
Bodoh for CEO
The American Gem Society (AGS) has announced that Katherine Bodoh, current deputy executive director, will take the helm as the organization’s new CEO after current CEO Ruth Batson retires on Mar. 1. americangemsociety.org
Customized Ever After
Everband, a brand known for its wedding and anniversary bands, has released software that allows hands-on customization. The proprietary “Build-Your-Own Configurator” allows the end user to design the Everband ring of their dreams, with a 3D rendering that reflects each change in real time. everband.com
Image Gems With Imagem
The ImaGem 3DPro is a new way for sellers of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry to create 3D videos and images of their products. Retailers interested in extensive use of the technology can lease an in-house ImaGem machine for a yearly fee, or ship their products to ImaGem’s service center as needed to have the materials created for only $5 per video. imageminc.com
Advanced Appraisers
The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) will hold a session of its “Appraising Gems & Jewelry for Advanced Assignments: Development and Report Writing” course in Carlsbad, CA, from Mar. 8-10. The course is a requirement for ASA accreditation. appraisers.org
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Stock Up on Stock Photos
JewelryStockPhotography.com is a rights-managed, micro stock website with thousands of high resolution stock photos and videos of gems and fine jewelry. The professional-quality images are ideal for promotions, in-store displays, email marketing or website design. jewelrystockphotography.smugmug.com
This article originally appeared in the February 2017 edition of INSTORE.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.