Walt Adams
Time once again for the Power of Potential, I’m Walt Adams speaking with AIM Services, helping people with unique disabilities. With us today are Executive Director, Chris Lyons and N. Fox Jewelers, Owner, Harvery Fox.
Listen to the interview via youtube here or read the interview transcript below.
Chris Lyons
Hi Walt it's great to spend a Sunday morning with you, and thank you for being that voice of calmness in this difficult time. Everyone is going to experience positive covid-19 diagnosis, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that medical treatment is available, and that people remain as a-symptomatic as possible. It’s just an impossibility to guarantee that no one is going to become infected. We are aware of the probability. We're going to have some challenges here in Saratoga County and we've got to be ready to meet them in an appropriate way to keep people safe and healthy. It's a joy to see the fall colors start to come out and the seasons change because the one thing that doesn't change is all of the support and services we offer at AIM including a platform for those in the community to have a voice in this challenging time.
Walt Adams:
Speaking of partners we happen to have a long time friend of yours, Harvey Fox, Owner of N. Fox Jewelers on Broadway in Saratoga Springs on the program today
Chris Lyons:
Yes. I'm celebrating 25 years as a resident of Saratoga Springs. I bought my first watch at N. Fox Jewelers back in 1996. I still have it. The team at N. Fox still changes the battery in it and makes repairs when I need them. I've bought numerous items from them over the years. Harvey and Cassie are two really giving people and N Fox is the bedrock of the downtown business association. They've been there through thick and thin. They care about the public. Most of all they are very involved deeply in our community. N. Fox’s support of AIM and our recognition of the ADA’s 30th Year Anniversary was remarkable, giving us a percentage of their sales. Harvey cares. Cassie cares. They’re here to be very supportive members of our Saratoga Springs Community. We're so grateful to have them talk about the challenges of our downtown businesses during covid-19 and the need for all of us to support our local businesses because they make it a thriving, wonderful traditional downtown community that we can all be proud of
Walt Adams:
Amen. We have Harvey Fox on the line. We're going to speak with him. As always, thank you for your inspiration and we look forward to talking to you again Chris.
Chris Lyons:
I'm so grateful for what you've done for this community and the Power of Potential program on Star Radio because you have given voices to so many local not-for-profit, and businesses in a very challenging time. It’s great to be updated. I know your listeners are excited to know what is next for us on the frontier here. Please, whatever you do don't forget to wash your hands.
Walt Adams.
Will do Chris, and thank you
Chris Lyons:
Take care my brother.
Walt Adams:
Each week we talk to a different community leader and this week I have the privilege of speaking with Harvey Fox, the Owner and Operator of N. Fox Jewelers. Good Sunday morning Harvey.
Harvey Fox
Good morning Walt. Thank you for having me.
Walt Adams
I just want to say thanks on behalf of the entire community for all your help. You always give back whenever asked and even during this difficult time. Being a partner with Aim Services, you stepped up with a very special promotion celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pearls are the 30th anniversary gift, and partial proceeds from your sales of pearls went directly to Aim Services helping people with disabilities and we can’t thank you enough for that partnership.
Harvey Fox.
It was our pleasure and as you stated, hosting the pearls 30th anniversary promotion ... doing that for AIM was just the perfect way to celebrate. Thank you.
Walt Adams:
Harvey you have a great reputation of giving back to the community of Saratoga Springs.
Harvey Fox
My background is community service - 20 years with the Saratoga Springs zoning board as chair, then over 20 years as President of the YMCA
Walt Adams
And you're currently chair of the special assessment district for Saratoga Springs.
Harvey Fox
I've been doing that board for 20 years and then through our store, philanthropicly my wife and I, Cassie, through our business has helped many of the not for profits including two other promotions with SNAC Pac to help school aged children for meals, especially during the summer when school meals are not accessible. I'm still surprised at how many children are impacted by that and also with the education of the upper grades Saratoga Sponsor a Scholar we were able to raise between six and seven thousand dollars for both organizations.
Walt Adams
I know you take great pride in your philanthropy, and giving back to the community, You know here we were coming to you at a time during a pandemic and you were still willing to sit down with us and talk with us about how you might be able to help out people with disabilities.
Harvey Fox
Yes Walt. And I appreciate the compliments but Cassie and I and our team here, we were actually shut down for 10-weeks because of the COVID-19 and were still obviously greatly impacted and it's been very difficult for our team here. But we also know that the people who need support the most, diseases don't slow things down, it makes things worse, so we believe we should be helping even more. So we continue to do it.
Walt Adams
Have you seem a little bit of an increase in business as we get a little further into September.
Harvey
Yes. And it's very interesting Walt, the loss of the performing arts center and not having any of the concerts and the ballet and the orchestra and the lack of spectators at the Race Track ... We re-opened at the beginning of June and we lost the Spring, it was unbelievable, we were actually greatly surprised at the amount of support from the community. Our bridal department really did quite well in July and August and September. Wedding, Anniversary bands and diamond engagement rings sales have been very strong and we can't recover the 10-week loss but we are pleased to see business is strong enough. We want to thank the community for supporting us as much as we have supported them throughout the years.
Walt Adams
Looking at the holiday season coming up and people to window shop in your store, do you have a guess as to how the holiday season will play out?
Harvey Fox
I'm Chairman of the Special Assessment District and that’s the downtown property owners and its a state legislature taxing district that takes that tax money and give it back to the community . We do gie a large portion to the DBA, the Downtown Business association to help them and its usually their events that tey sponsor from halloween thanksgiving time , all the way through christmas. And of course with this COVID-19 the events have been postponed until next year, hopefully, and the downtown community has always been very generous to the not for profits in the Saratoga area. I believe the community is now, and will be giving back in the sense of supporting the Downtown Saratoga stores and restaurants.
Walt Adams
One thing that doesn't go away in a COVID-19 is a gift from N Fox Jewelers, a gift with special meaning.
Harvey Fox
The best way is to actually come downtown and experience N. Fox Jewelers. Our team has years of experience. All of our employees have been very loyal, very dedicated and I think the N. Fox Experience is what has made our company grow. We will listen to you, your concerns. We have quality jewelry, we do our own repairs. We do custom made jewelry here, we don't ship things out, we do it ourselves. We take care of our customers needs and we’re very creative in making it work.
Walt Adams
And your website.
Harvey Fox
During Covid time I worked with a web developer to launch a brand new website at nfoxjewelers.com You will find most of our products, services and brands that help celebrate those life’s milestones
Walt Adams
Harvey, thank you again for joining us on the Power of Potential. I want to thank you and your wife, Cassie for all you do in the community. Wishing you the very best of luck in the future.
Harvey Fox
Walt. Thank you very much. I appreciate you talking with me.