THE RESULTS OF an INSTORE Brain Squad survey deployed Tuesday, March 17, reveal the level of anxiety retail jewelers are experiencing over the COVID-19 outbreak. Of the nearly 200 retailers who responded, 51 percent rated their anxiety as moderate while 15 percent characterized it as severe. Maria Aguirre, among the 2.5 percent on the verge of panic, vows not to cry in front of employees or the few customers who have ventured into the store. “The big decision is coming and my stomach is in knots and I am praying for guidance and wisdom and protection,” she says. Annette Kinzie of Leonard Jewelry in Stillwater, OK, feels only mildly anxious and vows to not feel intimidated by the fear frenzy. “Shut the media down,” urges Todd Tinder of Tinder’s Jewelry in Bowling Green, VA, who blames the media for his severe anxiety.
Other reactions:
“Fear is an evil, worse than evil itself,” says Mark Rozanski, who falls into the enviable “not at all” anxious category.
“I think the world has lost its mind,” says Laura Sipe of JC Sipe in Indianpolis, who rates her anxiety level as moderate.
“Keep calm and keep sparkling,” says Robin Lies of Burnell’s Creative Gold in Wichita, KS, who is moderately anxious.