By Kimberly Ballard

Donny Maleknia & Fatemeh Nazarieh at Donny’s Diamond Gallery: Teamwork Between Soulmates

By Kimberly Ballard / Photo by Steve Babin

“Sitdown with Success” spotlights local entrepreneurs who describe their successes and failures, with tips for upcoming business owners. For the full-length interview, visit huntsvillebusinessjournal.com.

On their first date, Donny told Fatemeh he had two goals: to see his family again in Iran and to start his own jewelry store.

In 1994, Donny was able to visit his family in Iran after 18 years; and in 1999, he and Fatemeh opened Donny’s Diamond Gallery on Memorial Parkway. Nominated this year for a Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award, they both say it couldn’t have been done without teamwork between soulmates.

What kind of challenges have you faced in your career?

Donny: I was working for myself as a traveling jewelry salesman when I was robbed in 1999. It was a dark time. I lost everything.

I got a job working at the jewelry counter for Service Merchandise. In the 10 years I worked there I became a multimillion-dollar producer. That is where Fatemeh and I met and that is when we started working on accomplishing my goal to own my own jewelry store.

All we did was save money. We did not qualify for any loans, and numerous times we came close to signing a deal on a building, but for one reason or another it fell through. One deal specifically was heartbreaking for us.

Fatemeh: It took so long to find our place, but Donny says things happen for a reason.

About the time our son was born, we found our current location, right next to the Service Merchandise on the Parkway where Donny worked, where The Rock is today.

Donny: In the beginning, cashflow was a challenge. I am the face of the company, but Fatemeh has always been the planner, the marketer. She did all the paperwork. She juggled credit cards and paid the bills.

It takes inventory to open a jewelry store, so we saved what we could and kept the overhead low. Whatever we made, we put right back into the store. We bought clothes and groceries, but we did not go out dining in fancy restaurants. We did not take any fancy vacations or buy a fancy house. We had a goal we wanted to achieve.

When did you realize it was a success, that you were accomplishing your goals?

Donny: I think in 2001 we hit a milestone when we found a manufacturer in California that was affordable and who started doing our custom designs. They started doing our bridal and I was able to create a design and have it made. That is what set us apart from the competition.

What is Your Secret to Success?

Donny: We always treat everyone with respect and dignity. We were inclusive before inclusivity became vogue. Our philosophy is reflected in our Persian culture. We feel everyone who walks through our doors are a godsend, a gift; and we treat them that way.

And of course, we are honest and strive to maintain a good reputation. u