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Retail News: Samuel Gordon To Close; Levinson’s Invents Earring Solution; Thorpe Wins Charity Bonus February 11, 2015 (0 comments)
Samuel Gordon Jewelers To Close After 111 Years
Oklahoma City, OK—The jeweler who made marketing history in both Oklahoma and the jewelry industry is going out of business. Gary Gordon, third-generation owner of Samuel Gordon Jewelers, has announced plans to retire and close the 111-year-old business.
Gordon, grandson of founder Samuel Gordon, took over the business from his father, Norman, in 1980.
When Gordon took over the retailer, it had three stores and sold a variety of mid-range merchandise. He undertook an aggressive marketing campaign, becoming somewhat of a local celebrity in the process. He also frequently was quoted by the jewelry industry press and often asked to speak about marketing at industry events.
Meanwhile, he consolidated the three stores into one superstore and relentlessly focused on moving upscale, adding high-end designer lines such as Henry Dunay and Rolex watches in the 1990s, and becoming a member of the American Gem Society. (The store no longer carries Rolex, though Gordon told The Centurion that he more than made up the volume in the first year with increased bridal business.) Bridal, of course, was a key part of Samuel Gordon’s business, and the freestanding store he opened in 1990—converted from an old tire store—was designed with a glass wall so that couples shopping for engagement rings could look up to see a rose garden outside.
Gordon also was renowned for highly creative promotions not typical of high-end jewelers, including his famous parking-lot barbecue events, often featuring renowned jazz musicians like Lonnie Mack for entertainment. Gordon himself is a talented drummer and often picks up the sticks for a few sets with the musicians, whom he counts as personal friends.
According to a report in News OK, Gordon, 68, simply wants to retire.
“It’s really kind of boring. I’ve done this for 48 years, and I’m going to allow myself to rest,” Gordon told the paper.
Gordon’s son, Daniel, former president of Samuel Gordon Jewelers, left the business in July 2013, and joined The Diamond Cellar in Ohio later that year. The younger Gordon is one of the industry’s pioneers in social media, as his father was in creative marketing in the 1990s.
The store has begun a going-out-of-business sale, and will be selling all items at or below cost. Gordon said he doesn’t know how long the sale will last but the store will remain open until everything is gone.
Robin Levinson Launches Patented Back To Lift Drooping, Sagging Earrings
Miami, FL—Levears is the brand name of a new patented earring back that keeps earrings sitting upright on the ear, and prevents them from sagging, tipping forward, or pulling down and stretching either the piercing or the earlobe.
Levears are the creation of retailer Robin Levinson, co-owner of Levinson Jewelers in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. With more than 30 years’ experience as a luxury jeweler—and from personal experience—Levinson knows what a frustration it can be when earrings don’t sit right on the ear.
“Through years of trial and error, I was able to design a product that gave my earlobes the support they needed, no matter which earrings I wanted to wear,” said Levinson. “I began giving Levears to my clients as a trial, and after seeing the look on their faces when they experienced the difference, I decided to make them available to everyone.”
Levears help prevent further stretch and tear to earlobes that have naturally lost firmness over time, have stretched due to heavy earrings, or piercings that are misplaced. They work by leveraging the part of the ear above the pierced hole to help spread the weight of the earrings over a larger area, instantly giving earrings a lift to make them stand upright.
Designed with a specific left and right back, this patented design technology provides an instant lift and makes earrings look much more visible from the front, with a more secure feeling on the ear. Levears are designed to simply replace the existing back of any pair of earrings.
Claire Marino, wife of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, was one of Levinson’s first clients to receive an early pair of Levears. She was so impressed with the results that the Marinos decided to partner in the venture.
“When Dan saw the earring backs for the first time, he immediately realized the magic of what they do. He brought them home for me to try and I was amazed at the difference it made with my earrings,” said Claire Marino.
Levears work on every type of post earring: light or heavy, big or small, hanging or studs, and work well on both fine and fashion jewelry.
Levears are available on a wholesale level to other jewelry retailers, as well as for retail purchase at www.levears.com. They are available in reinforced sterling silver (shown below) and 14k yellow or white gold. Levears are made in the USA.
Thorpe & Co. Jewelers Wins $1,000 For Charity
Sioux City, IA—From community childcare centers to homeless shelters, the United Way to hospice care, and from hundreds to thousands of dollars, local jewelers and their customers made an impact during the holiday season with the Giving Back Locally charity program, sponsored by Sarah’s Hope Jewelry and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co..
During the peak jewelry promotional sales period of November/December, 2014, 32 jewelers across the USA and Canada raised nearly $10,000 for local charities through the purchase of Sarah’s Hope Jewelry.
Participating retail jewelers showcased select Sarah's Hope Jewelry pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and awareness ribbons, donating a percentage (20% suggested) of each sale to a local charity hand-picked by each individual retail jeweler. This year, 32 jewelers participated, raising a total of more than $10,000 for various local charities.
Now in its fourth season, the Giving Back Locally program has raised more than $110,000 for local charities in the USA and Canada.
As it has done since the program’s inception in 2011, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company awarded an extra $1000 bonus to the favored charity of the store that sold the most Sarah’s Hope Jewelry during the promotional period.
“We were honored to once again partner with Sarah’s Hope Jewelry in the Giving Back Locally program and share in the giving spirit with jewelers across the country and within their local communities,” said Trina Woldt, chief marketing officer at Jewelers Mutual.
This year’s winner of the JM bonus was Thorpe & Company Jewelers of Sioux City, Iowa, which donated $1000 and received this year’s $1000 contribution from Jewelers Mutual, raising a total of $2000 for its local charity, Mary Elizabeth Child Care Center. Store owner Rusty Clark’s great-grandfather was instrumental in forming the center over 100 years ago.
Rusty Clark, owner of Thorpe & Co. jewelers, presents a check to Jane Heider, executive director of the Mary Elizabeth Child Care Center, the store's chosen charity for this program.
Thorpe & Company Jewelers is a fourth-generation family-owned AGS jeweler in Sioux City, IA. The store has been located in the same half block of downtown Sioux City since1900. Proud of being “a hometown jeweler with worldwide standards,” the store supports many charitable endeavors locally, as well as conflict-free diamonds.
“There’s something about this program, Giving Back Locally, and Sarah’s Hope Jewelry that really struck a chord with people,” said co-owner Karen Clark. “We were pleasantly surprised at how people responded to our ads promoting this program. They made it their mission to stop in and support this cause,” she explained. “There really are a lot of good-hearted people out there.”
In addition to the seasonal Giving Back Locally program, each purchase of Sarah's Hope Jewelry gives back year-round. Through the proceeds from the jewelry sales in select retail stores in the USA and Canada, Sarah’s Hope Jewelry supports programs that fund microloans and small business education scholarships for women around the world. Since its founding in 2004, it has helped hundreds of women in the USA and developing countries achieve economic self-sufficiency through small business ownership.
Sarah’s Hope Jewelry offers socially responsible jewelry featuring sterling silver pieces set with tradmearked E’Sperene stones, as well as popular Awareness Ribbons. Visit SarahsHOPEJewelry.com for more information.
To learn more about the Sarah’s Hope Jewelry Giving Back Locally program call 1-877-888-8058 or email info@SarahsHOPEJewelry.com.