Brainstorms

”Just Shut ’er Down’ for 10 Days

We’re all in favor of this idea for a January break.

Published

4 months ago

January 15, 2023

INSTORE Staff Instore January 2023 Issue

We’re ready to start a campaign (#breather): The middle of January should be declared a no-work zone for jewelers. The idea comes from Dennis Petimezas of Watchmakers Diamonds & Jewelry in Johnstown, PA. “All jewelers should just ‘shut ’er down’ for 10 days in the middle of January. Why not? You’ve done all the sizing, etc. from December, your customers have spent their money, and no one is ready to begin buying for Valentine’s Day,” he says. Dennis’s idea is not without its supporters. “Lock the door and walk away for a few days. Tucson is lovely that time of year!” adds Jo Goralski, owner of The Jewelry Mechanic in Oconomowoc, WI. If the Greek islands can do it, why not America’s jewelers?

Time for More “Me Time”? Time to Call Wilkerson

Rick White, owner of White’s & Co. Jewelry in Rogers, Ark., knew it was time to retire. Since the age of 18, jewelry had been his life. Now it was time to get that “me time” every retailer dreams about. So, he chose Wilkerson to manage his going-out-of-business sale. White says he’d done plenty of sales on his own, but this was different. “Wilkerson has been a very, very good experience. I’ve had the best salespeople in the history of jewelry,” he says. “I recommend Wilkerson because they are really the icon of the jewelry business and going-out-of-business sales. They’ve been doing it for decades. I just think they’re the best.”