[componentheading]Yes, I Do[/componentheading]

We conduct focus groups throughout the year to keep track of where we are and what we need to improve on. — Daniel Pugh; Pugh’s Diamond Jewelers, Zanesville, OH

Polygon! — Jeff Vierk; Vierk’s Fine Jewelry, Lafayette, IN

Focus Business Management! — Steve Hunt; S & S Jewelry, New Martinsville, WV

Independent Jewelers Organization — great for bouncing ideas off one another. — David Mann; David Mann Jewelers, Geneseo, NY

I just started trying to create a local mentoring group — local businessmen in various industries who are able/willing to share ideas. — Peter Tims; White Mountain Jewelers, Show Low, AZ

Scull & Co., a retired CPA and my current CPA. — Woody Justice; Justice Jewelers, Springfield, MO

John Hersey International. They offer an amazing leadership program with employee profiles and personal counseling. — Stephenie Bjorkman; Sami Fine Jewelry, Fountain Hills, AZ

Edge Retail Academy helps us to look at our stock turn, inventory, return on investment, number of clients, vendors, promotions etc. — Linda Griffiths; Hoovers Jewelers, Kearney, NE

We have a board of advisers consisting of 12 jewelers from all over the country, getting together twice a year. Our group is hosted by Abe Sherman of BIG and renamed Plexus. It’s an incredible, dynamic experience and has helped all of us be better stores. — Mark & Monika Clodius; Clodius & Co., Rockford, IL

I belong to the Southeastern Jewelers Alliance. We help each other on store issues and give advice and guidance to each other. — Bill Warren; The Gold Mine, Hudson, NC

Continental Buying Group officers and members. — Karl Sachs; Sachs Jewelers, Shrewsbury, MA

Small Business Association. It’s free, and the director is my counselor who checks out our numbers and advises us annually. — Cathy Cook; Cathy Cook Jewelry, Vidor, TX

[componentheading]No, I Don’t[/componentheading]

Have tried before but found it unrewarding. — John Przeclawski; Jewelry Plus, Casselberry, FL

I have a business degree, and if I do not know what I am doing by now, oh well! Most jewelry store owners may be good at jewelry or art, but they do not
know how to run a business. They buy with their hearts and not with their heads. You have to use both to stay in business. — John Anthony; John Anthony Jewelers, Bala-Cynwyd, PA

I am the board. I don’t need anyone telling me how to run my business. I’ve got government to do that. — Joe Donlon; Donlon’s Quality Time, Ventura, CA

I’ve been doing this for more than 25 years, and although I like to keep up with current trends via books, magazines and the Internet, I’m pretty confident that I know what works for my business. — Janne Etz; Contemporary Concepts, Cocoa, FL

[span class=note]This story is from the May 2011 edition of INSTORE[/span]