LouAnne.

In an age of 2-day shipping and instant gratification, Douglas R. Harris Jewelers describes themselves as the best kind of “dinosaur.” They built deep connections with people, often spanning generations, as customers return again and again to mark big life moments with jewelry they can’t find anywhere else. The Harris family takes pride in the relationships they’ve cultivated over the years.

“We have established family ties and are currently working on third-generation engagement rings,” LouAnne adds. “We work directly with our customers, creating pieces of jewelry just for them.”

These unique pieces begin with carefully selected gems from around the world. The store sources pearls from a pearl farm in China and colored stones from a dealer located on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Another recurring theme from our 40-year tenure in Gastonia is supporting the community, whether through donating to a family in need or clearing school lunch debt at a local elementary school. They also connect clients with organizations in need of extra sparkle. “For example, we may be working on a very large estate that consists of mostly 1960s costume pieces. We always suggest the owners contribute pieces to the Little Theatre,” LouAnne explains. “Small businesses take care of their community.”

Taking care of clients through relationship building and kind, professional service is what SouthState does, too. Customers can rely on their bankers to provide secure, personalized tools designed to help them grow and sustain their small businesses. “Seeing our small business clients succeed is what makes SouthState a great place to work and bank,” says Virginia Self, premier private banker. “Doug and LouAnne are committed to serving the Gastonia community, and I’m proud that myself and SouthState can be a part of that commitment,”

“Although SouthState is not a small business, the people within the bank act like they are. We feel genuinely cared for,” LouAnne adds.

SouthState is proud to support our footprint’s numerous small business clients with checking accounts, cash flow management, employee services and much more. To find out how we can help your business, visit our website.