Do You Or Don't You?

Do You Or Don’t You: Have You Ever Taken an Online Educational Course?

More than half of you have done this.

Published

9 years ago

December 14, 2014

INSTORE Staff Instore December 2014 Issue

52% YES, I HAVE

• I took my AJP courses online. I feel it was effective because even though I already knew all of the material, GIA kept everything very immersive in a way that even information I already knew was fun to go over. — —Daniel Reynolds, Daniel J. Reynolds Jewelers, Cedar Springs, MI
• GIA Pearls, very good/effective in regards to education of the subject. I haven’t seen increased pearl sales due to the training. —Dave Meadows, Art Jewelers, Woodstock, GA
• I finished my bachelor’s degree in operations management online through Linfield College. Effective both with cost and time management. — Natasha Henderson, Saxon’s Fine Jewelers, Bend, OR
• PR courses. They are free to members of the Public Relations Society of America. I take as many as I have time for. — Susan Eisen, Susan Eisen Fine Jewelry & Watches, El Paso, TX
• A number of software courses, primarily. Photoshop, basic html, search engine optimization. Loved how I could chose a very specific course to learn exactly what I wanted to learn. —Zdena Jiroutiva, Z Folio Gallery, Solvang, CA
• Each member of our sales team is encouraged to take the AJP program through GIA distance education. I personally finished my GG through distance education with GIA and benefited tremendously from it. Knowledge is everything. The more you have on the sales floor, the more confident you are in your sales presentations. —ichelle Tinsley, Matthews Jewelers, Orange, TX
• I am getting my GG online. I still pay for the textbooks, as I hate to be in front of a computer, but you can do everything except the labs online. Sixty and getting another degree. Life is great! —Elizabeth Breon, Coast Jewelers, Florence, OR
• Several Pandora courses — elementary sales focus here. Edge Academy — for our POS system very helpful and necessary. Webinars — GE Capital (now Synchrony Financial), American Express, Constant Contact and Hubspot. The courses for marketing and social media are helpful, and we always learn something useful. —Karen Fonger, 58 Facets Jewelry, Alhambra, CA
• A course on platinum from the Platinum Guild. I liked it, as it was easy to understand, not boring, and I learned something new. — Lisa Corbin, Tompkins Jewellers, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

22% NO, I HAVEN’T

• There is great local education in the area. — David Swanson, Swanson Jewelers, Arlington, MA

• I just can’t look at a computer screen for very long. Perhaps I have A.D.D. —Steve Matero, Matero Fine Jewelry & Design, Millwood, NY

• Hard to schedule the time. —John Hayes, Goodman’s Jewelers, Madison, WI

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”