Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jingling.

Published

16 years ago

July 2, 2008

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling, too.

And if you don’t hear them, you should. They should be getting louder every day. The holidays are coming, hard and fast, and the key to having your best season ever is to be prepared. And to really get your cash register ring-ting-tingling, you’ve got to start preparing … this instant! This issue, we’ve done all we could to help you get ready, providing a range of tools including a comprehensive preparations checklist for the months leading up to Christmas, a bushel of innovative promotions your store can try, a warning about the biggest danger most jewelers will face this holiday season, as well as a round-up of the hottest products of the season. (Yes, you should have done all of your holiday shopping by now. But when it comes to product mix, we figure you’re like the Hollywood producer who was asked about a deal being set. ?Of course, it’s set,? he said. ?It’s just not set-set.? So if you’re holiday shopping is done, but not done-done, we hope you’ll enjoy our list of 12 holiday must-buys for your store.)

This issue, we’re also introducing two new columns. The first, ?True Tales?, will focus on the strange things that happen every day in American jewelry stores. The other is ?To Do Or Not To Do??, in which we will ask the retail jeweler members of Instore’s Professional Retail Panel a key question about their business. This month, we ask ?Do you or do you not do direct telephone marketing to your customers?? Turn to page 44 for the (probably surprising) results. Send your feedback to us at Click hereeditor@instoremag.com’>Click here

Wishing you the very best business …

David Squires
Executive Editor and Associate Publisher
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This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”