The Barb Wire

Podcast: Jenny O Calleri Takes on Her Biggest Challenge Yet — Store Ownership

As soon as she took her first GIA gemstone identification course, she knew what she wanted to do with her life.

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2019

Barbara Palumbo

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DROPPING INTO The Barb Wire for this month’s episode is Jenny “Jenny O” Calleri, the owner of Huntington Jewelers in Las Vegas, NV.

A jewelry-industry veteran whose career has seen her move between the supply and retail side, Jenny O finally took her biggest step yet two years ago — becoming the owner of her very own store when she and her husband purchased the nearly 70-year-old Huntington Jewelers.

Podcast: Jenny O Calleri Takes on Her Biggest Challenge Yet — Store Ownership

This episode is brought to you by INSTORE Bulletins.

In the podcast, Jenny O discusses what a transformative experience a GIA education can be for a young person in jewelry sales (12:40) and how, after taking her very first GIA gemstone course, she dropped everything — including a “super hot and heavy” relationship with her future husband — sold her house, and went to study at GIA in Carlsbad, CA.

She also talks about her career, and the key lessons she has learned along the way that are helping her build the Huntington Jewelers brand.

Recently having had her third child, Jenny O describes the challenges of life as a working mom (35:30). Plus, you’ll hear why she believes Liz Taylor is such an enduring jewelry icon (44:45).

Catch the full podcast above.

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Barbara Palumbo

Barbara Palumbo is a watch and jewelry industry writer, journalist and speaker. She manages the blogging websites Adornmentality.com and Whatsonherwrist.com.

Thinking of Liquidating? Wilkerson’s Got You Covered

Bil Holehan, the manager of Julianna’s Fine Jewelry in Corte Madera, Calif., decided to go on to the next chapter of his life when the store’s owner and namesake told him she was set to retire. Before they left, Holehan says they decided to liquidate some of the store’s aging inventory. They chose Wilkerson for the sale. Why? “Friends had done their sales with Wilkerson and they were very satisfied,” says Holehan. He’d enthusiastically recommend Wilkerson to anyone looking to stage a liquidation or going-out-of-business sale. “There were no surprises,” he says. “They were very professional in their assessment of our store, what we could expect from the sale and they were very detailed in their projections. They were pretty much on the money.”