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Worry Over Warranties, Diamond Debate and More Reader Letters

And we can never get enough “INSTORE raves.”

Published

2 months ago

April 17, 2023

INSTORE Staff Instore April 2023 Issue

On “The Brain Squad Story”

I thought the lead story was great! Thanks for giving us a voice and a platform! — Marc M., Midland, TX
Loved reading about different attitudes and ideas from other jewelers. It opens our minds to think “out of the box” and that is why I really enjoy reading each issue and savor every bite! — Susan E., El Paso, TX
I liked seeing the younger Kate Pearce on the cover!! — Kate P., West Lebanon, NH

And About INSTORE

Thank you for being a great partner in our world. — Sherrie S., Tigard, OR
INSTORE is great! I love reading what other retailers are doing and how they foresee what is to come to our industry as we are quite different than most retail stores. — Bruce B., Sarasota, FL
The only trade magazine worth reading! — Scott M., Jacksonville, MD
Always appreciate the “ continuing education” you provide!! — J. Dennis P., Johnstown, PA
Loved the December and February editions! — Jill K., Danielson, CT
[Jill, what did you have against our January issue? Just kidding! 😉 — Ed.]

Honoring a Great Man

RIP to my father, Nick Nichols. Brilliant self-taught jeweler and designer. One of the first CAD designers. He used to make his own findings by hand, then he started buying them out of Matthew Stuller’s trunk. He will be missed. — Rick N., Fernandina Beach, FL

House of Diamond Cards

What are we doing to the diamond business? The Kimberley Process is a sham and diamond companies say things like “it isn’t a Russian diamond, it is whatever you want.” And then we sell lab-grown diamonds knowing the prices continue to drop and offer the client no real value. If these aren’t eroding the confidence in the consumer’s trust, what is? Yes, we are forced to sell the lab-grown diamonds due to demand. But with each, tell the client what they are getting, which is not much. Then go back and look at your suppliers for mined diamonds and ask what they are doing to improve the honesty of our supply chain. A house of cards won’t stand up to a gust of wind, which may be the consumer breathing disgust. — David B., Calgary, AB

Share your thoughts with INSTORE. Email us at editor@instoremag.com

It Was Time to Make a Decision. It Was Time to Call Wilkerson.

Except for a few years when he worked as an accountant, Jim Schwartz has always been a jeweler. He grew up in the business and after “counting beans” for a few years, he and his wife, Robin, opened Robin James Jewelers in Cincinnati, Ohio. “We were coming to a stage in our life where we knew we have to make a decision,” says Jim Schwartz. He and Robin wanted to do it right, so they called Wilkerson. The best surprise (besides surpassing sales goals)? “The workers and associations really care about helping us move out own inventory out of the store first. It was very important to us.”