Press Releases

Charity Auction ‘Jewelers for Texans’ Launches on CharityBuzz

Published

7 years ago

October 13, 2017

INSTORE Staff

It will raise funds for Hurricane Harvey relief.

(Press Release) DALLAS, TX – Fine jewelry influencers and industry professionals Grace Lavarro of Jewels By Grace and Benjamin Guttery of @ThirdCoastGems have partnered to curate a charitable jewelry and art auction, “Jewelers for Texans,” with the goal of raising funds to the plight of the people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston and surrounding areas.

The public online auction is housed on the website CharityBuzz.com, closing Oct. 17. A collective of designers, retailers, influencers, manufacturers and artists donated their work to help raise funds for the cause. The auction features an assortment of designs from one-of-a-kind, vintage and antique pieces to loose diamonds and custom-cut gemstones.

“This tight-knit community has banded together with a common desire to help the people of Houston and its surrounding areas because collectively, we realized that standing by is not, and cannot be, the only option. We are an industry surrounded by beautiful and precious things – but none more precious than being able to share those with those in need,” says jeweler Grace Lavarro.

All proceeds will go to support the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, a Houston organization that was endorsed by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner as well as the New York Times, with the current mission to provide immediate help to all those whose lives have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“As a Texas native, the devastation from Hurricane Harvey is an incredibly personal cause to me,” says jewelry industry consultant and influencer Benjamin Guttery. “We invite people to bid generously on all the beautiful jewelry and art work we have curated for this auction, and to remember that each time you look at the beautiful jewelry you purchase via this auction, you are playing an instrumental role in helping Texans in their time of great need.”

Lavarro says, “It’s not just jewelry – it’s also hope and a message to our fellow Americans: They are not alone.”

For auction bidding and information, visit www.charitybuzz.com/jewelersfortexans.

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When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."