This month’s joke shows us exactly how the super-rich get that way.
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Alex Weil, 56, of Martin’ s Jewelry, learned much of what he knows about gemology from mentors, including his father, Martin, who has been a jeweler for 68 years. After 32 years in an upscale Southern California strip shopping center, in 1995, the Weils closed that location and moved to another strip center in the nearby city of Manhattan Beach. Although just seven miles away, the move made a world of difference because they expanded their customer base, and business increased dramatically. At that point they gave up watches and turned their focus entirely to jewelry. “We continue to feature fine jewelry and custom work, along with services.” Martin semi-retired in January 2007 at age 84 and continues to have input in the family business he founded.
[span class=note]This story is from the March 2010 edition of INSTORE[/span]
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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.
