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The Night Before Christmas at Steve Johnson Jewelry

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The Night Before Christmas at Steve Johnson Jewelry

This week, we bring you a classic INSTORE “In the End” from December 2002. It’s extremely dated (J-Lo and Ben Affleck, anyone?), but fun nonetheless. Read in conjunction with David Geller’s highly instructive holiday poem from this month’s INSTORE, available online here.

Was The Night Before Christmas,
at Steve Johnson Jewelry

The creditors were lined up in the doorway, teeth bared.

In hopes that their payments soon would be there.

And Steve, in his polo shirt, and his company cap.

Stood sadly, knowing his inventory was crap.


He’d bought at a trade fair, from a girl in a booth,

Who flirted and told him “These will sell through the roof”.

He bought, and he bought, and he never thought twice

That perhaps, what he’d bought was way overpriced.


For months, he had languished, with very few sales.

Despite newspapers, billboards, and direct marketing mails.


He let go some staff, but his debt still increased.

Crushing his cash flow, interrupting his sleep.


And now, all alone, he was caught in a pickle.

With bills stacked sky high, and nary a nickle.


He was ready to close, shut his doors, give up hope.

And just settle down for a long winter’s mope.


When out in the car park, there arose such a racket.

Steve raced to his office, because he just couldn’t hack it.


To the parking lot video monitor, he stumbled at last.

Increased the brightness, and adjusted the contrast.


And what, to his wonder, did the TV evoke.

But a shiny black Beemer, pouring out smoke.


A driver emerged, with her hands on her hips.

Barking into her cellphone, putting gloss on her lips.


Her mood was so angry, and her hair so aglow.

Steve knew in a moment, it must be J. Lo.


And her boyfriend, Ben Affleck, in a tiny goatee.

That looked better on him than it would have on Steve.


Moaning and sighing, they walked towards Steve’s store.

Clearly, just walking, to them was a chore.


Steve opened his door, in a gesture of greeting.

And said, “Can I help you? Need a drink? Feel like eating?”


No answer emerged from the Maid of Manhattan.

She shooed Steve away with a glove made of satin.


“God, this is junk,” said the star with a moan.

As she wandered the store, yacking into her phone.


“Dude, never mind her,” said her Ben, trailing near.

Making apologies for her that she never would hear.


Steve tried to please her, and he brought out his best.

But she wrinkled her nose, crossed her arms on her chest.


“That’s awful. That’s tacky. That’s what poor people buy.

If you think I would wear that, you’ve got to be high.”


“I’m sorry,” said Steve. “Yes, you are,” said Ben’s wife.

“But then, so is your store. And then, so is your life.”


He knew she enjoyed it, this giving him hell.

But he just stood his ground, and kept trying to sell.


Her eyes, how they twinkled! She laughed from her belly.

Her butt shook, when she laughed, like two bowls full of jelly.


“Enough,” said Ben Affleck. “Let’s wait outside the store.”

“The tow truck will be here, in a few minutes more.”


As Steve turned away, hurt and ashamed.

“Oh, this is darling,” the diva suddenly exclaimed.


Pink, emerald-cut, and the size of a plum.

The rock in the ring was outrageous, then some.


J-Lo screeched and she screamed, and squeezed Ben’s arm hard.

Yelling: “I love it! It’s perfect! Get our credit card!”


Caught in the uproar, the true pandemonium.

Steve didn’t tell her it was cubic zirconium.


Ben asked for the price, and he wanted it soon.

So Steve smiled, gulped hard, and then shot for the moon.


She bought it, right there, for a cool $14 million.

A sum far out of reach for the average civilian.


Sweating, Steve wrapped it, maintained his demeanor.

Dropped in brochures, and some free jewelry cleaner.


Steve showed them the door, and then, finding his voice.

Complimented both on their “outstanding choice.”


As they got in the tow truck and drove into the dark,

Steve danced by himself in the empty car park.


He paid off his creditors, giving each one a tip.

Called a travel agent, and chartered a ship.


And off he sailed, before the next day’s first light.

Crying, “Merry Christmas to all! It will all be alright!”


-oOo-

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The Night Before Christmas at Steve Johnson Jewelry

Published

on

The Night Before Christmas at Steve Johnson Jewelry

This week, we bring you a classic INSTORE “In the End” from December 2002. It’s extremely dated (J-Lo and Ben Affleck, anyone?), but fun nonetheless. Read in conjunction with David Geller’s highly instructive holiday poem from this month’s INSTORE, available online here.

