Page 18 - Port Douglas Magazine 43

COnnECTEd In COmmunITy
“ThE TimiNg WAs pERFEcT,” TRAcEY
REmEmbERs. “pORT dOUgLAs WAs
bOOmiNg, ANd ThE TOWN WELcOmEd Us
WiTh OpEN ARms.”
For Tracey, staying connected to her customers is just as important
as sourcing the perfect stone. “Still to this day, people come into the
shop year after year saying, ‘This is my favourite shop in Port Douglas.
It’s the first place I come to when I get here.’ ” With staff members who
have been with Tracey for more than 20 years, it’s no surprise that the
Wicked Willie’s team know many customers by name and, just like a
good barista remembers your coffee order, these ladies will remember
your preferred style of jewellery and make suggestions accordingly.
“Each staff member basically has their own fan club,” she laughs.
As technology advances, so too does Tracey’s approach. Her brick-
and-mortar store has evolved to include an online shop and she is now
able to make purchases easily online but reiterates the importance
of remaining hands-on. She still travels to Bangkok and Hong Kong
each year to attend trade shows and handpick new stock. “It’s about
finding that special piece you won’t see anywhere else,” she says.
As she reflects on her 25 years, Tracey acknowledges that she never
anticipated a career in jewellery. Her passion for turquoise and silver,
combined with her love for travel, brought her close to gemstones and
she would often have bespoke pieces created from wherever she was
in the world. However she insists it was fate that led her to the life she
lives now. “Willie and I both loved adventure,” she recalls. “We didn’t
have a set path we felt we were destined to follow, we just wanted to
see the world and ultimately it led us here,” she said.
Today, Wicked Willies Jewellery is a testament to that shared journey.
Tracey has retained a deep passion for her shop and the community
it’s created, with her instinct for what her customers will love honed
by years of experience.
As for the name? When asked where ‘Wicked Willie’s’ originated
from, Tracey laughs saying “it just seemed like a good idea at the
time! “I’ve always thought it was a daft name for a jewellery store but
it certainly sticks in people’s memories so I guess it was a good choice
by us after all.”
wickedwillies.com.au
Wicked Willie’s
JEWELLERY
Celebrating 25 years in
Port Douglas
Shop 4, 2 Macrossan St, Port Douglas
(opposite Courthouse Hotel)
07 4099 5778 | [email protected]
Open 7 Days
wickedwillies.com.au