Headlines

Co-Chairman of Ben Bridge Jeweler Dies

Published

6 years ago

April 3, 2018

INSTORE Staff

He was a key business figure in Seattle.

Herb Bridge, co-chairman of Ben Bridge Jeweler, has passed away, the Puget Sound Business Journal report.

He was 93.

Bridge was an important figure in Seattle civic and business life, and his nickname was “Mr. Downtown,” according to the Business Journal. He was also a Navy veteran who served in World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of rear admiral.

Bridge and his brother Bob Bridge served as co-chairmen of the jewelry chain, whose history dates to 1912. According to its website, Ben Bridge Jeweler has over 100 stores in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. It also has locations in Canada.

The company became a part of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2000 but has continued to be family-run.

Read more at the Puget Sound Business Journal

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.”