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Podcast: New Jewelry Store Owner Wilson Lin on Why He’s Opening This Year, of All Years

Meet a business person who loves metals and gemstones so much he felt he needed to open in the face of a historic health crisis.

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THIS MONTH, JimmyCast brings you a story of optimism — of a business person who loved metals and gemstones so much he felt he needed to open his own jewelry business this year, even in the face of a historic health crisis.

In the episode, host Jimmy DeGroot and co-host Doug Meadows of David Douglas Diamonds in Marietta, GA chat with Wilson Lin, a 33-year-old whose family immigrated from China to Nebraska when he was in his teens.

After graduating school, Wilson, a non-smoker and non-drinker, decided he had little interest in the family business of liquor and spirits. Instead, he found his passion in working with metals and gemstones.

With no history in the jewelry business, getting his foot in the door was difficult for Wilson. He applied and was rejected 13 times for jewelry store positions, before finally getting a job as a bench jeweler’s apprentice at the 14th location — A.T. Thomas in Lincoln, NE. He later worked as a manager at a Zale’s location.

Now, however, Wilson taking the biggest step of all — launching his own business, with an opening target of September 1.

He talks with Jimmy and Doug about how and why he decided to launch right now, his intended product and service range, as well as other details on how he financed his business and selected a location.

Plus, Wilson also discusses the Facebook group he formed for jewelers in a similar position to his, called “First Generation Jewelers”, which now has close to 900 members. (Sign up for the group here.)

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SPONSORED VIDEO

Time to Do What You've Always Wanted? Time to Call Wilkerson.

It was time. Teri Allen and her brother, Nick Pavlich, Jr., had been at the helm of Dearborn Jewelers of Plymouth in Plymouth, Mich., for decades. Their father, Nick Pavlich, Sr., had founded the store in 1950, but after so many wonderful years helping families around Michigan celebrate their most important moments, it was time to get some “moments” of their own. Teri says Wilkerson was the logical choice to run their retirement sale. “They’re the only company that specializes in closing jewelry stores,” she says. During the sale, Teri says a highlight was seeing so many generations of customers who wanted to buy “that one last piece of jewelry from us.” Would she recommend Wilkerson? Absolutely. “There is no way that I would have been able to do this by myself.”

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