With more than 15 years of experience in the business, Ron Goodson is closing his Goodson’s of Malibu jewelry store. Goodson and his wife, Diana, are expecting their second child in December.
By Kevin Connelly / Special to The Malibu Times
After maintaining a jewelry store in Malibu since April of 1990, Goodson’s of Malibu founder Ron Goodson has decided to close shop. Goodson, an Oxnard resident, said the decision was largely based on a desire to spend more time with his family.
“As a 40-year-old man, retirement is a word I’m incapable of using,” Goodson said. “The move will afford me the opportunity to spend more time getting to know my family and myself better. I truly need to pay more attention to my personal needs.”
Goodson said he may ultimately pursue another enterprise, but indicated that he was done with the jewelry business. In the meantime, his wife, Diana, also on staff at Goodson’s Jewelry, will be giving birth to their second child in December.
According to the store’s Web site, www.goodsonsofmalibu.com, Goodson completed training at both the University of Southern California and the Gemological Institute of America prior to founding Goodson’s of Malibu. (Diana, who is originally from Connecticut, also received training at the Gemological Institute.) While at the GIA, Goodson’s specializations included fine jewelry, diamond grading and counter sketching techniques.
After these studies, Goodson chose to found his business in Malibu because his family had ties to the city dating back to the 1920s, when his grandfather bought a home near Pacific Coast Highway and Decker Canyon Road. Goodson said the timing was never right for him to purchase his own Malibu home, though, and he facilitated the jewelry store operation largely out of Los Angeles.
Goodson said he sold many memorable pieces of jewelry since opening the store more than 15 years ago, but it was the relationships with his customers that he cherished the most.
“I’ve sold many grandiose items over the years,” he said. “But what I’ve always valued most about the job is the relationships with my customers. My favorite sale was a $600 ring to a couple I had known from high school. That really meant a lot to me. It was absolutely perfect.”
“One time,” he continued, “I missed the deadline on a $12 repair and the client needed the piece for a wedding. I drove the item myself from Malibu to San Diego and hand delivered it to them in time.”
And, yes, Goodson said his clients include a few of the many celebrities living in and around the Malibu area.
Goodson has also been an active member of the Malibu community. According to the store’s Web site, Goodson has contributed time, money and jewelry to Our Lady of Malibu Elementary, the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue, Webster Elementary School and Celebration of Education.
Not having set an exact closing date as of yet, Goodson’s of Malibu remains functioning out of its Malibu Country Mart location at Cross Creek Road. Goodson said the store has cut back repair services by 80 percent, but he is selling some of his merchandise at 30 percent to 60 percent off. Some of the items in the store, Goodson said, are being sold below the purchase cost.
When these final items are sold in the “immediate future,” Goodson said, he will take his leave.
For Goodson’s of Malibu Sales Consultant Sherri Calosso, he will be sorely missed.
“[Goodson’s of Malibu] has been a great working environment,” said Calosso, 31. “It is one of the most fantastic places I have ever worked. The customers of Malibu have been amazing and they are really going to miss Ron.”