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Ruminations on December and More of Your Letters to the Editor

Plus our reader thoughts on our ‘Take Off That Hat!’ lead story.

Published

3 years ago

February 8, 2021

INSTORE Staff Instore February 2021 Issue Online Extra

On “Take Off That Hat!”

Wearing many hats is just a part of the job description for a small business owner. I’m a salesman, bookkeeper, janitor, errand boy and repairman all rolled in to one. — Marc Majors, Sam L. Majors, Midland, TX
Managing a business requires wearing lots of hats. They will not all fit the same; some will be more comfortable than others. Don’t wear your favorite hat every day. — Robert Borneman, Diamond Jewelers, Centereach, NY
Changing hats is the norm for my place of business, being there’s only two of us! Very hard to get help when the government is paying people to stay home. — Laurie Cusher, Hyde Park Jeweler, Hyde Park, NY
Don’t Hate; Delegate
Business owners tend to think that no one else can do what they do or as well as they do it. This is a mistake, give others a try and let them take on more responsibility. You will be glad you did. — Joseph Villarreal, Villarreal Fine Jewelers, Austin, TX

Suck Like It’s 1999

I haven’t worked as hard as I had to this year in many years. The joke was we did Christmas like 1999 (same sales volume). Back then, it was a good year. This year, it sucked. — Amanda Lanteigne, Gold-N-Memories, Steinbach, MB

Stay Strong

Never give up, never surrender! You are in control of your attitude on a daily basis. How you perceive the day is how you will see the outcome. — Stephen Kolokithas, Jewelry Set In Stone, Chelsea, MI

Looking For Help

I love being my own boss. Having said that, I realize that if I want to reach the promised land, I must hire specific people to help me get there. — Rick Nichols, Nassau Jewelry, Fernandina Beach, FL

Happy to Be Here

We see that with jewelry sales in December, there were the haves and have-nots. Some jewelers had record sales while others had very little. We were somewhere in the middle of that. We continue to count our blessings. And we send everyone best wishes for the new year. — Alex Weil, Martin’s Jewelry, Torrance, CA

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”