An Inspired Chat with Usama Yaqoob of Cobb

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Usama Yaqoob. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Usama, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I’d say the #1 most misunderstood thing about our business and industry as a whole is that people think we are selling goods for 100s to 1000s of % of profit, and just pocketing all that money and living this extremely lavish lifestyle. In general, our business operates at 15-20% margins, and if it’s a really big ticket sale or item, then it’s very likely less than that. There’s many different scales to jewelry, and every jeweler/store is different. I know many jewelers who aim for 1-2 sales per month where they do aim for 100-200% profit on their goods, and I know jewelers who sell several million dollars worth of merchandise weekly, but only average 5-10% on the total. There’s major levels to our industry, and I think the generalization of it is very funny and misunderstood.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey, my name is Usama!
I’m 27 years old, and the owner of Gold Diamond and Co, located here in Cobb County at Cumberland Mall.
I’ve worked in the jewelry industry since I was 15 years old, and started my own business 7 years ago as a drop-out from the University of Georgia. I believe our business and store is special to our clients due to being a smaller, family-owned business, we value the relationships that are created from our business. You’ll often catch my mom, dad, or even sisters at the store, sometimes we’re having lunch together, sometimes we’re just sitting around doing nothing, and often we’re conducting our own business, for us – this is our 2nd home (often it feels like the 1st) as we’re here so often, and being a close-knit family, the same goes into our sales, when you interact with one of our sales people, you’ll often see and meet with the immediate family of the business and it allows the clients to feel that they’re also within the family, especially as we see many of our clients go through different chapters of life and which they share with us, and we get to see them.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My mother – she is the hardest working person I know, and tackles every problem and situation in her life with the fullest energy. I’ve watched her resilience to the struggles of life since I was young, as the oldest and only son of the family. She instilled in me the values of hard work, commitment, and dedication to whatever you do, and that whatever you do commit to, you should commit to at the fullest.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You can do it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes the public version of me is the real me, one thing I always preach is I want to be known for my character versus being known as a jeweler, so I aim to be that person everyday and being authentic to myself and to those around me daily.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
This is a really good question, because often I already feel I do this.
I’ve done an unbelievable amount of business for my young age, and I’ve maintained a maturity and personality unaffected by this. I give jewelry my best every day, whether it’s on our retail side for clients, our wholesale side to other jewelers whom we supply jewelry to, or suppliers and vendors we purchase materials and goods from. However, I’m not a famous celebrity jeweler or big on Instagram, and sometimes it bothers me that I haven’t had my “chance” but I just go forward without the praise, it’s also why I’m very honored to be able to do this interview with you the Voyage team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.golddiamondandco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golddiamondandco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/golddiamondandco

Image Credits
All photo credits go to my brother Cashen Low
IG @cvshen and @cashen.creative