Ruby Highway Gems ethically sources crystals, jewellery and extra

After discovering her deep attraction for uncooked crystals on the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Heidi Maguire started her journey towards proudly owning her personal artisan gem and stone store. From jewellery and crystals to reiki therapeutic, Ruby Highway Gems is a spot for non secular consciousness.

The one factor stronger than Maguire’s love for gems is her love for her daughter. As soon as her daughter started highschool, she wanted one thing new to occupy her time. 

“My daughter was in highschool, and I used to be sort of a stay-at-home mother,” Maguire stated. “I made a decision I used to be going to have to return out into the world, and I assumed ‘What am I going to do?’ So I went to GIA — in Carlsbad, [California] — and it took me 4 years, after which I graduated [when] the pandemic hit.”

The pandemic affected lots of people, taking away the enjoyment of human contact. Maguire acknowledged this and got down to create an area the place folks might really feel and heal on the identical time. 

 “I wished folks to have the ability to contact issues once more, so I went to Lackland Air Power Base the place I began a kiosk there,” Maguire stated. “I had beforehand been a navy contractor, so I contacted them, and I assumed it could be very attention-grabbing to point out folks mine to market, like, the way it comes from the earth after which it’s changed into jewellery and the science behind it.”

Maguire’s enterprise boomed at Lackland, and she or he continued the sample when she finally opened up Ruby Highway Gems. Initially, Maguire had deliberate to open the shop on the underside ground of the constructing and have an workplace area upstairs. Nonetheless, that quickly modified after opening the store.

“I assumed it could be enjoyable to place a retailer right here and an workplace upstairs, however then so many individuals got here in in search of therapeutic providers like reiki and tarot,” Maguire stated. “So, I pulled out my gemological laboratory and began doing providers up right here within the wannabe workplace.”

After working each the store and kiosks for a while, Maguire realized a downsize was wanted.

“I spotted I used to be simply working an excessive amount of,” Maguire mirrored. “I downsized the kiosks on the bases and began solely doing a pop-up store in the course of the summer time. It was arduous to maintain up with the demand at each places. It was a tremendous factor, however it was simply an excessive amount of.”

Buying the crystals and gems wanted for the store is not any straightforward feat, although Maguire explains the method seamlessly.

“It’s completely different for all completely different species as a result of all of them come from completely different locations and nations,” Maguire stated. “Our Herkimer diamonds come from a girl in Herkimer, New York. She goes out and handpicks the entire Herkimer. I’ve just a few household companies in Brazil that ship me issues. I even have a man in Pakistan who goes to Afghanistan to get me Lapis. In Asia, I’ve numerous my carvings completed there as a result of they’re mineral-rich in fluorites. Each nation has one thing.”

An essential a part of Maguire’s enterprise is ensuring her gems and crystals are ethically sourced.

“I wish to make it possible for the place I purchase from is conflict-free and that there is no such thing as a little one labor,” Maguire acknowledged. “Most of those persons are simply mineral farmers, they usually depend upon our enterprise. That’s the place the phrase moral is concerned.”

Exterior of gems, jewellery and therapeutic providers, Ruby Highway Gems affords different miscellaneous objects. Fortunately, Maguire has a neighborhood that’s consistently inspiring her to discover new merchandise. 

“Every part that we purchase is virtually as a result of somebody requested,” Maguire stated. “Lots of these items I might by no means personally purchase, however I purchase them as a result of I do know it’s what the neighborhood needs. The cleaning soap that we now have is handmade by any individual in Hawaii. We ship her the crystals, and she or he makes the cleaning soap with lovely intention[s]. We even have somebody that gives us tea and incense. She is a herbalist and nutritionist.”

Having a social media presence is significant for some companies. Maguire understands that she lacks in that space and embraces its imperfections. 

“Properly, I’m tremendous dangerous at it,” Maguire defined. “I believe it will be significant, however I believe we now have numerous room to develop, identical with the web site. Now we have no actual social media aesthetic. It’s simply very actual folks taking pictures actual issues. Every part is exclusive.”

Situated at 503 Ave. A Suite #1115, Ruby Highway Gems is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday by Saturday and 10 a.m. to six p.m. on Sundays. For extra data, go to their web site at https://rubyroadusa.com/collections/all.