Collierville resident Doris McLendon has been in the jewelry business for 18 years. She has loved it since taking her first job in a jewelry store during a summer break from teaching junior-high students in Jackson, Miss.

    “ It is the most addicting business,” says McLendon. “ I have a friend who doesn’t need to work, but he still dabbles in jewelry.”

    McLendon, 55, owns Doris McLendon’s Fine Jewelry at 9387 Poplar Ave. next to the Fresh Market. She says she is among few women to own a jewelry business in the traditional male-dominated industry.

    “ It is very unusual for a woman to own a high-end jewelry store,” says McLendon.

    The October issue of Memphis Magazine recognizes McLendon as one of the “Women to Watch” in 2003.

     “My specialty is engagement rings. I have a large selection of semi-mounts,” says McLendon. The shop also carries pre-owned Rolex watches and estate and antique jewelry. Custom jewelry design and watch and sterling hollowware and flatware repair are offered.

    That serendipitous summer job at Albriton’s Jewelers was a way to purchase some nice jewelry for herself, says McLendon. But the job ended up lasting close to three years before her family moved briefly to Tupelo and then to Memphis in 1989.

    In Memphis, McLendon worked as a manager trainee at a local jewelry store and then as a manager/buyer at another. She says because she established a history of honesty with vendors, she was able to join five other independent jewelers 11 years ago and open a shop in the Oak Hall Building at 555 S. Perkins Extended.

    “I actually started my own business with $5,000 from my own account, and I’ve never had to put any more of my own money into it,” says McLendon.

    Last November McLendon decided to go completely on her own and chose the location next to the Fresh Market to get her higher visibility.

    She says that even though she is happy with her new address, she relies on advertising to let people know her location, “because they can go right by. I’ve done a lot of advertising and that has helped.”

    Loyal customers from Mississippi and Arkansas have followed McLendon to her new location.

   “I had a customer from Mississippi come in last week, and she said, ‘Lord, this is a road trip, but I don’t trust anyone else,” said McLendon, adding, “My business is built on customer service and integrity.”

   Three full-time and two part-time employees keep the over 1,200 square-foot showroom open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours will extend during the holidays, says McLendon.

    The owner also is pleased to have a new store manager. “Marsha Metzler, who was with Cingular Wireless for many years, is a major asset for my store,” she says.

This article appeared in the Independent on October 15, 2003