A creative entrepreneur since she was 18, Arrion Jones started her career baking made-to-order cakes. Wanting to create art that would be more lasting, Jones started her fashion-forward, custom jewelry brand, Diligent Diamonds.
Originally an eCommerce store, Diligent Diamonds recently opened its first brick-and-mortar shop inside Tampa, Florida’s Citrus Park Mall. No stranger to entrepreneurship, Jones shares her inspiration for starting a fine jewelry brand after her early career as a baker. She explains, “I’ve always been a creator. I really enjoyed the art of creating something from scratch, but the only thing is that a cake lasts about two minutes. I wanted to create art that was a lot more permanent and could actually be passed from person to person and enjoyed.”
At Diligent Diamonds, Jones sells custom pendants, watches, rings, and other on-trend pieces, providing customers with personal keepsakes that reflect their unique personalities.
Staying on Trend
The secret to Jones’s success is that she knows her audience. She describes her clientele as skewing younger, between 21-40 years old, and “individuals who are fashion-forward, on-trend, and like loud, glorious types of pieces.” In terms of its operation, Diligent Diamonds strives to be a breath of originality in the jewelry business with a tailored, creative approach. She clarifies,
We give customers an opportunity to come to us and say, ‘Hey, I desire this specific item, and I would like it in this gold color or with these types of quality diamonds.” And for us to actually go through the entire process together, create 3D imaging, and take it to CAS, they can actually create this piece.
With a successful business model in place, the only thing Jones was missing before opening her storefront was a processor that could meet her needs.
The Search for a Processor
Jones initially struggled to find a payment processor equipped to handle the high-value transactions of a jewelry store owner. She also struggled to find a processor that was transparent with its policy regarding withholding funds. According to Jones, “Being in this industry, I’ve utilized Stripe. I utilized other payment processors, and I’ve run into an issue with accessing my money after a sale.”
Also a content creator, Jones described a viral video she posted about a stressful early experience in which $14,000 was withheld from $17,000 worth of sales without explanation. This caused a ripple effect: Jones still had to pay her vendors and place orders, but she was unable to access her earnings to follow suit. Although this could have damaged her business, it led her to do more research and find the right processor in Kurv.
Kurv: A Seamless Customer Experience
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, where Kurv is headquartered, Jones was aware of the organization not only through her own research but also through personal experience. A few years ago, Jones was a manager at a jewelry store that partnered with the provider. Whenever there was an issue with their payment setup, Jones and team would call their representative. She clarified, “Whenever the system would be down, getting support was like calling 911. It was instant. So I really liked it, how much of a flow it was, and how seamless it was, even down to setting up the register.”
When it came time for her to open Diligent Diamonds, Jones decided to give Kurv another call. She soon experienced the same seamless experience with attentive customer support. She added,
“I’m usually pretty diligent and a “follow-up” type of person. I feel like Kurv has outdone me on that spectrum of communication.”
With the opening of her store at the forefront of her mind, Jones expressed her appreciation for the consistent contact from her Kurv representative, who ensured she was set up with the right equipment.
Wanting a portrait‑style stand instead of a handheld device, Jones transitioned to a Maxxpay POS. The system allows her to run transactions through a secure, PCI‑compliant terminal with built‑in inventory tools, a high‑speed printer, and dual‑pricing functionality, supporting a smooth in‑person checkout flow.
Also equipped with the Kurv Merchant Portal, Jones is prepared to use its tap to pay and other modern features directly from the same platform, giving her a single place to manage both transactions and day‑to‑day operations.
A Diligently Run Business
With her payment processing system finally set, Diligent Diamonds celebrated the opening of its first brick-and-mortar store. Jones shares, “I’m excited to actually have a space of our own to be able to operate out of. It’s almost like you can see the full manifestation of your business.”
Now, reflecting on what she’s learned over the course of her career, Jones shares her advice for her fellow entrepreneurs. She assures, “Don’t rush. You don’t have to rush into anything. You don’t have to rush into scaling. You don’t have to rush into growing. You don’t have to rush into anything.”
She adds, “You just have to literally move with diligence. That’s why I named Diligent Diamonds, because I’ve gone through a lot. I’ve rushed through a lot. And when you rush through things, you’ve got to go back and do it twice. But if you do it diligently, you can do it once, you can learn from it, and you can keep on going.”
With an established business and a supportive payment processor at her disposal, Jones shows how steady, intentional execution—not speed—builds momentum and leads to lasting growth.
