This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Studs Wants to Change the Ear Piercing Game
The company opened its first brick-and-mortar store this month in New York’s Nolita neighborhood.

New York—There’s a new ear-piercing place in town that is positioning itself as an upgrade to the traditional mall piercing experience.
Studs opened its first brick-and-mortar store this month in New York’s Nolita neighborhood, steps away from Broken English Jewelry and start-up Mejuri.
The space is brightly lit with yellow jewelry displays throughout, neon signs along the walls and a white couch topped with pillows in sparkly silver and fluffy white.
There is a piercing area staffed by professionals trained on how to safely pierce using autoclave-sterilized, single-use needles, a spokesperson told National Jeweler Friday.
The earrings range in price from $14 for a small sterling silver stud to $90 for a pearl spike ear harness, a 14-karat yellow gold vermeil chain earring topped with a Swarovski crystal pearl.
As for the piercing, one will cost $35 or two for $50, while the piercing jewelry ranges in price from $30 to $180.
Founders Anna Harman and Lisa Bubbers created Studs in response to what they described as the “antiquated” ear piercing experience, giving customers an option that is an alternative to a piercing gun at a mall or needles at tattoo parlors, which can have a more limited selection of piercing jewelry.

“By having a singular focus on the ear piercing experience from start to finish, we’re confident that Studs can close the gap and deliver a service not only centered around ear piercing, but optimized for every possible need related to either piercing or jewelry in a way that no other brand is doing today,” said Harman, co-founder and CEO, in a press statement about the launch.
The company raised $3 million in funding, led by First Round Capital with participation from Lerer Hippeau and other investors, which will be used to build its retail locations, upgrade its online shop and hire employees.
Studs said it plans to expand its physical retail presence with additional locations in 2020.
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