Robertino The Jeweler is the chief operating officer at WatchGuys, which specializes in the buying and selling of pre-owned luxury watches and jewelry in the heart of Los Angeles’s Jewelry District. He is also a successful digital marketing expert and content creator. Learn about Robertino The Jeweler…
Follow at: @watchguys_
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
First job: My first job was working at my uncle’s jewelry store in Huntington Park. This is where I first learned about jewelry and watches. Shortly after working for my uncle, I began working at my dad’s luxury jewelry and watch store in Beverly Hills. While working for my Dad, I was able to learn about online marketing, build upon my jewelry expertise and craft my negotiation skills when needed.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in CA: My favorite ways to spend my free time often consist of catching up on quality time with my mom, dad and brother. While I work with my dad on an everyday basis, I cherish every moment we have together. We enjoy going out to eat at restaurants in Los Angeles or spending time together at home. My mom no longer lives in LA; however, when she does come to visit, we enjoy taking a nice boat ride, or spending quality time at my house. I also have a younger brother that I enjoy playing sports with or showing him the ropes of the business. Aside from family time, I enjoy playing in my basketball league, going to a Lakers game, or playing tennis.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: The recent success of WatchGuys. After starting the business with virtually zero customers, I took the business to new heights using my social media expertise to market the business, and ultimately, gain the trust of local and national customers. Reaching $1 million was always something you dreamed about as a kid, and hitting this milestone at just eight months in time has fueled my ambition to take the business to even greater heights. It was never about the money, though; it was about good old-fashioned competition, grit and building a transparent marketplace that people from around the world could trust. My greatest passion is online marketing. After owning my own boutique digital marketing agency, specifically focusing on SEO, I helped several businesses including e-commerce and local plastic surgeons clients (for over eight years) – I was finally able to use my skills to help grow my own business.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: The biggest obstacle I overcame was leaving my high-paying and safe salary job to start my own business.
Someone who inspires you and why: My dad is someone who inspires me on a daily basis. He is someone who came from nothing and showed me what it means to be self-made. After growing up in Cranston, Rhode Island, his baseball talents led him to South Beach Florida, where he played college baseball and ultimately professional baseball for some time. Shortly after his baseball career, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he opened up his first jewelry store. After learning that he could perfect his craft on a larger scale, he moved onwards to Los Angeles where he opened up a chain of jewelry stores (having over 10 locations at a time). From here, he pursued real estate and taught me both the real estate business and the jewelry and watch business at a young age. He had a strong passion for residential real estate, showing me how to buy, fix and sell homes. My dad’s resilience and willingness to never give up motivated me and showed me the drive it took to be successful. These traits left a great influence on me and encouraged me to become the businessman that I have become today.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Never shy away from an idea. Anyone can think of an idea, but not everyone will actually take action on it. When **** hits the fan, keep going – it’s all part of the process. Just when things are starting to get uncomfortable, this is when you are in the midst of creating something great. Never turn back if you enjoy what you do – enjoy the journey and keep going every day.
Favorite quote: “He who hesitates is lost.” I am not sure where this comes from, but it is a quote my grandpa would say to my dad – and now my dad has passed it along to me. This encapsulates the philosophy of taking advantage of any opportunity without hesitation. Those who hesitate or take too long to think will often miss out on the opportunity, and many times the opportunity has already came and went. Many times in life I’ve found…if you’re not first, you’re last.
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: School never came easy to me, work did. I studied harder than any of my peers in grade school, high school or college. I always “over studied” – with the goal of doing my very best on every assignment I was assigned.
What makes someone fabulous: Honesty – sticking by your word.