Headlines

Erik Runyan Jewelers Celebrates a Century in Vancouver, WA

Published

7 years ago

September 1, 2016

Store marks birthday with new (old) location.

When Erik Runyan Jewelers of Vancouver, WA, hits the century mark in January, it will move to a new site downtown — at the same address the store had 100 years ago, Rapaport Reports. According to the article, the company’s president, Erik Runyan, says that in the coming year he will emphasize custom work, which accounts for 20 to 25 percent of sales. Even so, bridal will remain important. “The engagement ring is often a customer’s first purchase and we need to maintain a focus on that.” The jewelry business changed after 2008, Runyan says, and millennial customers aren’t as likely to make a $6,000 or $10,000 purchase.

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.”