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Retail And Brand News: Ward-Potts Jewelers To Close; Christensen & Rafferty Turns 20; More November 04, 2015 (0 comments)
Ward-Potts Jewelers To Close; Bill And Cyndi Sites Retiring
Nashville, TN—Bill and Cyndi Sites, longtime American Gem Society members and owners of Ward-Potts Jewelers since 2004, have announced their retirement from retail jewelry, and are closing the store. The store announced its closing and a huge going-out-of-business sale on Facebook last week.
In the early 2000s, the Siteses were looking to expand their jewelry business from Clarksville, TN, into the state (and country music) capital Nashville, it was a “no brainer” when Ward-Potts Jewelers went up for sale. Not only had the Siteses known the former owners for decades, they realized it would be much easier to break into a market by buying a known entity than starting from scratch. But they never imagined that less than a decade later, they'd decide to close their original store and keep only the new one—or that two decades later, they’d be ready to call it a day and close up shop.
At the time the opportunity to buy Ward-Potts arose, the Siteses were actively looking for a store. Their son and daughter were ready to come into the business, and they felt it was a good time to add a second store. Ward-Potts was a totally different business: Sites Jewelers in Clarksville was 6,000 square feet and had a strong bridal business; Ward-Potts is a little over 1,000 and is strictly a fashion store with brands like Marco Bicego, Gurhan, Gumuchian, and more. But with rocketing growth at the Ward-Potts location, Sites made a bittersweet decision to close Sites Jewelers in 2011 and focus solely on the Nashville store. It was tough to close an 89-year-old business, he told The Centurion in 2012. But he and Cyndi relished the opportunity to have a more balanced life and time with each other outside of work.
He also relished the opportunity to go back to being a specialty jeweler and not have to fight the price and bridal wars.
“It’s the kind of store my grandfather had,” he told The Centurion. The only difference is that Ward-Potts favored brands, whereas his grandfather’s era didn’t have branded jewelry. Business has grown steadily every year since he and Cyndi bought the store. Finances weren’t the reason behind their decision to retire; it was just time, he says. Neither of the Sites’s children want to take over; their son decided to pursue a different career and their daughter, Missy, who had been the heir-apparent to take over the store, moved to Illinois with her husband and is a full-time mother.
Store manager Frank Field, whom Bill Sites calls his “right hand man, like a brother,” plans to retire as well. A longtime friend of the jewelers before they bought the business, he had promised Bill and Cyndi to stay on until they retired—and now he’s ready to do the same. Their bench jeweler has already received multiple offers and is considering opening his own trade shop, while another sales associate feels confident she’ll find another position soon.
Bill Sites has been active in the jewelry industry throughout his career, and was the 2010 recipient of AGS’s Robert M. Shipley Award. He has held AGS’s Certified Gemologist Appraiser title since 1983. He sat on the organization’s board of directors in the 1990s and early 2000s, serving as president from 2004-2006. He also has served on the board of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, the AGS Laboratories board of managers, and was inducted into the National Jeweler Retail Hall of Fame in 2006.
He’s not going away, he emphasized. “I was always part of a jewelry research group, and they’ve asked me to stay on as facilitator and try to fill the great shoes of Charlotte Preston,” he said. Preston, who died last month following a yearlong battle with cancer, was “such a great mentor and friend,” says Sites. Her group, originally called Jewelers For Profit, was originally part of AGS but broke off when AGS said it couldn’t host jeweler groups because of its charter. The group now has morphed its mission into Jewelers for Prosperity, which Sites says is a more holistic approach.
“We’re not just about the money. It’s also about serving our clients and being committed to our communities.”
The Siteses plan to enjoy more time with family and friends. “We have nine grandchildren, so we’ll be going to soccer games, swim meets, and ballet classes,” he told The Centurion. He and Cyndi also are involved with a number of philanthropic causes in Nashville and are looking forward to dedicating more time to those, as well as seeing more of the United States by car.
There’s no timeline for the store’s closing, says Bill Sites. It’ll be open as long as it takes to sell everything out. He’s working with Wilkerson & Associates on the sale, the same company that did his father’s retirement sale and helped close Sites Jewelers in Clarksville. --By Hedda Schupak
Christensen & Rafferty Celebrates 20th Anniversary
San Mateo, CA—Christensen & Rafferty is turning 20! The jeweler—whose owners, Diane Christensen and Colleen Rafferty are experts at selling to women—will host a four-day celebration of its two decades in business.
From November 18-21, customers who donate to one of the retailer’s selected charities can play “spin to win” for merchandise discounts and a shopping spree. Each $20 donation earns the customer a spin for a discount coupon of up to 70% off a single item, and each donation receives a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree in the store. A $100 donation receives six chances for the shopping spree raffle and a 50% off discount coupon for one single purchase.
The three local charities C&R is benefiting are Peninsula Family Service, Mission Hospice & Home Care, and Peninsula Humane Society. More details are available on the jeweler’s website.
Stuller Announces 2016 Annual Bench Jeweler Workshop
Lafayette, LA—Stuller announces a revamped 2016 Bench Jeweler Workshop itinerary, which will include a new, live “Battle of the Benches” competition on the showroom floor of its global headquarters in Lafayette, LA. The event is scheduled for April 1-3, 2016.
“We’ve taken this year’s event to a new level,” says Tammy Kidder, vice president of merchandising. “Not only is Workshop a great opportunity for jewelers from around the country to come together to share tips, and learn from each other and industry professionals, but we’re also adding some friendly competition to the mix.”
Four exceptional bench jewelers will be selected (from a pool of qualified candidates) to compete in the first ever Stuller Battle of the Benches Competition. For these four, travel expenses up to $500, complimentary event registration, and complimentary lodging during the event will be provided. A panel of experts will choose the four finalists and a fifth alternate prior to the start of Workshop.
“It’s a real-time design contest that will be held on the Workshop floor,” says Kidder. “Contestants will receive the exact same materials, tools, guidelines, and challenges.”
The two-day event will also play host to a number of hands-on demonstrations and educational seminars including, but not limited to:
- Diamond Market (new)
- Digital Technology (new)
- Visual Merchandising (new)
- Jewelry Photography (new)
- Platinum (updated)
- Polishing and Plating (updated)
Learn more or register for the workshop at www.stuller.com/workshop. For more information on the Battle of the Benches competition, visit www.stuller.com/benchjewelercontest.