Big Survey

When It Comes to Their Store, Small Is Beautiful for Most Independent Jewelers

Few interested in owning a chain or a big destination store, according to the 2023 Big Survey.

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2023

Chris Burslem

When It Comes to Their Store, Small Is Beautiful for Most Independent Jewelers

MOST OF INDEPENDENT jewelers aren’t particularly ambitious, at least by traditional business standards.

More than half of the respondents to the 2023 INSTORE Big Survey said they wanted nothing more than “a small store with lots of personality.” That was more than twice as many as those who wanted either a “big destination store” or even a “moderately sized store,” and ten times as many as those who wanted to own a “chain of stores.”

“I like what I have — a small store with great customers and no drama,” explained one survey respondent.

Another echoed that sentiment, hinting that the hard part was finding employees to buy into their vision. “I have a store with a lot of personality, we do custom and carry unusual as well as classic styles. I want employees who buy into our culture and are passionate about this business.”

Interestingly, the proportion of those store owners who were happy to stay small appears to be growing. When we last asked this question, in 2014, 28% of the jewelers said their goal was to own a big destination store, considerably higher than the 21% who chose that option in 2023. Also, only 45% wanted a small store in 2014, compared to 54% this year.

There were also those jewelers who were chasing a different dream altogether, such as those – a small minority to be sure — who wanted to work purely online or by appointment, “working my own hours and dealing with serious customers only.”

A few said they just wanted “a successful store” while half a dozen echoed the jeweler who said “I’m done. I want to retire.”

The 2023 Big Survey was conducted via an anonymous online form from late August to early October, attracting more than 750 responses from American jewelry-store owners and managers. The full results will be published in the November edition of INSTORE.

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.