Eileen McClelland

Eichhorn Jewelry Celebrates 50 Years with ‘60s Flair

Published

10 years ago

August 18, 2015

Eileen McClelland

I recently received this story from Heather Eichhorn Cruse, granddaughter of John Eichhorn, who founded Eichhorn Jewelry in Decatur, IN, 50 years ago. The business is now run by Heather’s aunt, Eileen Eichhorn. Heather, marketing director for the family business, is happy to report that 50 years later the business is still thriving.

Eichhorn Jewelry celebrated its 50th anniversary in ‘60s style on Aug. 5. Not only did the employees dress as if it were 1965, but the store also displayed a 1965 Christmas catalog and put out ashtrays on all the counters, to re-create the period vibe.

When John Eichhorn left his previous employment to found Eichhorn Jewelers, his boss, Ferris Bower, gave him a 1964 Bulova Accutron “Spaceview” watch. Bower was proud that his certified master watchmaker of 17 years, known as “Ike” was venturing out to launch his own business, and wished him well. Ferris and Ike remained close friends and friendly business competitors.

Eileen Eichhorn, who inherited the “Spaceview” from her father, John, presented it to her nephew, Matt Dyer, as a token of legacy before they opened their doors for their 50th anniversary celebration, which drew a crowd of over 500 people.

Each visitor received a gift of jade because Eileen’s first piece of fine jewelry was a nephrite jade gold ring given to her by a traveling salesman. He told her to wear the ring for luck, love, and happiness, always.

Other give-aways included 50 $50 Eichhorn Jewelry gift certificates and 50 champagne diamonds valued at about $100 each. Jennifer Mitchell of Decatur, purchased a surprise package for just $5 and received a $500 tanzanite, a surprise indeed.

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.