Ninety-nine percent of our customers are great, but we recently had a customer accuse us of stealing her cross. We asked her several times to check her purse. She told us it was not in there, so she left the store and called the police. Two uniformed officers showed up with the customer. Again we asked her to check her purse in front of the police and they emptied the purse for her and found the cross. We were told how rude we were. Tom Schowalter, Miners Den Jewelers, Royal Oak, MI
We had a customer trying to “low ball” us on a colored stone pendant and earring set and we could never come to terms on a price. A few weeks later, we had a horrific armed robbery at the store. Huge amount of inventory was stolen, but fortunately, no one was injured and I was insured. The customer that was looking at the pendant and earring set came into the store and dropped a note on our main counter and quickly left. The handwritten note stated that we deserved to be robbed because we didn’t take her offer on the pendant and earring set. She received a very colorful letter from me within days. Donnie Blanton, Brittany’s Fine Jewelry, Gainesville, FL
What’s the Brain Squad?
If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. jewelry store, you’re invited to join the INSTORE Brain Squad. By taking one five-minute quiz a month, you can get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting the jewelry industry. Good deal, right? Sign up here.
Closing With Confidence: How Bailey's Fine Jewelry Achieved Outstanding Results With Wilkerson
When Trey Bailey, President and CEO of Bailey's Fine Jewelry, decided to close the Crabtree location in Raleigh, North Carolina after 15 years, he knew the decision needed to be handled with intention and professionalism. The goal was clear: exit the location while maintaining financial strength and honoring the store's legacy.
Having worked with Wilkerson successfully in the past, Bailey understood the value of their comprehensive approach. "They understood both the emotional and financial sides of the store closing sale," Trey explains. "Their reputation for professionalism, results and care made it a very easy decision."
The results exceeded expectations. Wilkerson helped Bailey's sell through significant inventory while maintaining the dignity of the closing process. "They don't just run a sale, they help close a chapter in the best way possible," Bailey says, strongly recommending Wilkerson to any jeweler facing a similar transition.
