b'CANDYUDELLJEWELRY BEGINNINGSbusiness to the next level. While studying at the University of Miami, Candy met herWe called Rolex for about two years, she remembers of her early husband Mark Udell, the third generation of the London Jewelerscareer. Mark was so persistent that the salesman finally came out on family. Marks maternal grandfather, Charles London, founded thea Sunday when the store was closed.company in 1926 in Glen Cove, New York. The meeting went well. Suddenly, London Jewelers was a Rolex Candy and Mark got engaged as she finished school.stockist. Patek Philippe followed.Mark would say to me, Why dont you come in every day for likeAdding more top-of-the-line brands became the business mis-an hour or two? I had never worked a day in my life. Since I metsion, which, at the time, wasnt common for independent jewelers. him, I havent stopped working. For London Jewelers, however, adding brands such as Mark had a vision of how he wanted to grow thePomellato was a recipe for success. business. Candy fit perfectly into it.There is a reason why Candy Udell is a Her taste level for picking out merchan- true leader in our industry and why I have dise was beyond, Mark says. You needso much admiration for that when you want to develop theher both as a busi-business and make sure the productness partner and that comes into the store is moreas an incredible special than what the average jewel- MULTI-STOREhuman, says er has. She was the answer. INDEPENDENTPomellato The two were married andINDUCTEE President and worked alongside Marks parents,CEO of the Fran and Mayer Udell, plus oneAmericas Nath-other employee at the Glen Covealie Diamantis.store. Her relentless Working with ones in-laws mightpursuit of the very best, as well as sound like a daunting scenario for athe latest, jewelry designs is beyond newlywed, but Candy sings Fran andreproach.Mayers praises.London Jewelers expansion into brands They were very wonderful, loving peopleand its store expansions went hand in hand and they allowed us the freedom to do what weover the years. wanted to grow the business, she explains.In 1980, London Jewelers opened its second location at My mother taught me how to shop and my mother-in-law taughtWheatley Plaza in Greenvale, New York, another town on the west-me how to work.ern end of Long Island. Looking back, Candy sees her decision to join the family businessA third store followed at the tony Americana Manhasset shopping as one of the most important of her life.center in 1984. I knew that if I didnt, my husband and I would have differentIn 1996, London Jewelers was able to move to a more prime loca-lives. I knew that I had to be there to work with him because I felttion in the outdoor luxury mall. That same year, a neighboring brand we were stronger together as a team. moved out.Mark adds, I imagine a lot of husbands and wives cant work to- Candy jumped on the opportunity to take over the space. gether but we had a mission. I was 22, she was 20. [Working togetherI said to Mark, We have to take it, she remembers. Mark said, through the years] weve had no challenges whatsoever. Thats proba- Well, what are we going to put in it? I said, Who cares? Just take it bly a big reason for the success. and well figure it out!They realized they could partner with a brand to fill the space, and A TURNING POINT so began their relationship with Van Cleef & Arpels. As the third generation of London Jewelers, Candy considers her andAt the time, Van Cleef & Arpels didnt have the same widespread Marks greatest contribution to be their focus on stocking big brands.recognition it does today. Its focus was more on high jewelry than According to Candy, who is today president of London Jewelers,attainable pieces. But the brand had just started its wholesale business developing relationships with world-class partners brought theand Candy and Mark were enamored with the new Alhambra design. I KNEW THAT IF I DIDNT JOIN THE FAMILY BUSINESS, MY HUSBAND AND I WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT LIVES. I KNEW THAT I HAD TO BE THERE TO WORK WITH HIM BECAUSE I FELT WE WERE STRONGER TOGETHER AS A TEAM.CANDY UDELLNATIONAL JEWELER 29'