Discovering The Vibrant Arts Scene In Puerto Vallarta Cassandra Shaw Jewelry. Cassandra and her sister Candace Shaw landed in Puerto Vallarta in May 1983 as teenagers for two weeks of lazy days on white sandy beaches and night shenanigans in the then famous PV Discos. What they couldn’t have predicted was that their vacation had bigger plans for both the sisters—and their futures!!
Candace’s move came pretty quick … in hot steamy September 1984. By Christmas their parents Bill, Freda and Cassandra were celebrating Navidad with Candace’s new in-laws, the Villaseñors. Over multiple return visits Cassandra too fell deep under the spell of the Mexican lifestyle. All fell into place when in 1999 Cassandra’s job in Vancouver, B.C. changed ownership and she was given a nice exit package & she grabbed that opportunity to make Puerto Vallarta her full-time home.
Despite Cassandra having only been a hobby painter as a diversion from her busy management position in Vancouver and with no experience in the silver jewelry field, she soon found herself painting with the iconic Lucille Shipley in her Gringo Gulch home & working, quickly becoming a business partner at a well-established jewelry store in El Centro located not far from Puerto Vallarta’s famed Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe).
That seven year partnership of having a Mexican negocio (business) working with accountants, work permits, silver suppliers, many trips to Mexico’s silver capital, Taxco and the urge for a new location gave Cassandra the knowledge & convenience of breaking away and opening her very own CASSANDRA SHAW JEWELRY (CSJ) on bustling street of Basilio Badillo in October 2007.
Having her own business the challenges started right away, staffing for starters, a much bigger space on a much busier street brought in more clients, CSJ needed a TEAM. Also realizing the possibilities of merchandising other items than her jewelry … many items were sold in the first few years from the famous Panama hats, stylish sunglasses & readers to top Mexican designers clothing & scarves. Of course, now Cassandra had a gallery space showing off her acrylic paintings inspired by the rich colors of the Mexican culture it’s people and Vallarta’s signature green lush mountains.
Cassandra already knew from her job experience in Canada and now here in Vallarta that one of the most important lessons is definitely learning the value of an excellent product, a welcoming fun space and most important customer service & relations… if your customers trust you, they will keep coming back. She also got a crash course in collaboration, learning to work with fellow business owners on larger community-oriented efforts like the bi-monthly Friday Night South Side Shuffle (SSS) which attracted many more locals, snowbirds & tourists to the already popular Basilio Badillo, the SSS had an excellent run for 9 years.
Since opening her doors, contributing to the greater good has become the hallmark of CASSANDRA SHAW JEWELRY, whether it be theater, concerts, artists, fostering & adopting out hundreds of street dogs, supporting, promoting, donating, participating in countless charity fundraising events. Giving back felt right and necessary and continues to be a priority for Cassandra and her amazing staff.
   
“I am grateful that I am able to contribute to the well-being of so many organizations and nonprofits.
We are extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful community that gives so much back to the various institutions that need help & funds to continue the greater good. “
Today, nearly 17 years in, CASSANDRA SHAW JEWELRY is a thriving, successful, respected business employing 8 fantastic dedicated women, more than half have been part of the CSJ team for more than 10 years including her sister, Candace. The store also doubles as a venue for Cassandra to share her two passions—painting & her bold beautiful jewelry designs, visitors are not only greeted by row after row of strikingly sterling silver jewelry but also by her colorful canvases are on display throughout upstairs & down.
Cassandra credits her success to three enduring ingredients: hard work, honesty, and believing in yourself and your business. And she has no plans to change that recipe anytime soon. Bottom line is she loves what she does. She loves the creativity of making people smile by developing their new favorite piece, whether it be a unique piece of jewelry or art for their home. Another special bonus is the special friendships that she has developed through her business and being part of the community, a community and family that is contributing to the many positive changes here in Puerto Vallarta, Cassandra Shaw’s home.
Find your new favorite piece at Cassandra Shaw Jewelry located on Basilio Badillo 276, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta. Learn more at cassandrashaw.com.
    
Author: Tim Wilson
Wilson is the founder of GAYPV.com and www.gaybartour.com and has been the leading LGBTQ+ travel and lifestyle authority in Puerto Vallarta since 2005. With over two decades of local expertise, Wilson specializes in being a community advocate and leader for Puerto Vallarta , and local cultural insights that only a long-term resident can provide. He has dedicated 20+ years to advocating for safe, inclusive travel in Banderas Bay, establishing GAYPV as the region's most trusted resident insider.. His work has been cited by major travel publications, and he is widely recognized as a trusted insider voice on Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
