Working With Family, Expectations For 2020, and More of Your Letters

On “All in the Family”

• My brother Steve and I are second generation, our four children are third generation, there are eight of us here at Lou’s Jewelry — all family — and we all actually like each other. People ask if we spend holidays together. We say no we don’t, but we spend every other day of the year together! Does that count? Haha! — Tim Sherrer, Lou’s Jewelry, Mobile, AL
• Family business can be very sticky. I’ve had two brothers-in-law leave the business and almost quit the family because of personal differences at work. — Nate Smith, T Lee Custom Designer Jewelry, Minneapolis, MN
• I work with my daughter. She sold her first ring at the age of 9. It is wonderful and challenging both. She knows the business inside and out. Loves the colored gems and has done CAD design. When I come on the scene, she has said exactly the same things I will point out. — Kas Jacquot, Kas A Designs, Jefferson City, MO
• This was our best holiday selling season yet — so good, in fact, that this husband-and-wife team did not have a spare moment to read the December story on families who work together! Definitely looking forward to catching up on our required reading! — Zechariah Chambers, Chambers Jewelers, Ford City, PA

First Happy December

• We closed our brick and mortar business after three generations and 100 years in September. Did a bit of business still via email and some appointments. Enjoyed December for the first time in 42 years. Now I know what all of those people on the train were smiling about on their way home from office parties. We had a good run, but are so happy to be done with the 8 to 5, six day a week thing. — Eric Ohanian, Leon Ohanian & Sons, Boston, MA

Climate Concerns

• 2020 should have climate change at the forefront. I think it would be wise for our industry to do an analysis of the effect that lab-grown diamonds have on our environment versus mined diamonds. Are we doing better, environmentally, as an industry? — Mark Kasuba, M. Edward Jewelers, Pittsfield, MA

Thanks, No Pressure

• The magazine is doing a wonderful job and has managed to become the leading industry magazine of our times. That said, it creates a bit more pressure on the visionaries of this achievement because as the old adage says, “It’s difficult to reach the top — but even more difficult to stay there without slipping.” Actually I just made that up, but you know what I mean 🙂 — Peter Stavrianidis, Venus Jewelers, Somerset, NJ