Press Releases

Edge Retail Academy Announces Winner of Award for Jeweler Business Excellence

Michigan-based retailer honored for business excellence.

Published

5 years ago

February 12, 2020

INSTORE Staff

Edge Retail Academy Announces Winner of Award for Jeweler Business Excellence

Cindi and Dean Rottermond

(PRESS RELEASE) The Edge Retail Academy (ERA), the leading retail jewelry business advising company, announced that Cindi and Dean Rottermond of Rottermond Jewelers have been awarded the second annual William (Wag) Wagner Business Excellence Award.
Rottermond Jewelers, a two-store Michigan chain founded in 1984, is renowned for its unparalleled inventory, top-notch customer care, and expert custom jewelry design.

David Brown, ERA president, commented “Cindi and Dean are very focused on diligently reviewing business metrics and applying best practices to make meaningful improvements to their store’s financial health. In 2019, this focus paid off; Rottermond posted a double digit increase in sales and a 20%+ increase in profits. The jeweler also reduced its aged inventory by 20%.”

Cindi Rottermond was excited to learn about winning the award. “Wag was an important early advisor as well as close friend to us. We are very touched to be honored with an award honoring business excellence that is named for one of our most trusted advisors.”

William (Wag) Wagner Business Excellence Award

The Business Excellence Award is given to jewelers that have achieved the most exceptional business growth in the past 12 months.
This is the second year that Edge Retail Academy has presented the William (Wag) Wagner Business Excellence Award. The award is presented annually. The winner in 2019 was Roman Jewelers.

“The Award has two goals: (1) to acknowledge business excellence from independent retailers and (2) to honor the memory of long serving ERA Business Advisor William (Wag) Wagner, whose service, loyalty and advice went well beyond the expectations of our clients, his work colleagues and our company,” said Mr. Brown. “We honor Wag’s enormous integrity, sense of fair play and friendship.”

Wag passed away in September, 2018.

Edge Retail Academy presented Cindi and Dean with the award and a check for $1000.

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.