Editor's Note

Attention, Please!

How to tune out the noise and focus on what’s best about our digital world.

Published

3 years ago

January 6, 2021

Eileen McClelland Instore January 2021 Issue

WHAT DISTRACTS YOU in the always-on virtual world we inhabit?

I follow a lot of brilliantly talented jewelry designers and retailers on social media and I click on every photo they post. While this activity is arguably relevant to my role in INSTORE, it’s also easy to get sucked into a rabbit hole as I assemble my fantasy jewelry wish list, which in no way reflects my in-real-life budget and is of a length best described as approaching infinity.

It’s not limited to jewelry. Advertisers are throwing virtual shoes my way, along with handbags, carry-on luggage and dog attire. They know me so well.

Neighborhood news renders me rapt. On the Next Door app, my New Orleans neighbors report property crime (“Catalytic converter stolen! Someone cut my catalytic converter right off!”), lost cats (“Has anyone seen Floyd?”) loud noises. (“Did you hear that? It shook my house!”) .

If you’re distracted, too, whether by sourdough bread recipes, cat videos or circuitous political debate, you’ll benefit from our Big Story this month: Chris Burslem’s thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written article on paying attention to what’s important. The real trouble, I learned, is that in the modern world, we have defined too many things as worthy of having the power to distract us. Defining your work — or staying aware of what genuinely deserves your attention — is the most crucial work you’ll do.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”