• by Steve Smith , Staff Writer @popeyesm, April 11, 2025

Most retailers enhance the "IRL experience” with engaging store design, CX and occasional events. Gem Studio puts solder and a blowtorch in your hands. Created by Matt James in order to finance an Ugandan schoolhouse he had founded, this high concept retailer sells silver and turquoise jewelry, but only after the customer makes it herself. Matt and his co-founder (and wife) Lauren explored the lessons learned - about marketing, staffing and scaling - extreme experiential retail. You can listen to the entire podcast at this link.