Best of the Best: Doing The Guy Thing

Published

21 years ago

March 1, 2004

Want to hold a Christmas sale event for men that won’t make them want to turn around and run right out the door? Day’s Jewelers has the answer.

[h3]Day’s Jewelers[/h3]

[dropcap cap=F]or six hours one day each December, Day’s — a six-store chain based in Maine and New Hampshire — stages a event designed especially for the “kings of last-minute shopping.” And, they go all out to make the men feel right at home.[/dropcap]

[componentheading]THE IDEA[/componentheading]

As the chain’s home store is based in Waterville, ME, and is located near many rural communities, the managers went so far as to roll in a John Deere tractor with a 54-inch plow attached. Other guy-friendly features included a big-screen television replaying classic football games, as well as a beef carving station for hungry visitors.

[componentheading]THE EXECUTION[/componentheading]

As customers entered, they were all welcomed by Day’s managers and given tours of the store — showing off the company’s jewelry-manufacturing facilities, as well as introducing the company’s customer-friendly service programs. Then, after being given free rein to peruse the store’s showcases, the men were randomly approached by staff members holding decks of cards. The game? Twenty-one. The winners received free gifts of jewelry.

[componentheading]THE REWARDS[/componentheading]

Russ Wheeler, manager of Day’s store in Waterville (population: 15,605) originated the idea five years ago. His goal was to create a low-pressure atmosphere in surroundings that men could relate to. And the figures show that his plan has succeeded. After five years, Day’s Jeweler’s “Men’s Night” has evolved into an affair that generates more than $250,000 annually for the company.

Principal owners Jeff and Kathy Corey, VP of Finance Mark Ford, and Portland, ME store manager Jim Corey, and their creative team of managers have helped build the event into exciting experience that creates valuable relationships with male customers.

Recently, the company opened a 10,500 square-foot store in growing Manchester, NH. The grand opening featured an ice sculpture, appearances by Miss and Mrs. Maine, fabulous food, along with plenty of give-aways and drawings being held every 15 minutes. The sales floor looked like New York City at lunchtime!

[span class=note]This story is from the March 2004 edition of INSTORE[/span]

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.