In this month’s joke, a shoplifter gets caught in the act of stealing an expensive watch.
[h5]ABOUT OUR JOKER [/h5]
Mallory Murphy, 21, is the fourth generation of Murphy Jewelers and the daughter of Patrick and Kim Murphy. After constantly hearing her father tell “cheesy” jokes to friends at jewelry trade shows, she knew she had to do something to restore her family’s reputation, she says. “We started to become infamously known for our bad jokes,” says Mallory. “‘The Last Laugh’ is my way to clear the Murphy name, while also providing my dad with new material!” Murphy Jewelers was founded in 1913 when Frank J. Murphy opened a store in downtown Pottsville, PA, and traveled door-to-door in a horse and buggy repairing schoolhouse clocks. Today, almost 100 years later, they’ve grown to become one of Pennsylvania’s foremost jewelry retailers, with three locations in Pottsville, Hamburg, and a newly opened store at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Lehigh Valley, PA.
[span class=note]This story is from the May 2010 edition of INSTORE[/span]
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.
