(PRESS RELEASE) Plans are underway for IJO’s conference to be held Aug. 13-17 at the Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, MO. COVID restrictions have been lifted and the schedule is packed with educational seminars, networking, food and fun.
“We’ve had to cancel our last two conferences due to COVID-19,” said IJO President & CEO Jeff Roberts, “so we’re all anxious to get back together. We have such a loyal group of members and 75—80% of them attend both shows every year, so they’re as anxious as we are.”
Randy Erickson from Erickson Jewelers in Iron Mountain, MI added, “I didn’t realize how much I would miss getting together with my IJO family to learn and recharge. Now that we’re counting in weeks — 11 of them — I just can’t wait. IJO shows have a different vibe from any other, and each time I attend I return home with knowledge and ideas that help my business.”
All IJO vendors will be present and the huge buying room at the convention center will be more than accommodating. Jeff Wynkoop, Quality Gold vendor and representative to IJO’s Board of Directors, stated, “Socially, it’s been a rough ride, but we made it. I can’t wait for all of us to be together again. I miss seeing my IJO family.”
If you’re not already an IJO member and would like to learn if you’re eligible to attend, call Penny Palmer at IJO Headquarters — 800.624.9252. Or email penny@ijo.com. For eligible retailers, IJO will pay for one airline ticket and four hotel nights to enjoy the IJO experience and understand the value of membership.
Retiring? Let Wilkerson Do the Heavy Lifting
Retirement can be a great part of life. As Nanji Singadia puts it, “I want to retire and enjoy my life. I’m 78 now and I just want to take a break.” That said, Nanji decided that the best way to move ahead was to contact the experts at Wilkerson. He chose them because he knew that closing a store is a heavy lift.
To maximize sales and move on to the next, best chapter of his life, he called Wilkerson—but not before asking his industry friends for their opinion. He found that Wilkerson was the company most recommended and says their professionalism, experience and the homework they did before the launch all helped to make his going out of business sale a success. “Wilkerson were working on the sale a month it took place,” he says. “They did a great job.”