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Readers’ Thoughts on America’s Coolest Stores and More Letters to the Editor

Most love it, but one said “cool smool.”

Published

4 years ago

September 19, 2019

INSTORE Staff Instore September 2019 Issue

On “America’s Coolest Stores”

Just love seeing the photos and hearing about the originality of each store. It shows that there are so many different ways to run a store. Stay true to yourself and your visions. — Robin Lies, Burnell’s Creative Gold, Wichita, KS
Love seeing the Cool Stores for inspiration. — Annette Kinzie, Leonard Jewelry, Stillwater, OK
I have two stores in Southern California. I love them both. They are each unique. I would, however, happily trade them both for one really cool store. I’ll keep you posted. — Chad Elliott Coogan, Gems Of La Costa, Carlsbad, CA
Jewelry is art. Cool smool. Someone from my small town was in your magazine. Ultimately my box is overflowing year round, so if you’re “cool,” more power to you and I’ll keep truckin’. — Rick Nichols, Nassau Jewelry, Fernandina Beach, FL

Keepin’ It Real

Just a quick note to say that I loved your July cover photo! Less about the jewelry the model is wearing, but more about how she looks and is dressed like a regular woman. Well done, INSTORE! — Lisa Malbranck, Diamond Gallery, Winnipeg, MB

Notice Would Be Nice

What are we to do when our vendors, many of whom we have worked with for many years, start selling online? Many times without telling us of their plan to do so. Sometimes we find out from customers, or an ad will pop up on Google. — Meg Rankin, J. Rankin Jewellers, Edmonds, WA

Rushing to Read

When INSTORE shows up every month, it’s first-come, first-served — everyone reads it front to back. Great publication. I used to be a Brain Squad member and fell off; glad I can get back on! — Tom Nelson, Nelson Jewelry, Spencer, IA

Advice for the Fam

I wouldn’t know where to start if it weren’t for your magazine. Now that my son and I have family helpers in the store, I require them to read INSTORE cover-to-cover for planning, preparing and for generating/trying new ideas. Thank you! — Jill Keith, Enchanted Jewelry, Danielson, CT

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”