They always say to focus on what’s in front of you instead of looking back. To some extent I get it, but at the close of each year I always appreciate the opportunity to reflect on the previous 365 days. To celebrate the good times, recognize the changes, and the realize the growth.

As I gaze back at 2018 I have to say family was a huge theme. The motto that we’ve been adopting is “work hard, play harder” and as a result we have some amazing new memories together. The highlight was our vacation to Maui which had been a dream for a while. From snorkeling, to whale watching, to hiking Diamondhead we did it all! As the week went on every day seemed to get even better. Not just because of where we were, but because we were all there together.

On the business side of the house Mark and I learned A LOT this year. Even after thirty years in the jewelry industry we’re constantly humbled by how much there is to know and how quickly things progress. One of our major milestones this year was teaming up with a group of 10 other jewelry stores nationwide to implement best practices. The goal … to be the best store in Cincinnati. From revamping our product lines to developing new marketing campaigns we put a lot of energy into Yelton Fine Jewelers this year. We hope that our customers {ahem, you} enjoy what they’ve seen so far!!

In summary, I have to say 2018 was a huge growth period for myself, my family, and the business. I love to see that we’re constantly learning – how to be better parents, how to manage the store more efficiently, how to listen better, how to be good community members, on and on. As we march towards 2019 I’m so grateful to have these experiences to look back upon. They’ll serve as a great foundation for what’s to come.

Happy New Year everyone. Wishing you the best in 2019, and beyond.