Joseph Falkenstein

I was the biggest in the industry. Then 15 years later, I introduced the buff top and cabochon synthetic stars, followed by Created Emerald, Genuine Onyx, and cubic zirconia."</div> <bR> <div> Jeff Falkenstein, Kenny's twin brother, explains how he and Kenny really expanded the business. "Customers kept calling us complaining about not receiving merchandise on time and not getting the quality expected from their other suppliers. They wondered if we could help. Slowly our customers pushed us into synthetic birthstones, smokey quartz, various other laboratory grown stones, cameos, masonics and much more."</div> <bR> <div> Today Jeff and Kenny joke with old customers telling them their father is now just a delivery boy and that they are the ones in charge. "I do not mind when they say to old friends in the industry that I no longer work," says Joe.</div> <div> "My customers know the hours I devoted to providing them with quality stones at the cheapest prices and now I can take longer vacations with my wife."</div> <bR> <div> Hedy Falkenstein, Joe's wife, recalls the early years when she would help with the workload. "It was not easy. We had three little children, a dog and we were both active in the community. Now the twins work in the business and we can both relax a little more."</div> <bR> <div> Article from July/August 1997 Supplier Section Loren Nugget</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>