(Our November print issue includes a feature story detailing “10 Steps to Last-Minute Holiday Success.” Today we bring you an excerpt explaining one of those steps: showing them something special.)
At Tiny Jewel Box in Washington, DC, the company tagline is, “If it’s not special, it’s not here.” For the holidays this year, a collection of three Michael Galmer evening purses in silver, lined in 24K gold with silver mesh, will be on display. Each is numbered, hallmarked and priced at $6,500.
The collection not only fits the company’s philosophy, but is attracting attention from local media. One newsworthy hook: The first purse has been acquired by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum to showcase the art of repousse silver crafting. Says Tiny Jewel Box president Matthew Rosenheim: “These handcrafted, numbered purses will appeal to a woman who insists on rare pieces she won’t see worn by every other woman.”
Mary Jo Chanski of Hannoush Jewelers in Rutland, VT, always orders special inventory on memo for the fourth quarter. “Each year we get some crazy sexy cool last minute pieces for the last few days before Christmas,” she says. “They are extremely unique, extremely beautiful and extremely expensive. But you never know who’s going to walk in and say ‘YES! This year I am buying my wife a diamond tiara!’”
On the other end of the price-point spectrum, Niki Novello of Cleveland Jewelry Design showed and sold dozens of Alpaca wool scarves with embroidered initials last year for about $20 as add-on purchases. “A $20 gift that is personalized is very hard to come by, and embroidered scarves are elegant and classy. People buy them for gift exchanges at their businesses.”
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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.