Was The Night Before Christmas,
at Steve Johnson Jewelry

The creditors were lined up in the doorway, teeth bared.

In hopes that their payments soon would be there.

And Steve, in his polo shirt, and his company cap.

Stood sadly, knowing his inventory was crap.


He’d bought at a trade fair, from a girl in a booth,

Who flirted and told him “These will sell through the roof”.

He bought, and he bought, and he never thought twice

That perhaps, what he’d bought was way overpriced.


For months, he had languished, with very few sales.

Despite newspapers, billboards, and direct marketing mails.


He let go some staff, but his debt still increased.

Crushing his cash flow, interrupting his sleep.


And now, all alone, he was caught in a pickle.

With bills stacked sky high, and nary a nickle.


He was ready to close, shut his doors, give up hope.

And just settle down for a long winter’s mope.


When out in the car park, there arose such a racket.

Steve raced to his office, because he just couldn’t hack it.


To the parking lot video monitor, he stumbled at last.

Increased the brightness, and adjusted the contrast.


And what, to his wonder, did the TV evoke.

But a shiny black Beemer, pouring out smoke.


A driver emerged, with her hands on her hips.

Barking into her cellphone, putting gloss on her lips.


Her mood was so angry, and her hair so aglow.

Steve knew in a moment, it must be J. Lo.


And her boyfriend, Ben Affleck, in a tiny goatee.

That looked better on him than it would have on Steve.


Moaning and sighing, they walked towards Steve’s store.

Clearly, just walking, to them was a chore.


Steve opened his door, in a gesture of greeting.

And said, “Can I help you? Need a drink? Feel like eating?”


No answer emerged from the Maid of Manhattan.

She shooed Steve away with a glove made of satin.


“God, this is junk,” said the star with a moan.

As she wandered the store, yacking into her phone.


“Dude, never mind her,” said her Ben, trailing near.

Making apologies for her that she never would hear.


Steve tried to please her, and he brought out his best.

But she wrinkled her nose, crossed her arms on her chest.


“That’s awful. That’s tacky. That’s what poor people buy.

If you think I would wear that, you’ve got to be high.”


“I’m sorry,” said Steve. “Yes, you are,” said Ben’s wife.

“But then, so is your store. And then, so is your life.”


He knew she enjoyed it, this giving him hell.

But he just stood his ground, and kept trying to sell.


Her eyes, how they twinkled! She laughed from her belly.

Her butt shook, when she laughed, like two bowls full of jelly.


“Enough,” said Ben Affleck. “Let’s wait outside the store.”

“The tow truck will be here, in a few minutes more.”


As Steve turned away, hurt and ashamed.

“Oh, this is darling,” the diva suddenly exclaimed.


Pink, emerald-cut, and the size of a plum.

The rock in the ring was outrageous, then some.


J-Lo screeched and she screamed, and squeezed Ben’s arm hard.

Yelling: “I love it! It’s perfect! Get our credit card!”


Caught in the uproar, the true pandemonium.

Steve didn’t tell her it was cubic zirconium.


Ben asked for the price, and he wanted it soon.

So Steve smiled, gulped hard, and then shot for the moon.


She bought it, right there, for a cool $14 million.

A sum far out of reach for the average civilian.


Sweating, Steve wrapped it, maintained his demeanor.

Dropped in brochures, and some free jewelry cleaner.


Steve showed them the door, and then, finding his voice.

Complimented both on their “outstanding choice.”


As they got in the tow truck and drove into the dark,

Steve danced by himself in the empty car park.


He paid off his creditors, giving each one a tip.

Called a travel agent, and chartered a ship.


And off he sailed, before the next day’s first light.

Crying, “Merry Christmas to all! It will all be alright!”


-oOo-

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/* * * CONFIGURATION VARIABLES: EDIT BEFORE PASTING INTO YOUR WEBPAGE * * */
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/* * * DON’T EDIT BELOW THIS LINE * * */
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var dsq = document.createElement(‘script’); dsq.type = ‘text/javascript’; dsq.async = true;
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Advertisement

SPONSORED VIDEO

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.

Promoted Headlines

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