Meet the Team at Au Jewelry Exchange Lab
Get to know the people behind your favourite places & spaces in downtown Burlington! We’ll be introducing you to a new owner & business throughout the year!
This week, meet Jen Stokes, Peter de Pagter, Terry Line, and Karl Chenat Au Jewelry Exchange Lab
1. Why did you start/open your business?
Peter has always been interested in precious metals and recognized the opportunity for the retail market to maximize on the high market prices for Gold & Silver. We both had previous businesses that we closed due to Covid 19. Using our experience from those businesses and resources on hand we began to develop out a new business model to a much needed make over in the precious metals space. Alongside two other partners (Terry & Karl) we began to focus our efforts here in Burlington and build an online and in lab experience.
2. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. (i.e. What is your unique offering?)
We buy precious metals (gold, silver and platinum) and recycle them back into the market. Our sustainable approach is also a transparent one – with POSTED rates based on the spot price of metals each day, you can be confident in knowing you’re getting the best offer for your no longer in use valuables. We offer our clientele a seamless, flexible and Covid-safe selling experience with options to pick up at your home or join us in the lab at our downtown Burlington location. Selling your valuable can be intimidating: not knowing what they’re worth. Stressing about negotiation the value, and getting ripped off are all common concerns. We’ve changed the game, providing you with a simple formula – we weigh your items, test them for purity and pay you on the spot with guaranteed daily posted rates. Testing is done for free in our secure lab and is often completed within an hour. To ensure complete transparency, all testing appointments are recorded and electronically shared with the customer.
About us!
Pete in Jen live together in rural Burlington, when not working Pete is an avid gardener and cyclist and can usually be found in the garden or biking the many trails Burlington has to offer. Jen loves open water swimming and can typically be found at Burlington Beach, she is currently studying Community Justice with Mohawk College and aspires one day open a swim camp for oppressed women
Terry Line is a long time Burlington resident and businessman. His family owned and operated Canadian Tire for a number of years here in Burlington. He’s an avid sailor and astute businessman, he and his wife and children are active members of the Burlington community
Karl Chen is the only non Burlington resident. He lives in the GTA and is our Design partner. A recently new Dad, he mostly works and changes diapers!
3. When did you open your business in Downtown Burlington?
May 2021
4. What made you choose Downtown Burlington?
Kat from Modern Love Jewelry is a good friend and business colleague she introduced us to the location and landlord. We viewed many commercial spaces in big towers, and although there were lovely. We decided that being downtown was the most accessible for our clientele and ideal for community activations that we have planned once were able to gather together.
5. What other downtown businesses do you frequent and do business with?
Corned Beef Hut is just down the street from us, it is our go to spot on a long day, I love #7 Bahn mi sandwich. I think I had that sandwich 4 days in a row..
Tamp Coffee
Centro Farmers Market and Centro! We are a regular to both
TD Bank has been wonderful for our business banking needs
Joelle’s – my track pants I’ve been living in for a year are not so suitable for business attire, looking forward to doing some shopping here! I’ve heard great reviews about the quality and style.
Our backyard nieghbour – Drummer Books, I love the library and great book stores. Once open I will be there!
I haven’t had the ice cream yet at La Crème de la Crème Creamery Inc, but that is for sure on the list!
Myself personally I’ve walked by most because of the lockdown, but once we are open for sure we will be knocking on our neighbours doors to say hi and network with our Downtown friends
6. What special events do you have coming up in 2021 that you would like the BDBA to promote and/or publish on our website and social media outlets?
We are taking things as they come and planning experiences for when our community opens back up safety. As an essential service we are open and servicing customers by appointment. We are planning on hosting special events in the lab as we as some fun community activations outside.
Some of which include
– gold parties with special guests
– Burlington’s very own game show, were residence answer trivia to win prizes from us and supporting business that we align with ( ie free jewelry repair, tamp coffee)
7. If you had a piece of advice for our new businesses, to help them succeed, what would it be?
Growth takes time, build on quality. It’s a marathon, not a sprint
8. You’re going on a road trip, and you’re making a feel-good, happy-summer playlist … what song absolutely, positively HAS to be on that playlist (and why?)
We are road trip peeps so there is always a ready playlist on hand. “It’s a Good Life if you don’t weaken” Tragically Hip. It’s a great song to remind you to take the time to live your life with pupose and with each other. It’s a beautiful tune.
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