Some jewelers and other retailers in Massachusetts are frustrated with the state’s reopening plan after weeks of being closed due to COVID-19.
Phase 1 of the plan,, announced by Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday, allows them to start curbside pick-up and delivery on May 25, Boston 25 News reports.
In-store shopping will be allowe in Phase 2 of the four-phase plan. But the beginning date of that phase has not been announced.
“I was dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded. I heard the dates, and I said, ‘Curbside on the 25th? This is absurd. Our customers are wanting to come in now,'” Debbie Deeb, owner of DesCar Jewelers in Waltham, told the news outlet.
Deeb said it’s especially frustrating because some big-box retailers, which have been open all along because they’re considered essential, sell jewelry.
Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts,, was quoted saying that while curbside service is important, it’s “something that we’ve had from day one for our restaurant members.”
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“It’s something that New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire have had all along for retail,” he added.
Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless
When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time.
"We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them.
Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."
