True Tales: One Last Christmas Gift

Published

17 years ago

July 2, 2008

About eight years ago in March, one of my customers came into my store with the physical assistance of a friend. I had known for some time Ricky had been fighting a brain tumor and that his outlook wasn’t good. Ricky asked to see our selection of gold crosses. He picked out a plain small cross with gold chain and asked that I order three of them and engrave “Love Ricky, Christmas 1996” on each. He told us to gift-wrap them in Christmas paper and hold them in the store. Ricky said, “If I’m still alive at Christmas, I’ll pick them up. If not, please deliver these to my wife on Christmas Eve.” One was for his wife and the others for his teenage daughters. Unfortunately, Ricky didn’t make it to Christmas, and I delivered the crosses when promised. I cannot begin to describe the emotion his wife and daughters had when they found out that Ricky had thought so far ahead that he gave them one final Christmas present. It was the highlight of their Christmas, as it was for every member of my staff. We have chosen a profession that can bring a lot of joy. That’s what really matters.

DALE F.,
JACKSON, MI

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.