Press Releases

IJO Members Are Back in “College”

It was attended by five individual member stores.

Published

6 months ago

November 9, 2023

Press Releases

(PRESS RELEASE) SOUTHPORT, CT — The Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO) held its semi-annual “Business College” November 5-7 at their headquarters in Southport, Connecticut. This “College” is a benefit of IJO membership which offers a two-day intensive evaluation of a member’s retail jewelry business with recommendations on how to operate more efficiently – and more profitably. It was attended by five individual member stores.

In attendance were Steven Perez from Bishop Jewelers in Bishop, CA, Alexia Miller from Cunningham Jewelers in Brunswick, GA, Israel Marin, I.M. Jewelers in Homestead, FL, Philip Sullivan, Jewellery Plus, Summerside, PEI, and Luis Guerra, Rialto Jewelry in San Antonio, TX.

Stephen Barnes had posted recently on IJO’s Discussion Channel, and the results were a full house – the maximum per two-day session is five stores. “Is your business stuck or do you feel like you are drowning? We are here to help. IJO Business College is your lifeboat, and we have a couple of openings for November 6th and 7th. This is FREE to all IJO members — your only cost is your transportation and hotel stay.”

Luis Guerra wrote, “Thank you all for a very educational and memorable trip. Definitely something I will never forget. Now it’s back to work with new ideas and future profits for everyone! Just gotta make the changes! Look forward to seeing you all at the next show.”
“So many store owners know all there is to know about jewelry,” states IJO Chairman & Owner Jeff Roberts, “but they may not necessarily know how to operate a business, which is equally as important as their jewelry knowledge. IJO President Stephen Barnes and I closely examined their profit and loss statements, information on employees, inventory, photos, store set-up and more. Our job is to make a difference in the lives of everyone in the IJO family, and that “extra set of eyes” by a couple of professionals can make a huge difference in their success.”

The Business College is held semi-annually, in May and November, and all IJO members have the opportunity to participate. “This service has changed hundreds of lives over the years,” stated Penny Palmer, IJO’s Director of Member Services. “We love having ‘company’, but mostly we love hearing the results after our members make a few changes from what they’ve learned!”

For information on IJO membership visit www.ijo.com or call Penny Palmer at 800.624.9252.

She Wanted to Spend More Time with Her Kids. She Called Wilkerson.

Your children are precious. More precious than gold? Absolutely! Just ask Lesley Ann Davis, owner of Lesley Ann Jewels, an independent jewelry store that — until the end of 2023 — had quite a following in Houston, Texas. To spend more time with her four sons, all in high school, she decided to close her store. Luckily, she was familiar with Wilkerson and called them as soon as she knew she wanted to move on to bigger, better and more family-focused things. Was she happy with her decision? Yes, she was. Says Davis, “Any owner looking to make that life change, looking to retire, looking to close, looking for a pause in their career, I would recommend Wilkerson. Hands down!”