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Windsor Wonderland

This landmark local business is growing

Two iconic green items trace their roots to Augusta; one is a jacket and the other a small box. Any occasion to receive either one is most definitely memorable. This holiday season, we’re focusing on the small green box that has captured the affection and loyalty of shoppers from Augusta and beyond.

Third generation jeweler and marketing director for Windsor Fine Jewelers, Shane Thompson, says, “It’s what’s behind the green box that’s so important, which is superior customer service, competitive pricing, and the highest quality of goods. All of those together make the experience that the green box represents.” It’s that overall experience that brings customers back year after year.

"[The] customer service is outstanding! I have been shopping here every year for 20 plus years,” says Graham Wood. “My wife would not know it was Christmas without a green box under the tree!”

Windsor has been locally owned and operated for over 40 years. “We’re a family of knowledgeable and experienced staff, many of whom have been here for 10, 20, or even 30 years,” says Shane. “They’ve been through the trends; they’ve seen styles that have worked and things that haven’t worked. They are incredible guides to the inventory here.”

Over the years, the physical building locations have changed, but the current store sits within a few hundred feet of the original store site, which was in National Hills shopping center next to J.B. White. “Windsor went from being a tiny store amongst a bunch of other stores when it first launched, to growing so much with such a large inventory that it put us on the national map for the top 10 largest jewelers in America.”

With such a large inventory, space at the store has been tight. In 2020, Windsor added a two-story expansion to the current building. “The expansion downstairs will give us room to bring over the entire bridal line; all those rings will now move over to that new section,” says Shane. “We also have a couple more viewing rooms where people can learn about the stones they are purchasing and the engagement rings themselves.”

Windsor boasts a collection of 7,000 engagement rings, the largest selection of engagement rings in the Southeast. It’s the ultimate place to try a variety of styles and find the perfect ring. “We talk about engagement rings all the time,” says Shane, “but you really don’t know what it feels like to put a style on that you've seen in a picture until you come into the store, see something that resembles what you’re looking for, try it on, and see if you like it.”

In addition to what you see in the showcase when you enter the store, Windsor has a significant understock, and Shane says that will continue to be the case during the Christmas season. “Even as the days get closer to Christmas and you see other stores with bare shelves, you can come here on Christmas Eve, and we will still have the showcases packed out,” he says. “As we sell through things, we continue to bring out new items. This Christmas, we’ll have more room to bring out our understock and start filling out the rest of the new expansion and the store. I’m excited about that. This is the same Windsor with the same customer experience…everything will be as it has been, only greater.”

A holiday tradition for the last few years, the Green Box Hunt has returned with all the excitement and anticipation of exploring the city and finding these hidden gems. “This will be the fourth year for the Green Box Hunt." For eight weeks leading up to Christmas, people hunt the CSRA to find the green box. Whoever solves the clues and finds the box wins a prize from the featured designer of that week. "It can be found anywhere in the CSRA," Shane continues, "usually in locations that have some sort of significance we feel is important to the locals and is a challenge to find. There is no cost to participate. We just love integrating with our community and giving folks a reason to get outside and share time with one another.”

The hunt for the green box continues through Christmas week, giving locals and visitors incentive to learn more about the history of Augusta and the CSRA.

As the holiday season wraps up and we look towards 2021, the main showroom at Windsor will take on a new look. “In the next year, several of our big brands will come in and start creating their own atmosphere within our showroom,” says Shane. “They will bring in their own showcases and lighting to create their brand footprint within our showroom.”

Already a destination store for shoppers throughout the southeast, the renovations and expansion of the showroom space will provide an even grander experience. “If you haven’t been in the store, you need to visit,” encourages Shane. “You don’t have to purchase something; we just want to see and meet you and show you around. The amount of product we have is an experience within itself.”

Whether you’re just beginning an Augusta tradition of sharing a treasured green box gift with someone special, or you’re a longtime customer looking to add to your collection, be sure to stop by this holiday season to explore the new expansion and say hello to the Windsor Fine Jewelers family.

Windsor Fine Jewelers is located at 2635 Washington Road. To explore their large inventory online, visit WindsorFineJewelers.com.

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