SAJN |WOMEN’S MONTH
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Janine Venter JS Gems Owner and Managing Director
At just 19, having enrolled at univer-
the value of honesty, integrity and
closely-knit: good client and sup-
sity to study law, Janine was made
hard work,” she says.
plier relationships are critical to
an offer by a good friend of the fam-
Janine has performed various roles
success,” she says. “The industry,
ily who needed assistance with their
in the industry, including specialising
like most others, has gone through
jewellery store. That was where she
in small stones (melee) accompanied
many changes recently. The South
met a diamond dealer and was intro-
with certified, polished diamonds
African economy also affected the
duced to an industry she never knew
and treated black ones. In 2015 she
diamond trade negatively. I feel ex-
existed. Shortly afterwards, Janine
became the owner and MD of JS
tremely fortunate to still be stand-
began working for the dealer and law
Gems, supplying the diamond and
ing and attribute my success to my
quickly became a thing of the past.
jewellery industry.
clients and suppliers, who’ve stood
“Thanks to great mentorship, I learnt
“I believe the industry is very
by me throughout my journey.”
How do you balance your personal and professional lives? “It’s very difficult juggling the two, but as I’m very passionate about the industry and each of my clients, I don’t cut off 100% from them when I leave the office. I always appreciate a call or a check-in from a client.”
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SA JEWELLERY NEWS – AUGUST 2020
