America's Coolest Stores

America’s Coolest Stores Winners 2016: Stamp of Approval

Published

7 years ago

July 17, 2016

INSTORE Staff Instore August 2016 Issue

America’s Coolest Stores Winners 2016: Stamp of Approval

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

BETTERIDGE
MARSHALL PIERCE & COMPANYTHACKER JEWELRYTHE DIAMOND CENTERSTEPHEN SILVER FINE JEWELRY

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

DESIGNING JEWELERS
DIANNA RAE JEWELRYEVANS JEWELERSONYX II FINE JEWELERSREVOLUTION JEWELRY WORKS

CONTEST METHODOLOGY: Our 15th annual contest featured two divisions: Big Cool for stores with six or more full-time employees; and Small Cool for stores with five or fewer. From 85 entries, 10 finalists per division were selected by INSTORE’s editors. Separate panels of industry-expert judges chose the top three stores in each division. Five Honorable Mention stores were chosen from each of the division’s finalists and will be featured in upcoming issues. Judges viewed the entries on a specially created website and rated stores in six categories: story, exterior appearance, interior appearance, advertising and marketing, online presence and overall individuality. Total scores were calculated weighting the categories according to importance: story 50 percent, exterior 75 percent, interior 100 percent, advertising 50 percent, online 25 percent and individuality 100 percent. Judges with personal or professional ties to a store were asked to recuse themselves from voting on those stores. Many thanks to our terrific judges and to all those who entered!

Wilkerson Testimonials

Wilkerson: “They Feel Like Family”

Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., was a true institution. But after being at the helm for most of his life, owner (and descendent of the original founder) Kelly Newton decided it was time to retire. He chose Wilkerson to handle the sale. “I’ve known the owners of Wilkerson for a long, long time. I felt at home with them,” he says. The final retirement sale was just a “blast” and the Wilkerson sales team made it so very simple and straightforward, says Newton. Would he recommend Wilkerson to others? Absolutely. “They’ve done incredible work,” says Newton. “They feel like family.”