He brings 25+ years of experience.
The CrownRing Bridal House has named Scott Bates to the role of director of sales for the U.S., effective immediately.
Bates brings over 25 years of sales and sales management experience. He started as a sales representative for Gabriel & Co. Inc. and within two years was promoted to West Coast regional sales manager, covering 22 states. In this position, Bates managed eight sales representatives with an annual production of nearly $20 million in sales. He was also critically involved in marketing strategies that empowered independent retail partners to compete at a high level in a market including small and large chain and big-box stores.
He then joined Leo Schachter Diamonds as regional account manager of loose diamond sales for the independent channel. In this role, Bates was responsible for all outside sales for the independent channel, from single-door retailers to small and moderate chain stores. He worked with buying groups across the country, and was also involved in inventory management, merchandising and marketing.
Most recently, Bates held the position of vice president of sales for Pure Grown Diamonds, a lab-grown diamond company based in New Jersey. In this position, he was instrumental in all sales operations, seeing growth of 78 percent for the company and opening 38 new accounts in less than a year. He was also involved in social media and digital marketing, as well as merchandising, brand awareness, sales training and product development.
Bates said he looks forward to growing sales and brand recognition for CrownRing. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the company, and I am excited to share with the independent market what CrownRing has to offer,” he said.
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.
