From Wiping Counters to CEO of Luisa Graff Jewelers | Andrew Graff

Andrew Graff did not step into his family’s jewelry business at the top. After serving in the Navy and building a corporate retail career, he joined Luisa Graff Jewelers by applying through HR, interviewing with his mother, and starting at the bottom wiping counters.In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Andrew explains how he earned his way into ownership, built role-specific training systems, helped his mother retire, and became CEO of the Colorado Springs jewelry store his family built. He also shares the leadership rule he returns to under pressure: when you want to react, don’t.The conversation covers family-business succession, military discipline, people management, customer feedback, authentic advertising, custom jewelry, parenting, faith, work-life balance, and Andrew’s plan to train the next generation of bench jewelers.FEATURED GUESTAndrew GraffCEO, Luisa Graff JewelersWebsite: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/Team: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/about/luisa-graff-team/CHAPTERS00:00 The rule, the legacy, and the system01:03 Colorado Business Podcast intro01:13 Andrew Graff and Luisa Graff Jewelers03:52 A Colorado family legacy in gold07:12 Learning jewelry at six and joining the Navy13:47 Starting from the bottom in the family business14:46 Diamond sponsor and sponsor read18:39 From corporate retail to a family business22:10 Becoming a partner and building training systems27:21 Helping his mother retire and taking ownership31:26 Customer feedback and a service-first team33:19 Building custom jewelry in-house37:21 Authenticity and fun in advertising43:58 Family legacy, faith, and parenting46:47 Balancing business and family52:47 Bellwether sponsor read55:59 Leadership lessons from business and family58:19 Presence, execution, and Navy values60:32 The next generation of bench jewelers63:42 OutroSPONSORSDiamond sponsor read:EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/RAIN: https://rain.tech/Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/Standard sponsor read:Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTThe Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastExplore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/What is one responsibility you had to earn before you were ready to lead? Share it in the comments.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #AndrewGraff #FamilyBusiness