Headlines

Could Your Store Use a $100,000 New Look?

Published

9 years ago

August 11, 2016

Raise funds and win a makeover.

If you’re an independent retail jeweler and your store could use some sprucing up, Jewelers for Children can help. The nonprofit is sponsoring the Super Store Makeover Contest, whose winner will receive a store makeover valued at more than $100,000. To compete, jewelers can raise funds for Jewelers for Children between Aug. 15 and Dec. 31. Participating jewelers will be able to record their fundraising progress on the contest website.

The winner will be determined by a point system. Ten points are awarded for every donor a retailer recruits, with one additional point for every $500 raised.

“We wanted a system that was fair and equitable to all independent retailers, regardless of their size, said Debra Puzio, vice president of special programs for Jewelers for Children. “Everyone knows it takes the same amount of effort to recruit a donor, whether they give $10,000 or $100. By having a point system, we make sure that the work required to recruit a donor is rewarded, as well as the amount raised being recognized.”

The winner will be announced in January 2017, and the makeover will take place at a time agreed on by the winner and sponsors, which include INSTORE, Grid/3 International, ARMS, USA, Majilite & Partners, StarLuxe Branding, Lansa Americas, Rio Grande, Imtech Graphics, Global Logistics, Jaboa Enterprises, and the CSI Group.

Since its founding in 1999, Jewelers for Children has donated more than $51 million to programs benefiting children affected by illness, abuse or neglect.

Learn more at the Super Store Makeover webpage

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.