Articles and News
RETAIL NEWS: SMYTH TO MANAGE BAILEY, BANKS; MJ CHRISTENSEN’S MILLER ON TV; DON MULLER GALLERY SOLD September 12, 2012 (0 comments)
Bailey, Banks, & Biddle To Be Managed by Smyth Jewelers
Timonium, MD—Smyth Jewelers has been hired to manage the operations, purchasing, and field support for the nine-store Bailey, Banks, & Biddle jewelry chain, according to this report in Rapaport. Smyth executives Mark Motes and John Jackson will serve as CEO and COO, respectively, of Bailey, Banks, & Biddle.
The upscale chain, originally founded in Philadelphia in 1832 as Bailey & Kitchen, claims to be America’s oldest jeweler. The firm was the designer of the Great Seal of the United States, as well as many military medals still in use today, including the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.
The jeweler became part of the Zale Corp. in 1962, and was sold to Finlay Enterprises in 2007, with 65 stores. After Finlay declared bankruptcy in 2009, the retail brand re-emerged in its own right in 2010, greatly reduced in scale, with nine stores in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, TX; King of Prussia, PA; St. Louis, MO; Ft. Myers, FL: Little Rock, AR; Pleasanton, CA; and Woodbridge, VA.
Part of Bailey, Banks, & Biddle's storied history includes designing many military medals, such as the Purple Heart. Photo: Wikipedia
According to the Rapaport article, Smyth already was providing consulting services to Bailey, Banks & Biddle, and the stores shared best practices and sales techniques. Smyth also operates three retail locations under its own name in Maryland, two Pandora stores in the state, and eight Pandora stores nationwide.
MJ Christensen’s Jennifer Miller Appears on Fox TV
Las Vegas, NV—Jennifer Miller, marketing director of MJ Christensen Jewelers recently appeared on Las Vegas’ Fox TV 5 to discuss the retailer’s commitment to giving back to Africa through jewelry sales. The retailer sells the Bead4Life line of jewelry created by women in Uganda, as well as the Green Bracelet and Stars of Africa jewelry benefiting the Diamond Empowerment Fund. Miller discussed the financial benefits the diamond industry brings to Africa, along with bringing access to health care, and providing employment and education to African citizens in diamond-producing nations.
Maya MacLachlan Takes Ownership of Don Muller Gallery
Northampton, MA—Maya MacLachlan, a longtime director of the Don Muller Gallery, has assumed ownership of the business effective September 1, as founder and former owner Muller retires. The gallery, featuring local and American crafts and jewelry, will keep its name, and MacLachlan says she looks forward to carrying on Muller’s tradition of impeccable quality and attentive customer service.
Don Muller, left, is retiring. Longtime director Maya MacLachlan, right, now owns the Don Muller Gallery.
MacLachlan, who holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, joined the Don Muller Gallery staff while in graduate school. Of her new ownership of the Don Muller Gallery, she said, “I embrace my passion for this new endeavor and the unique opportunity presented before me. It's a dream come true!”
Rachel Feuer-Beck, a six-year veteran of the shop, will become the gallery’s new manager.
“I am one hundred percent positive that Maya will continue to grow the business and continue my legacy for many years to come. Maya is more than ready to take the helm and steer the gallery into the future,” says Muller. In his retirement, Muller looks forward to keeping himself busy with traveling, fly fishing, and spending more time with his family.