INSTORE

Music for Setting Stones, Complaints about Trade Shows and More of Your Letters from May

Published

7 years ago

May 21, 2018

INSTORE Staff Instore June 2018 Issue

Just Not Fun Anymore

I am insanely jealous of anyone working in this industry who still enjoys their work. After 40 years, I no longer do. We have made many friendships and been a part of countless milestones and celebrations, but as B.B. King used to say, “The thrill is gone.” Eroding margins, suppliers playing both sides of the fence and the countless emails with photos from cyberspace to somehow make magically appear for less money than Pinterest along with stupidly exorbitant insurance rates and operating expenses along with countless divorces and buy-backs are taking their toll. Hey, I am old, and unlike most people, kind of glad for it. Love your magazine. Good luck. Eric Ohanian, Leon Ohanian & Sons, Boston, MA

It’s on Us

We, as an industry, must realize sooner than later that our words mean things, and resonate around the world. We must be responsible. David Mazer, Marks Jewelers, Montgomeryville, PA

I Miss the Shows

I miss the camaraderie of the old trade shows. Seeing folks from around the state was a touchstone for how our communities and our customers were doing. It also gave me juice to love this industry. I have thousands of customers, but after a long winter and a couple of nasty people, you start asking, “Why do I do this every day?” The smaller shows gave you a chance to get invigorated when you were feeling down. The huge national and even regional shows are not the same. Just another area of my life diminished by the amazing tool called the Internet. Jo Goralski, The Jewelry Mechanic, Oconomowoc, WI

Some Shows Need to Go

With the trade show “season” coming, it seems that as more shows move around or add areas to their floor plan, it only adds to confusion for buyers. It is hard to recognize where your best fit is and only causes frustration. It seems to me that consolidation is in order. Alex Weil, Martin’s Jewelry, Manhattan Beach, CA

Music for the Soul

Lately I have been listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, especially when I have to concentrate on planning and setting stones. Carmina Burana and Scooter are for later in the day. Wishing everybody at INSTORE a wonderful spring! Mark Rozanski, Goldart Jewellery Studio, Ottawa, Ontario

This article originally appeared in the June 2018 edition of INSTORE.

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Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."