Headlines

New Challenges Pose Threat to Los Angeles’ Jewelry District Retailers

Published

9 years ago

August 1, 2016

Store-owners must navigate new social and economic trends.

Jewelers in downtown Los Angeles are finding it more difficult to sustain their businesses in the face of new challenges such as changing demographics, different buying patterns and rising rents, as the Los Angeles Times writes. The article details how jewelry manufacturing in the district slowed in the 2000s, and since the 2008 recession, “the people who historically bought high-end jewelry in the downtown district aren’t shopping as much as they used to, say retailers and industry analysts.”

The article also mentions how the area is seeing an influx of new capital that’s leading to higher rental rates, proving another hurdle for jewelers to clear as they seek to maintain profitability. “It’s not that the industry is disappearing. It’s not that the infrastructure of the industry is disappearing,” says Diana Singer, president of the American Society of Jewelry Historians. “It’s that the people who own the buildings want to maximize their investment, and they can get more if they do something else with it.”

Read more at The Los Angeles Times

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."