Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Corinth Jewelers opens fabulous standalone store
    Positive Outlook for Holiday Sales
    Riding the Wave with Essential Lab Grown Diamonds in a Changing Market
    Saban Onyx helps independent retail jewelers get fancy
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    JA members push for security, credit reform in D.C.
    Columbia Gem House opens raffle to support Sea Turtle Rehabilitation
    CD Peacock partners with Foster Love to support Chicago’s foster youth
    NDC and Lorraine Schwartz announce the 2023 Class of Emerging Designers
  • Podcast
    Episode 44 -John Carter, From Small Town to Big Dreams of Jack Lewis Jewelers
    Episode 44 -John Carter, From Small Town to Big Dreams of Jack Lewis Jewelers
    Dangers of Jewelry theft and how to prevent them 350
    Episode 43 -Kenny Mullins, Dangers of Jewelry Theft and How to Prevent Them
    Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    Episode 42 -Doug Meadows, Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    An-Inspiring-Tale-Behind-50-Years-of-Jewelry-Design-and-More
    Episode 41 -John Atencio, An Inspiring Tale Behind 50 Years of Jewelry Design and More
    Episode 39 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    Episode 40 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 39 -Frederick Mannella, The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Technology Meets Our Values
    Episode 37 – Kyle Bullock, Technology Meets Our Values
    A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Episode 36 – Brooke and Chase Brinson, A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
  • Columnists
    The Story Behind the Stone: Just Jewels
    Safeguarding High-Value Retailers: Unveiling the cyber risks and effective countermeasures
    4Cs of Diamonds? Here are the 4Cs of Jewelry Marketing to help you sell them
    Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing
    Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches
    The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Springtime in September
    Barbiecore Bling! Are you in?
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • Digital Magazine
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archive
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Corinth Jewelers opens fabulous standalone store
    Positive Outlook for Holiday Sales
    Riding the Wave with Essential Lab Grown Diamonds in a Changing Market
    Saban Onyx helps independent retail jewelers get fancy
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    JA members push for security, credit reform in D.C.
    Columbia Gem House opens raffle to support Sea Turtle Rehabilitation
    CD Peacock partners with Foster Love to support Chicago’s foster youth
    NDC and Lorraine Schwartz announce the 2023 Class of Emerging Designers
  • Podcast
    Episode 44 -John Carter, From Small Town to Big Dreams of Jack Lewis Jewelers
    Episode 44 -John Carter, From Small Town to Big Dreams of Jack Lewis Jewelers
    Dangers of Jewelry theft and how to prevent them 350
    Episode 43 -Kenny Mullins, Dangers of Jewelry Theft and How to Prevent Them
    Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    Episode 42 -Doug Meadows, Inside the Generational Legacy of David Douglas Diamonds
    An-Inspiring-Tale-Behind-50-Years-of-Jewelry-Design-and-More
    Episode 41 -John Atencio, An Inspiring Tale Behind 50 Years of Jewelry Design and More
    Episode 39 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    Episode 40 -Brittany Jones,95 Years of Excellence and Legacy of JF Jones Jewelers
    The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 39 -Frederick Mannella, The Rise of Luxury Handbag Trend in Jewelry Stores
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Episode 38 – Kevin Patton, Gem-preneur Family Legacy of Pattons Fine Jewelry
    Technology Meets Our Values
    Episode 37 – Kyle Bullock, Technology Meets Our Values
    A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
    Episode 36 – Brooke and Chase Brinson, A Pandemic-Born Success of Two Jewelry Visionaries
  • Columnists
    The Story Behind the Stone: Just Jewels
    Safeguarding High-Value Retailers: Unveiling the cyber risks and effective countermeasures
    4Cs of Diamonds? Here are the 4Cs of Jewelry Marketing to help you sell them
    Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing
    Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches
    The Story Behind the Stone: Oops there it is!
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    Cool New Things from the Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Springtime in September
    Barbiecore Bling! Are you in?
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • Digital Magazine
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archive
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Columnists

24 Karat Corner: Help wanted – stat!

Howard Kelrick by Howard Kelrick
May 31, 2015
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 6 minutes

After a few months of not being able to get away, I was happy to get out and see some people I hadn’t visited in a while. My first stop was to my friend Donnie’s store. Donnie and I have been friends since we both started in the business back in the bronze age.

When I pulled in, the store was busy with customers, and Donnie was trying to work with two different customers at the same time (a definite “no-no” on so many levels) and other customers were milling about waiting impatiently.

I took a peek in the back to see if the jewelers knew of the crush up front, but the shop lights were off and no one was around. I was even tempted to hop over the counter to help the waiting customers, but realized that would have only made the situation worse. So, I wished Donnie good luck and told him I’d be back at closing time, and left him alone with a store full of customers.

When I swung back early that evening, Donnie was exhausted.

