JOSEPH MOLFESE: GUIDED BY VALUES

For JOSEPH MOLFESE (G.G. GIA, C.G. AGS) of Bella Cosa Jewelers, the most rewarding aspect of his work is seeing the impact that the jewelry store has made in the greater Chicago area. “To see clients travel from sometimes an hour or more away, drive by literally 100 jewelry stores, and walk in my door is a testament to what we have built over the last 25 years,” says Molfese, a certified gemologist. “Receiving thousands of 5-star reviews is an amazing feeling!” He has been married to his wife and business partner, Amy, for 25 years, and they have raised their four children in Hinsdale. Molfese also gives back to the community and his colleagues by serving on local boards. In addition to his current roles as a Hinsdale Chamber board advisor and Jewelers of America JPAC board chairman, he’s a past board member of the Jewelers of America Board and the Hinsdale Chamber. “I have worked with some of our staff for 20 years, and they are the ones who provide an amazing experience that keeps clients coming back.”

WHAT VALUES OR PRINCIPLES GUIDE YOUR SUCCESS?
My faith and upbringing guide my decisions, along with the question, what would I want done for me if I were the client? Our business is a reflection of who I am; every decision we make guides the store to some degree, whether left or right, that ultimately lands us at a precise point in the future.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS?
Your ethics and values drive the bottom line, keeping you in business for the long term.

HOW DO YOU STRIVE TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOUR INDUSTRY OR COMMUNITY?
We are constantly asking ourselves, what can we do better? Change is a constant for us, allowing us to improve for the benefit of our community, clients, and employees. We live and work in the community. The local community knows that when they spend their money here, a portion of that is reinvested in the community.

WHAT’S A PIECE OF WISDOM YOU LIVE BY?
Life is easy. Just do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it.

For more information, visit mybella.com. You may also follow Molfese on Facebook at BellaCosaJewelers, on Instagram @bellacosajewelers, or on TikTok @bellacosajewelers.

“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” – HENRY FORD