Jim Turner didn’t inherit his business, or start it with a trust fund from his parents. Jim Turner is exactlywho we have in mind when we refer to someone as ‘self–made’. Growing up in the low–incomearea of Dallas known as Oak Cliff, Jim Turner was not given the early advantages offered to many ofour most successful businesspeople. Rather, he took what he had, and truly made the best of it.
Now the owner of a successful diamond retailer, as well as a blossoming energy beverage company,Jim Turner has made lemonade from his humble beginnings. He lost his father when he was only9 years old. Despite the absence of a father, and the financial struggles he endured, Turner workedhard, and graduated valedictorian of his class. He was also recognized as one of the most outstandinghigh school students in Dallas.
His accomplishments captured the attention of Mr. Ben Lipshy,chairman of the Zales Corporation. Lipshy offered the 16 year–oldTurner a job at one of his stores, as well as a college scholarship.Turner had initially considered pursuing a legal career, but wasside–tracked by his initiation into the jewelry business. He notes,“before I went to the jewelry store, I didn’t know what a ruby, or anemerald, or a Rolex was.”
His accomplishments captured the attention of Mr. Ben Lipshy,chairman of the Zales Corporation. Lipshy offered the 16 year–oldTurner a job at one of his stores, as well as a college scholarship.Turner had initially considered pursuing a legal career, but wasside–tracked by his initiation into the jewelry business. He notes,“before I went to the jewelry store, I didn’t know what a ruby, or anemerald, or a Rolex was.”
After college, Turner moved to Dallasand went to work at a jewelry storein Valley View Mall. “I was so poor, Ihad to borrow coats to wear to work,”Turner says with pride. At that location,Turner endured a manager whowouldn’t allow him on the sales floor,most likely based on Turner’s ethnicity.Instead, the manager restricted him tosilver–polishing duty.
One day, while the manager wasaway, the assistant manager allowedJim Turner to sell. In the few hourshe was on the sales floor, he did over$7,000 in sales. Rather than thankingTurner for his contribution, the managerthreatened to fire Turner for beingon the sales floor. Turner took thematter straight to the Zales chairman,Mr. Lipshy, who promptly shipped themanager to a less notable location, and sent Turner to the RepublicBank location, one of the most affluent in Dallas.
Though he was one of the top earners, Turner was denied amanagerial position for a new location in Austin. Threatening toquit, the administration offered him a position as manager of theHertzberg Jewelers location in San Antonio. He moved to San Antonio,making him the first black manager of a Zales Guild Divisionlocation, as well as the first black graduate of a gemological school.At his San Antonio location, he earned Manager of the Year for hisimpressive sales.
He attempted to start a store of his own, but as he says, “I justlacked the details of running a business.” But he has most certainlylearned them along the way. He went back to working in a jewelrystore until March of 1991, when he opened JT International. Turnersays that “JTI is the best kept secret in diamonds,” and that might bewhy he has never needed to advertise. This best–kept secret has solddiamonds to such San Antonians as Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott andthe Benson family.
The success of JTI is connected to its motto, which says, “Nowyou have a friend in the diamond business.” And that’s exactly howTurner views his work. As Turner points out, “Treat the customerright, give them a fair price, and you’ll have a customer and friendfor life.” JTI is doing swimmingly, with Turner planning a move to anew location in the comely Park North development at 410 and SanPedro. He has also established a partnership with Prima Diamonds,a premier dealer of top–shelf diamonds.
Expanding his enterprise, Turner hasdeveloped a series of energy drinks,including Mozart’s, Cascabel and Shotgun.The current energy drink industryis primarily made up of beveragesloaded with sugar, caffeine and littleredeeming nutritional value. In starkcontrast to these socially irresponsibleand unhealthy beverages, Turner notes,“I would never get into a business thatmight hurt people. We need healthy options.”
In pursuit of this healthy option forenergy drinks, Jim Turner developedhis drinks to be more metabolically balanced,and include valuable nutrients.The energy drink company, managedby Turner’s son, Jonathan, has enjoyed aterrific response. The drinks have beencarried in HEB stores for some time, andare now available in 47 locations of Gabriel’sand Don’s & Ben’s retail stores inSan Antonio and the surrounding areas,as well as San Marcos. The drinks havegained attention at such events as the Sturgisbike rally and an event in Las Vegas.
Despite his success, Jim Turner remains a humble humanitarian.Since he traveled to Africa to learn about the rough diamond business,Turner has been passionate about giving back to the world. Ashe says, “there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself, but you needto give back, too.” Traveling to Africa more than 80 times to 18 differentcountries, Turner has given his support to the US Agency forAfrican Relief, helping with college tuitions, as well as other forms ofaid.
There are some interesting opportunities on the horizon for JimTurner, as people increasingly turn to diamonds to hedge their investments.Also, his energy drink company is continuing efforts toexpand its distribution in retail stores and other venues. We lookforward to seeing more of Mr. Turner, and thank him for being our“friend in the diamond business.”
