Steve Samaras: After going through their own Greek tragedy in a devastating fire, the owners are an inspiration in their commitment and dedication to meeting and servicing their customers. The interior design represents a level of creativity that would make their ancestors proud!
Clifford Pugh: This store has the niftiest custom light fixtures I’ve ever seen. The storefront, marked with a copper and stainless steel awning and corbels that resemble jewelry detailing is way cool, too.
Penny Preville: The art of jewelry making often goes unnoticed. As a designer, I think it’s wonderful that the setup of the store allows the customers to see the jeweler at work.
Michael Whiston: The architectural layout and design Patronik Jewelry really make for a unique retail experience. The designers of this store have taken a narrow and small space and created contemporary vertical sleek display cases and wall niches. Custom fabricated modern light fixtures and chandeliers add to the space’s modern look. The stores exterior fa?ade is clean and fashionable with custom brass and chrome metalwork entry features that really catch the eye and draw people into this distinctive shop.
Tim Malone: Forget about the boring look of horizontal display cases stacked up next to each other. This store is all about visual excitement. Through vertical displays, museum-style cases cause shoppers to stop dead in their tracks as they move from one to another.
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
