Tomorrow's jewelers are being formed today
LET'S LAUNCH A MISSION for jewelers — we can call it “Operation: Legacy.” The goal of the mission is to inspire children — hopefully our own, but if not, the children of others will certainly do — to eventually join the jewelry industry. Our aim is to attract, by any means necessary, young people who can carry this business into the next generation. To ensure that every town has a few budding rockhounds who will eventually become gemologists, fashion freaks who end up as jewelry style advisers, and metal-shop stars who will find their life's work as designers and bench jewelers.
How can we make it happen? Well, it all starts in your store. The first thing you should do, if you're not doing it already, is to bring your kids into the store more often. If you worry that this will be uncomfortable, inconvenient or even dangerous, then please read this month's lead story, All in the Family, to see what a wonderful, inspiring experience spending time in your store can be for your children.
Put them to work. Have them clean cases, sweep floors, and polish jewelry. But also let them do the good stuff — sort diamonds, and even pick a favorite style or two for your inventory. (Quickie idea: If you have a tween-age/teenage child, give them their own case with products aimed at kids in their age group. They pick what goes in there. It'll be like a course in “Advanced Placement Merchandising.”)
We can't force our kids to be jewelers. All we can do is show them what a rewarding business it can be. Then just cross our fingers!
Wishing you the very best business…
David Squires
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
dsquires@instoremag.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.
