Key to This Jeweler’s Success? Staff, Staff and More Staff

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as a retailer?

“Staff, staff and staff. They will make or break your business. What’s exciting now is that I’ve been doing this for over 40 years, and this is the best staff I’ve ever had. We have over 15 either graduate gemologists or those who are training for their diplomas. I’m sure there’s no staff in America that has as many [graduate gemologists] and it makes a tremendous difference to our loyal customers.” — Ernest Perry, Perry’s Fine Antique and Estate Jewelry, Charlotte, NC