Headlines

Embattled Jeweler’s Store Has Closed

The attorney general filed a complaint against the jeweler last month.

Published

7 years ago

October 28, 2016

INSTORE Staff

The Palm Beach store of Jeweler Christopher Kaufmann has closed its doors, the Palm Beach Daily News reports.

Kaufmann in September became the subject of a complaint by the Florida attorney general, who said he took jewelry from consumers “through a deceptive consignment scheme.” Kaufmann’s Le Salon was located in the upscale Worth Avenue district of Palm Beach.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said there were at least 17 victims owed a total of well over $500,000.

The Daily News reports that it’s not clear when the store shut down.

It’s also not known whether the closure was a result of Bondi’s complaint. She had sought to have Kaufmann barred permanently from consigning jewelry in Florida.

Robin Miller of the Worth Avenue Association told the Daily News: “Frankly, we had no advance notice at all of their vacating the space. It was simply closed one day with inventory apparently removed.”

Kaufmann has faced several lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim he owes them money or jewelry.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”