Dimple’s is a family-owned retail business, specializing in gemstone jewelry from India and Thailand. Dimple Navratil grew up in Bombay, India. She met and married Denis Navratil in Chicago, Illinois. Though Dimple’s sits at the center of the Downtown Racine retail district, it’s not where the couple does the majority of their business. They sell their jewelry and other items in hospital gift shops and lobbies as fundraisers for healthcare around the Midwest.

Navratil says she’s found customers have different tastes in different regions. At one hospital they’ll prefer handmade items. At another, plain silver items. Navratil goes to India annually. Her family in India is in the jewelry business. “We pick out stones and every year we try to look for new semi-precious stones that can be converted into jewelry,” she said.

She goes to Thailand every year, too. “It’s fun and interesting,” she said. “I deal directly with the manufacturers.” She said she works to make sure her items are made with no child labor. “We cut out the middle man,” she said. “That’s why our prices are so good.”
~ Rob Golub

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