Leonard Zell, who was a well-known sales trainer in the jewelry industry, has died.
Leonard Zell
He was 97.
Zell passed away in Albany, OR.
He joined the family business, Zell Bros. Jewelers, in 1949 and, studied the art of selling from his father, Harry, according to his obituary. He worked in the retail operation for many years and in 1981 started a new business, Leonard Zell Professional Sales Training.
Through the business, he trained students in the U.S. and throughout the world. Zell created a jewelry sales training manual that became an industry standard, and he also wrote columns for INSTORE in the early 2000s.
Advertisement
Zell attended Columbia Prep, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington and the University of Portland.
He continued consulting work into his 90s.
Zell is survived by his wife, Marietta, along with many other family members.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
