Caroline Hill originally pursued a career in pharmaceutical sales and even had a personal training stint. Her fitness lifestyle and sales mindset remained intact when she moved to Berks County, making her fit for the jewelry industry when she started working for the established store often mistaken for a chain in 1993.
Q: How did your role evolve over time?
Initially, I started out part-time in payroll. Then, one day I started sorting diamonds to help with a project and I thought to myself, “Oh, this is awesome.” After that, I started taking courses online at the Gemological Institute of America. You can also study on campus, but I chose to do the online courses because it was easier than moving to California. It began with learning about diamonds, then gemstones and then completing the full gemology program. My roles kept growing and since I became the sole owner in 2015, I do whatever needs to be done such as making marketing and management decisions and waiting on our customers.
Q: What is your favorite part about your role?
I have a deep passion for the jewelry industry, and what I particularly enjoy is the continuous learning it offers. My pursuit involves constantly seeking out new and captivating merchandise. While the core of my business centers around timeless classics and engagement rings, I take great delight in catering to my loyal customers by discovering pieces I know will resonate with them.
Q: What is something people may not expect about Van Scoy?
We sell a lot of jewelry that's very sustainable and teach customers about product care when they make a purchase. In addition, we also have jewelry available at various price points. After people see ads that feature our beautiful diamonds, their first thought might be that they can’t afford it. However, we have items that are $100 and $200 and we can meet most budgets. We’re also a small team. Other than my jeweler, there are three full-time and two part-time employees.
Q: What advice would you give to someone buying jewelry as gift?
You really have to know the person you're buying for and what their likes and dislikes are: what metal they like, yellow gold or white gold, diamonds or gemstones, etc. It helps to pay attention to what your loved one wears and to complement what they already have. Make sure to ask about product care. We can pretty much make anything, so bring us pictures and we'll design anything you want.
Q: Outside of continuing education in the jewelry industry, what are your hobbies?
Fitness is my livelihood. I used to be a personal trainer before owning the business. I was a runner for a while, but running took a toll on my body. I have pretty much biked all my life, so transitioning back to biking has been so much fun. I’ve been doing a lot of travel biking. Thirty-two of us went on a biking trip from Prague to Vienna. Last year, we biked in Croatia and we’re talking about possibly doing Greece next year. I do ride by myself sometimes, but 80 percent of my riding is in groups where we all are friends and enjoy the sport.
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Valentine’s Day Giveaway. Stay tuned for Van Scoy’s special giveaway by subscribing to their newsletter at vanscoy.com or by following Van Scoy Jewelers on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Enjoy Biking? Caroline’s favorite Berks County mountain biking spots are Mount Penn and Blue Marsh. For a more scenic road biking route, check out Rolling Hills.
