Press Releases

Jewelers Direct Launches Bling For Blindness Benefit Auction

The auction will begin on Friday, Sept. 21.

Published

7 years ago

September 26, 2018

INSTORE Staff

(PRESS RELEASE) Jewelers Direct, a cooperative group of 100 U.S.-based retail jewelers, announced that it has partnered with the Himalayan Cataract Project and SEE International to auction off more than $10,000 in jewelry, including Tiffany & Co. estate merchandise as well as unique diamond pieces. One-hundred percent of the dollars raised will go directly toward surgical procedures for the blind.

The Himalayan Cataract Project works to cure needless blindness with the highest quality care at the lowest cost. Since its establishment in 1995, HCP has been committed to overcoming barriers impeding delivery of cataract care to underserved, needlessly blind people in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on providing high-quality care, training local personnel and establishing eyecare infrastructure where most needed. As a result of the Himalayan Cataract Projects efforts, nearly 9 million people have been screened and treated, including surgery for over 740,000 people from 17 countries.

Since 1974, See International has provided free screenings and services to those who do not have the finances or access to quality eyecare. See International has performed over 500,000 sight-restoring surgeries that have transformed the lives of the patients, their families and communities.

Aleah Arundale, founder of Jewelers Direct, said, “Many other charities use their donations towards research. What I love about SEE and HCP is that the money goes directly to the actual doctor performing the sight-restoring surgeries. You would be amazing at how far each dollar goes towards changing lives and restoring vision. We’re helping families all over the world see the next sunrise – are you with us?”

The Jewelers Direct Bling For Blindness auction will begin on Friday, Sept. 21, and will continue until the items are all auctioned. Items up for auction will be pinned at the top of the Jewelers Direct Facebook feed and easily identifiable. Auction merchandise will have no minimum bid, and bids will be accepted in $50 increments.

“There’s no money in this world that can pay for the joy of someone who was blind and then suddenly they regain their vision,” Arundale said. “With your help, we can change the way the world sees.”

For more information on Bling For Blindness, or to bid on any of the items up for auction during this event, visit JewelersDirect.org

For more information on SEE International, visit www.seeintl.org

For more information on the Himalayan Cataract Project, visit CureBlindness.org

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.