On Overcoming Anxiety, Concerns Over Diamond Sourcing, Lab-Grown Diamond Speculation, and More Reader Letters

Canceled By the Bride

• I am fortunate enough to walk to work. Sometimes I walk by our Chamber of Commerce office. They rent a conference room out for parties, bridal and baby showers, etc. Last Saturday, I saw this sign [pictured above] taped in the window. Am I selfish because my first thought was, “I hope they did not get their engagement ring from us!”? — Cliff Yankovich, Chimera Design, Lowell, MI

On “Overcoming Anxiety”

• Finding time to focus on your worries so you don’t dwell is good if you can do it. All the suggestions are helpful, just not always doable for someone with a mind that doesn’t turn off. — Kim Hatchell, Galloway & Moseley, Sumter, SC
• It was a great article. Nice to know it’s pervasive in our industry enough to write that large of a piece. Well written, thank you. — Christine Matlack, E.G. Landis Jewelers, Boyertown, PA
• I thought the story about overcoming anxiety was helpful. I tend to get pretty anxious when I’m in Vegas trying to work Luxury and Couture at the same time by myself, and it tends to be overwhelming at times. These were good tips to help try to control the madness. — Marc Majors, Sam L. Majors, Midland, TX
• You could be having a wonderful stress-free day with lots of happy customers and huge sales, but then one a$schole comes in at a quarter to 5 and reams you out because his Rolex has been out for four months and what kind of business are you running. Well, after he leaves, I like to do 100 jumping jacks and listen to “Let the Bodies Hit the Floor.” That lets my brain be a little less obsessed about this guy. — Rick Nichols, Nassau Jewelry, Fernandina Beach, FL

Hopping in July

• Our store’s foot traffic has been surprisingly strong. July was our shortest month of the year but came in second behind January for visitors! — Jillian Hornik, Jae’s Jewelers, Coral Gables, FL

Manager’s Appreciation

• My favorite section, aside from all the jewelry pictures, is the Manager’s To-Do List. As someone who has decades of management experience but fairly new to the jewelry industry, I find this helpful. — Jill O’Hara, Harold Jaffe Jewelers, Toledo, OH

Sourcing Concerns

• Number one growing concern for me is transparency of natural and lab diamond sourcing. I’ve learned so much about how the diamond industry can be used to move dirty money all over the world. We must be vigilant as retailers to ask our vendors about it, learn as much as we can, and talk about how to ethically sell our goods and services. — Kyle Bullock, Bullock’s Jewelry, Roswell, NM

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