It was getting late in the day at our little trade shop at the end of Miles Street, a dead-end street in an old mill town. We were just cleaning up, preparing to close for the day, when a large, gruff-looking man in coveralls came into the store. He walked with quick, broad, purposeful strides, right past the sales staff toward Joel’s jewelers’ bench. He was holding a steel mason’s trowel, and his face was serious. “Hey. You know my wife, Roslyn?” he said abruptly, startling Joel from his bench work. Joel stuttered and fumbled for words, thinking the man was about to accuse him of having improper relations with his wife. “No,” said Joel, “Uh, I don’t think so.” The man’s face twisted, and he raised the mason’s trowel toward Joel. “Do you think you could make one of these in gold?” he asked. Turns out his wife had a charm bracelet, and Charlie was hoping Joel could make a custom, handmade mason’s trowel charm! Phew!
JEN M.,
GREENFIELD, MA
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.
