“Throughout my career in jewellery, I’ve had to use outdated technology, along with many other jewellers. The jewelry industry has been underserved and overlooked for so long. I knew the problem wouldn’t solve itself because our industry is too niche for big tech,” Razny explains.
Before Crystal, Razny managed retail operations at Razny Jewellers, one of the nation’s top revenue-generating independent jewelry stores. There, he experienced first-hand the inconveniences independent retailers faced when utilizing inventory management that contributed to negative customer experiences, strained vendor relationships, and decreased profitability. Razny reflects, “It was frustrating operating with such limited software, so Joel and I decided to build an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and test its viability in my store. Shortly after that, word spread and we saw interest from jewellers across the country.”
Since launching in 2020, Crystal has managed inventory, point-of-sale, and operations for industry-leading jewellers from New York to L.A., including Henne, Polachecks Jewelers, Material Good, Michael Herman NY, David Gardner’s Jewellers, and Walter’s & Hogsett, among many others.
Razny shares, “Jewelry stores are generational businesses passed down through families. My grandfather opened Razny Jewelers in Chicago in 1951. It’s been in the family for 70 years. As a third-generation jeweller with more than eight years in tech, I felt uniquely suited to move jewellery software forward. Crystal is more than a software company to me, it’s my family’s legacy.”
