ABOUT US
Picture this. It’s August of 1980 and you’re shopping the block on Lark Street in Albany, NY with your girlfriends when all of a sudden you come across a new shining little boutique. As you walk in and take a look around you find that they have a little bit of everything. Some clothing, lots of jewelry, purses stacked to the ceiling, but most important of all, a strapping young gentleman behind the counter. He seems a bit nervous, but also wears the confident smile of a man who just took a leap of faith. That man is none other than the first and only owner of what is known today as The Silver Parrot, Clint Hegeman.
A little backstory for the events before Clint opened the store. He started out pursuing a career being a lawyer, but as time dragged on he realized that he truly hated the monotony of this path. He’d often dwell on hope that if he got sick somehow, he wouldn’t have to go into work. He truly dreaded the course he was on, so he decided to take a blind leap and do something he’s never done. Clint found himself and his roommate checking out some empty storefronts in Albany as a favor for a client, when all of sudden he had a momentous idea. What if he rented one of the spaces. Then there would be no more bosses breathing down your neck, no more harsh deadlines, and most importantly freedom, no more rules. So that’s what he chose to do.
In the beginning Clint didn’t quite know what he was doing, there was no handbook on how to run a business and certainly no google to turn to for answers. So he reached out to some friends and slowly he started to learn the ropes. Turns out that he was in the right place, at the right time, and selling the right product because business was booming from there on out. From the very beginning Clint has been selling exactly what everyone is looking for, staying right on top of trends and the fashion fads of time. Not to mention without the constant drone of Amazon, or the convenience of Crossgates Mall, Brick and Mortar businesses were highly sought after at that time.
Over the years the business has had its fair share of change. From there being multiple locations, to then shrinking back down to one, from the disaster that was the pandemic, and the ever so helpful recession, Clint and his store have stood the test of time. That may be in part to his unyielding love for his business. Every single day Clint looks forward to going into work because he found something he can pour his soul into.
The Team at Silver Parrot are dedicated to giving the best service, and displaying only the highest quality products. Every piece of jewelry in the store is unique and hand picked. For every item we take in, there are twenty that were rejected because we care about quality, creativity and overall what will best suit our customers.
We import jewelry directly from shops in Thailand, and India, as well as Bangkok, Bali, and Nepal. There is also a good selection that is handmade by local artists, and other companies or silversmiths around the United States. Some of the most well-known US brands we carry, Holly Yashi and Boma, have been working closely with us for over 30 years. We don’t just care about our customers, but also about the strong bond we hold with our vendors, because without one of us, this whole operation wouldn’t be possible.
One of the things we strive for most is selling uniquely affordable jewelry.
Silversmiths in Taxco, Mexico, where some of our handmade silver jewelry is sourced.
Urban Sterling Silver is owned by Silver Parrot, Inc.
Come Visit Us!
Owner: Clinton Hegeman
Manager: Jayde Becker
Store Hours: Mon-Sat. 10am-8pm Sundays 11am-5pm
518-438-2140