Zen Jeweler: Learn From The Natives

Published

17 years ago

March 2, 2008

David Squires

RALPH VON KOENIGSWALD found a pile of old human bones in Java in the late 1930s. The paleontologist was not a student of human nature, but he taught us about it inadvertently. He offered the local people a dime for every hominid bone they brought to him. He would have gotten larger, more impressive pieces for study, it turns out, if the locals had not broken up the bigger bones into smaller pieces to maximize their commissions.

Are you using commission to maximize your profits? Just remember, you are hiring good people with their own best interests at heart, too. You can't just pay commission. Teach your staff about the rules that maximize the long-term goals of the enterprise. Otherwise, they'll do what humans do, and simply worry about their own short-term goals. Teach long-term goals. Seriously.

After 139 Years, A Family Legacy Finds Its Perfect Exit With Wilkerson.

When third-generation jeweler Sam Sipe and his wife Laura decided to close Indianapolis’ historic J.C. Sipe Jewelers, they turned to Wilkerson to handle their retirement sale. “The conditions were right,” Sam explains of their decision to close the 139-year-old business. Wilkerson managed the entire going-out-of-business sale process, from marketing strategy to sales floor operations. “Our goal was to convert our paid inventory into retirement funds,” notes Sam. “The results exceeded expectations.” The Sipes’ advice for jewelers considering retirement? “Contact Wilkerson,” Laura says. “They’ll help you transition into retirement with confidence and financial security.”