Editor's Note

Trace Shelton: Jewelers’ Bucket Lists Show the Things That Matter Most

Memorable experiences and professional milestones top jewelers’ lifetime to-do lists.

Published

7 years ago

November 22, 2015

Trace Shelton Instore December 2015 Issue

“NO SPACE OF REGRET can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.” So wrote Charles Dickens, author of my favorite holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. What I’ve always loved most about the story is that Ebenezer Scrooge gets a second chance at living life, even at an advanced age. And he decides to live it to the fullest with the time he has left.

It may seem strange to try to think about your bucket list — the things you want to do during your life’s span — during the all-hands-on-deck tumult of the holiday selling season. But that season will soon be over, and then there will be time to reflect.

We polled INSTORE’s Brain Squad to find out what’s on members’ bucket lists: what are the awesome things they’ve done and the things they hope to do. We found a pilot who’s got a ticket for outer space in 2017. We discovered a world-traveling couple who have seen the Green Vaults of Dresden and the Treasure of St. Janaurius and still hope to view the Crown Jewels in London. We even spoke to a former cruise ship worker who dreams of winning INSTORE’s America’s Coolest Stores contest.

Bottom line: There are some jewelers out there who are using their time in fascinating ways. We hope you’ll find inspiration to do something equally amazing.

And after you’ve read that story, check out our ranking of the 150 most visible jewelry brands of 2015. This annual article has been one of the most anticipated in INDESIGN over the years, and now we’re bringing it to INSTORE readers.

Last but not least, we hope you’ll enjoy a successful selling season and a happy holidays with family and friends!

Wishing you the very best business,

Trace Shelton

Time to Do What You've Always Wanted? Time to Call Wilkerson.

It was time. Teri Allen and her brother, Nick Pavlich, Jr., had been at the helm of Dearborn Jewelers of Plymouth in Plymouth, Mich., for decades. Their father, Nick Pavlich, Sr., had founded the store in 1950, but after so many wonderful years helping families around Michigan celebrate their most important moments, it was time to get some “moments” of their own. Teri says Wilkerson was the logical choice to run their retirement sale. “They’re the only company that specializes in closing jewelry stores,” she says. During the sale, Teri says a highlight was seeing so many generations of customers who wanted to buy “that one last piece of jewelry from us.” Would she recommend Wilkerson? Absolutely. “There is no way that I would have been able to do this by myself.”