Commitment to quality runs three generations deep at MarBill Diamonds & Jewelry in Rostraver Township.
Bill Horrell Sr. and his late wife, Anna Louise, opened the business at 400 Broad Ave. in North Belle Vernon in 1964.
They named it after their daughter, Margaret, and son, Bill Jr., who is now the company president.
The Horrell family lived above the business' original location.
Bill Horrell Jr., a North Belle Vernon resident, recalled being an 11-year-old excited to get to the shop for his lunch break from school.
"I would walk to the elementary school and come home at lunchtime and my mom would be the only one there. I would sit on the counter down there while she went up and made me lunch," he said.
The business and the family were basically one.
"We lived and breathed it," Bill Horrell Jr. said.
Bill Horrell Sr. said he started the business with a $1,000 loan and strictly family in mind.
"I did it out of necessity. I just had to provide for my family and make a living," he said.
"When I got married, I bought my wife's diamond and a magnifying glass so she could see it," he added with a laugh.
The founder said he began running the jewelry store after 32 years as a train conductor and union official with Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel's Monessen Southwestern Railroad Co.
"I figured I needed to get something that was more sustaining," Bill Horrell Sr. said. "My wife worked at the 5 and 10. I put her to work in the store."
MarBill began as a catalog outlet.
In 1986, the Horrells added the jewelry department.
They closed the two catalog showroom locations and made MarBill an exclusive jewelry retailer in 1999.
"It became a jewelry business because of Walmart. It was the best thing that they ever did to me," Bill Horrell Sr. said. "I went to a seminar and they said, 'Don't try to compete with Walmart. Work on your strengths.' Well, where was our strength⢠In jewelry."
Bill Horrell Jr. said the change was vital to the business' survival.
"We sold everything ... appliances, electronics, bicycles," he said of MarBill's early days. "And we actually were in the swimming pool business. My dad's idea was to have something for everybody for every season."
That mentality persists today at MarBill, where the family features a diverse lineup of bridal jewelry and diamonds, along with specialized services.
Bill Horrell Jr.'s wife of 32 years, Linda Horrell, is the company vice president and a graduate gemologist. Their son, Michael, is a graduate jeweler.
The two earned their specialized titles from the renowned Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, Calif.
Continuing education is an integral part of what the MarBill staff offers.
"It's our genuine concern and care of personal service for the customer," Bill Horrell Jr. said. "It's just honesty and integrity and treating people fairly. That's what we pride ourselves in. In the jewelry industry, it's a lot about trust.
"And today, the consumer is very savvy, especially with the Internet. So when they come in, we have to have the answers to the questions they have."
The Mid-Mon Valley's largest jewelry retailer moved in July 2006 to its current location at 112 Pricedale Road in The Shoppes at Rostraver business plaza in Rostraver Township.
The 3,000-square-foot store is close to four times the size of the original.
MarBill is a member of the Independent Jewelers Organization, an industry leader.
The Horrells said the staff's efforts and the benefits of IJO membership have allowed MarBill to remain on the cutting edge of industry trends.
"The biggest shift within the past 10 years is going from yellow gold to white gold," Bill Horrell Jr. said. "Now, it's starting to slowly turn back to yellow gold ... with the price of gold being so high."
Bill Horrell Jr. said the higher-ups in the company frequently travel outside of the area to learn about the latest jewelry trends.
"We go to a lot of shows to try to find out what's happening," he said. "The Mon Valley is not a trend setter. We are a trend follower, so we kind of get a little up on it beforehand and try to push those trends."
For the last four years, MarBill has been carrying chocolate diamonds, which Linda Horrell said have become more popular in the past year.
The company also sells watches and decorative rosaries.
Engagement rings and Pandora jewelry, a line of beaded charm bracelets, are the best sellers at the shop.
The Horrells have made several trips to Antwerp, Belgium, to find quality gems.
"We go over there and hand-pick diamonds. We actually go to the diamond offices," Bill Horrell Jr. said. "It used to be the diamond capital of the world. Sixty percent of all of the world's diamonds are either polished, traded or sold in Antwerp. We try to presale before we go and let people know that we are going. If they really want a special diamond, we could find it there and save them maybe 10 or 20 percent."
Bill Horrell Jr. said MarBill's inventory has helped create a broad customer base.
"We probably draw from a 50-mile radius," he said. "It's been a very good business, despite the economy."
MarBill became a more complete jewelry provider in 1999, when it began featuring in-house jewelry repairs and adjustments.
"Our business is driven by our diamonds, Pandora, and our service area with my son," Bill Horrell Jr. said.
Michael Horrell runs the service department.
"He sets diamonds. He does all the in-house repairs and remounting," Bill Horrell Jr. said. "We've always done repairs. We used to farm out the job. Now, everything stays right here. That's another trust issue right there. People can bring their jewelry here and they know it doesn't leave the premises."
Promotions have also been a successful component at MarBill.
"We're getting ready for our annual Super Bowl sale. That's going to be on (Saturday) Feb. 5," Linda Horrell said. "It's a happy, party atmosphere. We have hot dogs and kielbasa and we'll dress up. This year for our door prizes, we're going to be giving out gas cards."
"For one day only, it's half off for everything on display. It's kind of like a clearance type of thing," Bill Horrell Jr. said.
Customer loyalty and devoted employees have kept MarBill going, Bill Horrell Jr. said.
"I just enjoy the people," he said. "I'm getting to the point with my employees where I get to greet my customers and talk to my customers. I just enjoy being a part of their lives. I think about how many gifts we've help put under the tree over the years."
Bill Horrell Jr. said the MarBill family has been part of several memorable occasions for customers.
"Engagements are very special, because you become a part of their legacy," he said. "You become part of their life, and we try to make a big deal about that. They remember they got that diamond here and they return for their wedding band."
The founder's son said his life changed during his early years behind the counter.
Bill Horrell Jr. met his wife at work.
"She was a customer," he said with a smile. "She came in to buy a jewelry box from me."
And it's no mystery where he bought her engagement ring.
The couple's son began working at MarBill when he was 15. He is next in line to take over the business.
Michael Horrell chose to continue working with the family to keep the MarBill legacy alive.
"There's that old sense of pride and trying to give the same customer service we've been giving for many years," he said. "It's a good job. I enjoy what I'm doing."
The MarBill staff is gearing up for the springtime, the business' busiest time of the year.
Because of its success, MarBill may soon expand, possibly with a new stand-alone location.
For now, the staff is looking forward to many more memorable moments with their customers.
"We are where women get into trouble and men get out of trouble," Bill Horrell Jr. said with a smile.
MarBill Diamonds & Jewelry is open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, go online to www.marbilljewelers.com or call (724) 929-6633 or (724) 929-3784.
