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Risk Taker Grows Custom Jewelry Business with Her Dream Team

Philadelphia company has four locations and a staff of 20.

Published

5 months ago

March 28, 2023

INSTORE Staff Instore April 2023 Issue Online Extra

ONLINE EXTRA

I LOVE MANAGING PEOPLE. I think more than I love jewelry even. I think I have stayed in tune with people’s needs, which is a full-time job. If someone is starting to say they are overwhelmed, I’ll work on getting help in that department quickly. We do reviews every quarter, in depth, about what’s going on, how they’re feeling about their work, their boss, about me, and I make sure people take vacation.

WE HAVE AN UNLIMITED VACATION POLICY. If their manager approves it, they can take the time off. There’s no hard limit. Most people take a month off. If you start getting to eight weeks that would start to feel excessive. I have had people get married and go on their honeymoon and take three weeks off in a row. It tends to work out. The team loves it, so they make it work for each other.

OUR CULTURE is one of autonomy, accountability, and flexibility. I hire personalities, not skills, knowing that the right people can learn about diamonds – but the wrong people can’t learn flexibility or work ethic. Managing well is a lot of work – weekly one-on-ones, celebrating workiversaries, etc – but it’s the single most important thing I do. If you’re not a people person, make sure your manager is.

Choose the Easy Way to Retire with Wilkerson

After 47 years in business, Jim Saylor, owner of Jim Saylor Jewelers in Kapa’a, Hawaii, knew retiring successfully meant holding a going-out-of-business sale. He also knew he needed help to do it right. He chose Wilkerson. “I’ve heard a lot of different names of companies that do this type of thing,” says Saylor. “Wilkerson’s always seems to be in the forefront.” Saylor says the Wilkerson folks really cared about the success of the sale, making the next phase of his life a lot easier. “I’d recommend Wilkerson to anybody contemplating a change,” he says. “They are true experts.”