Press Releases

Stuller Wraps Up Annual Bench Jeweler Workshop 

Published

6 years ago

March 28, 2018

INSTORE Staff

Stuller Wraps Up Annual Bench Jeweler Workshop 

(PRESS RELEASE) LAFAYETTE, LA – Stuller hosted its annual Bench Jeweler Workshop March 23rd through March 25th, with more than 200 jewelers from across the world visiting its global headquarters in Lafayette, Louisiana.

“Having two hundred talented bench jewelers from across the country all under one roof for an entire weekend definitely makes for a one-of-a-kind event,” says Tammy Lail, vice president of tools, metals, and packaging. “Everyone leaves with something – whether it’s innovative ideas to implement in their shop, tools and equipment to improve efficiency, or new connections that will last a lifetime.”

The 3rd annual Battle of the Benches competition consisted of three different challenges – Polishing and Finishing with Swarovski gemstones™, Parts and Pieces, and CAD and Rendering. The jewelers selected for this year’s competition were: 2017 defending champion, Jyothi Forman of Georgies Fine Jewellery, who fell ill after the first competition and could no longer compete, David Adamson of David Adamson Designer Jewelry, Patrick Dobbs representing the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, Craig Farley of FCF Jewelry Designs, and alternate Brian Clark of All American Jewelry Designers, Inc. The winners were as follows:

Polishing and Finishing Challenge – Craig Farley
Parts and Pieces Challenge – Patrick Dobbs
CAD and Render Challenge – Patrick Dobbs
Overall Winner – Patrick Dobbs

“It was a tough decision because they were all amazing,” says Battle of the Benches judge, Angela Busby. “The competitors gave their all, and it definitely showed in the final product.”

“It’s a huge honor,” says Patrick Dobbs, the overall winner. “The jewelers that I competed against, they are all very talented, it could have been any of them too.”

To see more of the event and competition pieces, visit our Facebook page at HYPERLINK “https://www.facebook.com/Stullerinc” Facebook.com/Stullerinc.

Stuller Wraps Up Annual Bench Jeweler Workshop 

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.”