So says the man at the helm of one of the Hills’ most successful businesses Robert Cliff Master Jewellers.
“In our business, we all have our separate tasks so we don’t run into each other all the time, but we have regular meetings to make sure we are going in the same direction,” Mr Robert Cliff, jeweller for more than 30 years, told WSBA.
Being a happy family that loves being together also helps run a successful business that supports Robert, wife Sue and 30-year-old twin sons James and Daniel.
An older daughter Kate is a teacher.
While Sue runs accounts and advertising, James is one of the jewellers, Daniel is in stock and Robert is in the Castle Towers store as the face of the business.
And, speaking of faces, any Castle Towers shopper could not fail to notice the Cliff boys dressed a’la Men in Black on a giant advertising poster above the cinema escalators.
But that brilliant advertising aside, perhaps the best advertisement for the business is the community involvement of the Cliffs themselves.
Robert and Sue are regulars at community fund-raising events, with Robert even braving the cold as a regular at the Hills Mayor’s Sleep-Out to raise funds for the homeless.
“The community supports us as customers so we have to support the community,” Mr Cliff said.
“I believe businesses have to give back.”
Anyone who knows the Cliffs know that “giving back” is not so much an obligation but as a way of having fun - because Robert and Sue do love to party, being the best-outfitted at any fancy dress event.
And the community loves them for it, with the Cliffs the top of the invite-list at most Hills shindigs.
Last year, the Cliffs celebrated 30 years in business with a glittering event at their store.
Robert and Sue opened their first store in Parramatta just as their twin boys were born, with family and friends pitching in.
Success was swift with a second store opening in Castle Hill, later moving to Beecroft during Towers renovations.
Just over 14 years ago they moved to their current store in the new look shopping centre and sold the Parramatta store.
With custom-made jewellery a dying art, the Cliffs stand apart for their specialised service.
“We have five full-time jewellers who are able to design one-off pieces for customers,” Mr Cliff said.
Mr Cliff said he could hardly believe that 30 years has passed in a job he has loved.
“It is the customers who have kept us going - seeing the joy on their faces when we make them their special piece of jewellery is priceless,” he said.
