EDITOR’S NOTE
Their inspiration comes not so much from where they are now but how they got there.
BY EILEEN McCLELLAND
Published in the August 2014 issue
Ta-da! I’m excited to introduce the 2014 lineup of America’s Coolest Stores this month.
Yes, sometimes, I know, it may be hard to relate to “the cools.” Maybe you’re not ready to build a $2.5 million, architecturally distinctive store as Jay Klos did last year in Florence, AL. Or even spend a more modest amount on personalizing a rented space like David Iler did in 2005 in Portland, OR.
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But remember that it took years for them to be ready, too. They paid their dues before achieving their dreams.
Jay grew up in the jewelry business but went the wholesale route before unexpectedly finding his dream job as owner of a downtown jewelry store. When commerce shifted to the edge of town, he took a chance and leaped. Grogan Jewelers was featured in a series that appeared in INSTORE in 2012 and 2013. Jay shared with our readers the steps he took to build his destination store — from groundbreaking to his grand-opening party in June 2013, to which I was chauffeured in the store’s vintage Rolls Royce!
David had a successful career as a welder before finding jewelry to be a new calling — one suggested by his fishing buddies. He kept his day job while he apprenticed, unpaid, with a jeweler for two years, and opened his own store after paying his dues as a goldsmith in another. I felt privileged this summer to visit Alchemy, where David and his partner, Laura Mapes, demonstrated the kind of hospitality that endear them to their customers, who visit Alchemy for its personal touch as well as its artistic flair.
Eileen McClelland
eileen@smartworkmedia.com
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.
