WHY IT’S TRUE People walk through the door of your store shopping for a gift for someone or something for themselves. They choose your store rather than the one down the street because of their perception of your image and the great value you offer. Price: certainly it’s important, but not the primary reason they just walked through the door. Many customers believe that in today’s marketplace, they can certainly get you to give them a “better price.”
PLAN OF ACTION Considering a $3,000 anniversary gift, the customer says, “What’s your best price?” Mentally pondering his question for a moment, you say, “My best price is $3,500.” The customer will probably say, “Wait a minute, $3,500! I asked for your best price.” You respond by saying, “$3,500 is my best price … $3,000 is my great price!” You’ve just enhanced the value of the purchase and probably closed the sale.
[span class=note]This story is from the November 2010 edition of INSTORE[/span]
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
