HAY RIVER - Finding that perfect diamond and getting your morning shot of java no longer have to be mutually exclusive activities, at least not in Hay River.

Lizanne Beck is the owner/manager of two businesses in one in Hay River – Gold 'n' Gift and The Diamond Willow Café. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Lizanne Beck and her partner have come up with a novel business model which has combined a new cafe with a well-known community jeweler.

In September, she moved the jewelry and gift store she has owned for seven years to a new location and added a café to it.

The dual business is known as Gold 'n' Gift and The Diamond Willow Café.

"It's just one business all under the same roof," Beck said.

She said she wanted to add a café to Gold 'n' Gift for a while, explaining it was largely because her partner, Donald Fisher, has a passion for cooking.

"I don't know how the café came up per se to be honest with you," she said. "I'd probably say it was more his idea."

Her partner cooks at the new café and created the menu.

Beck said having two businesses in one has certain advantages.

"People come in here for lunch that may not have necessarily come into the Gold 'n' Gift before to buy a diamond ring or giftware or something," she said. "So it's definitely expanded the clientele that way."

Some customers have asked about the idea of having a combined jewelry store and café, she said. "They just thought it was a really interesting combination that they hadn't seen anywhere before."

Such diversity is one of the nice things a businessperson can do in a small town, she said, adding, for example, that Gold 'n' Gift also offers trophies, recognition awards, and on-site engraving with a computerized machine.

Beck admitted she struggled with what to call the combined business, before deciding to keep the name Gold 'n' Gift, since the business has been around for over 25 years.

"I think we'll probably stay with the two names," she said.

Beck, 36, enjoys both aspects of her business.

"I have to say I like them both a lot," she said.

For Gold 'n' Gift, she gets to order jewelry and travel to gift shows. For the café, she creates desserts and drinks.

"It's fun," she said.

Beck also enjoys the double business more than just owning and operating Gold 'n' Gift, which was located in the Godwin Mall in downtown Hay River.

"This is nicer because of the café. There's a lot more through traffic," she explained, adding people come for lunch or to grab a coffee. "You see a lot more people."

The jewelry and gift store and café is now located in Hay River's Industrial Area.

Beck said the new format is working out well and there has been a lot of positive feedback from customers.

"People are really happy with it," she said, saying they enjoy bread baked fresh every morning, healthy lunches, and drinks like lattes, espressos and hot chocolates.

"We don't deep fry anything here. There's nothing greasy here," she said. "It's just healthy."

With the move to the new location and the addition of the café, Beck has tripled her staff. Including herself and her partner, there are 10 employees – four full-time and six part-time.

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