The Business of Jewelry

New “The Business of Jewelry” Podcast Addresses Questions of Hiring

Peter Smith and Jimmy DeGroot discuss hiring questions, how to get the best people to interviews.

Published

1 year ago

August 18, 2023

INSTORE Staff

THIS MONTH, WE ARE excited to introduce a brand new podcast: The Business of Jewelry Podcast, featuring Jimmy DeGroot (Train Retail) and Peter Smith (The Retail Smiths). In this inaugural episode, Jimmy and Peter take on one of the most pressing issues in our industry today: hiring salespeople.

In a no-holds-barred conversation, the two industry vets revisit Smith’s book, Hiring Squirrels, to see what has changed in recent years. They discuss some of the most important questions to ask experienced and inexperienced salespeople, and Jimmy asks, “How do retailers get candidates to show up for interviews?” They also discuss why retailers need to be okay hiring candidates who are less than perfect, and why a structured interview process is critical.

You Wouldn’t Cut Your Own Hair. Why Run Your Own Retirement Sale?

After being in business for over a quarter of a century, Wayne Reid, owner of Wayne Jewelers in Wayne, Pennsylvania, decided it was time for a little “me time.” He says, “I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s time to slow down, enjoy a lot of things outside of the jewelry industry. It just seemed to be the right time.” He chose Wilkerson to handle his retirement sale because of their reputation and results. With financial goals exceeded, Reid says he made the right choice selecting Wilkerson to handle the sale. “They made every effort to push our jewelry to the forefront of the showcases,” he says, lauding Wilkerson for their finesse and expertise. Would he recommend them to other jewelers who want to make room for new merchandise, expand their business or like him, decide to call it a day? Absolutely he says, equating trying to do this kind of sale with cutting your own hair. “The results are going to happen but not as well as if you have a professional like Wilkerson do the job for you.”