“Glad to see you are busy!” I said as I walked in trying to put a good face on things. “Where were all your sales and shop people?”

“Gone!” was his one word response. “Buy me a beer and I’ll tell you how I got in this mess!

“I did have, as you know, two good sales girls. The younger one left to work at the Apple store in the mall, probably to sell watches. The other left to take a job that offered health insurance. She wants to start a family, and I don’t offer health benefits.”

“And your shop guys?” I asked, knowing this too would end badly.

“My head jeweler, who had been with me for thirty years, retired early. His assistant just didn’t have the skills to run the shop by himself, so I had to let him go. That might have been a mistake.”

“So, how is the hiring going?” was my obvious question.

“Not so good! It’s not like I’m running a shoe store like the guy next to me. My people have to know what they are doing, understand the security issues, know something about diamonds, know how to close a sale, and by the way, I need to know the people I bring in are honest and trustworthy to a fault. It’s a scary proposition, and apparently, I’m not very good at the process!”

The beer and the burgers came and it gave me a moment to assess my poor friend’s situation. While Donnie was obviously a sharp retailer with great buying and merchandising skills, his human resource talents were non-existent. And, he was beginning to realize that himself. So, that’s where I started.

“Donnie, it would be great if I knew some salespeople and bench jewelers to send your way. But, unfortunately, I don’t. But I can help you past this HR nightmare you’ve been running.”

“First, you need to attract candidates. And, you can do this with competitive salaries, good benefits, flexible work schedules, and providing opportunity for advancement, along with interesting and challenging work.

“Second, you need to retain your employees. You can do this by giving them the necessary tools and resources to do their jobs successfully, offering educational opportunities, rewarding them for career development, and giving them a clear path to grow in their jobs.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Donnie confessed. “Yet, I’m at a complete loss on how to make it happen.”

We finished dinner and walked to our cars. I told Donnie he’ll get through this, and when he did, he should sign up for some classes at the local community college or find a course on-line in human resources management. I even suggested to him that he might qualify for a scholarship for those courses from The 24 Karat Club. When he is ready, I told him, it would be my pleasure to nominate him. I also pointed out to him that continuing professional education for his employees is a wonderful benefit that improves the skill set of his staff, and builds employee loyalty and morale. And, The 24 Karat Club could help him there as well with scholarships that could cover the entire cost.

To encourage those in our industry to continue their education, improve their technical or managerial skills, The 24 Karat Club offers a variety of scholarships. If you or someone you work with would benefit from a 24 Karat Club scholarship, we suggest you contact one of our members to learn more about the nomination process. We especially invite store owners to think about their staffs, and how an investment in their education would benefit everyone. 

And, just maybe, I’ll sign up for a few courses in retailing, so the next time I have a chance to hop over the counter to help out a friend, I’ll know what I’m doing! And, if you or someone you know wants to re-locate to South Florida, drop me a line, and I’ll pass it along to Donnie.


Howard Kelrick is President of Finger Mate and a  board member of The 24 Karat Club, SEUS.  Finger Mate manufactures and installs expandable ring shanks and sells to retail jewelers throughout North America. Contact Howard at 954-458-2700 or e-mail Howard@FingerMate.com.

Howard Kelrick

Howard Kelrick

Howard Kelrick is President of Finger Mate and a  board member of The 24 Karat Club, SEUS.  Finger Mate manufactures and installs expandable ring shanks and sells to retail jewelers throughout North America. Contact Howard at 954-458-2700 or e-mail Howard@FingerMate.com.

Related Posts

The Story Behind the Stone: Just Jewels

October 1, 2023

Safeguarding High-Value Retailers: Unveiling the cyber risks and effective countermeasures

September 27, 2023

4Cs of Diamonds? Here are the 4Cs of Jewelry Marketing to help you sell them

September 25, 2023
Applied Marketing 101: The Next Big Thing

Applied Marketing 101: The Asteroid Approaches

September 18, 2023

Latest News

Other News

JA members push for security, credit reform in D.C.

October 2, 2023
Other News

Columbia Gem House opens raffle to support Sea Turtle Rehabilitation

October 2, 2023
On The Move

CD Peacock partners with Foster Love to support Chicago’s foster youth

October 2, 2023

Other News

NDC and Lorraine Schwartz announce the 2023 Class of Emerging Designers

Punchmark introduces new jewelry web technology features

GIA supports diamond traceability solutions

Corinth Jewelers opens fabulous standalone store

Positive Outlook for Holiday Sales

Riding the Wave with Essential Lab Grown Diamonds in a Changing Market

Southern Jewelry News

© 2023 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Jewelry Trade Shows & Events
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
  • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Southern Jewelry News
    • Mid-America Jewelry News
    • Archives

© 2023 Southern Jewelry News.