David EllisThe jewelry industry lost a legend December 28, 2022. Long time sales professional David Ellis stood out as the quintessential southern gentleman. While relaxed lifestyle trends influenced fashion with everyday comfort as the norm, he remained true to his embodiment of the salesman dressed to command respect. His suit, tie, and trademark French cuffs were worn to honor the stores he visited and the industry in which he worked for sixty years.
David’s thorough knowledge of the business was extraordinary. He knew the industry from all sides. In the late 1990s he and his lovely wife, Dawn, owned the jewelry distributorship, D and D, and later, owned a retail jewelry boutique, until 2016.
David Hollingsworth Ellis was born in 1937 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Southern hospitality helped to form his talent as a friend/salesman who treated store-owners, sales staff, competing salesmen and maintenance workers equally, like long lost relatives. His kindness, warmth, knowledge of the industry and drive made him one of the most popular and highly sought after salesmen in the industry.
Over the last 10 years, with their respective lines, David was happily able to travel on the road with his wife who looked after him like a mother tiger. David became ill in November. He died with Dawn by his side.
