About the Owners and Our Store!

Opening a store in my hometown is a dream come true. I began working for a jewelry manufacturer as an inside sales representative more than 30 years ago. I began selling to jewelry stores across the country and quickly became hands on in all aspects of the company. I began not only picking out new styles to sell but also worked with vendors and casters to get the best prices on castings, developing relationships that would become invaluable as my boss retired a few years ago and closed that business. 

With years of experience under my belt, I knew that I could offer fine quality jewelry at a great price. After all, I had been buying and selling jewelry to jewelry stores for decades, so the transition to retail just took a small leap of faith. 

When deciding on a name for my new venture, I felt a calling to identify my company with a name that is symbolic of what I stand for, what I've been through, and what continues to be important in my life.

After a few brainstorming meeting with colleagues and friends the name Lydiann kind of chose me. Way back in the day the wholesale jewelry industry consisted of mostly men. They ran it all. From the diamond mines to the factory owners and certainly the salespeople. 

As an all-woman sales force at my former wholesale company, we stood out then, believe me, especially at trade shows from L.A to N.Y.C and shows in Dallas, Miami, Charlotte, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas to name a few. Women in the wholesale side of the business was a rarity. 

So, in researching strong saleswomen who paved the way I went all the way back to biblical times. Women talk about glass ceilings now, but can you imagine back then in what it would have been like to be sales WOMAN? Go to Acts chapter 16 and read about Lydia. 

Lydia was a seller of purple. She was a devout woman. It is suggested that Lydia became the first European Christian convert. She was respected, hard working saleswoman, quite possible a lady of means as a homeowner became a Christian, hosting the apostle Paul in her home!

I LOVE everything about Lydia! A seller of purple, a strong leader and above all, a Christian. I always want everyone to feel welcomed. She is all the things we should aspire to be. To be like Lydia... LYDIANN. 

I was blessed for God to bring me a wonderful husband, Brad Bensman. He has attended New Approach Jewelry School and will be joining us at the store doing repairs. He is very supportive of our business as well as being a full time employee of Cobb Industries. 

We want you to know that with each purchase that you make from Lydiann Jewelry that you are appreciated more than you know and any success we enjoy at Lydiann Jewelry is because of your generosity and God's good grace.

 

Thank you for shopping with us. We wish you and your family peace, love and joy abundant as we promise to work hard to earn your business, trust, and friendship everyday. God Bless You!

 

Thank you, 

Anna Criswell Bensman and Brad Bensman  

As of Dec. 2021