Jeweler

A naturally friendly personality well served his business and his retail customers, who he treated as family. 

FAMILY BACKGROUND

RW was born in the Logan section of Philadelphia. His father was a Philadelphia police officer; his mother was a homemaker.

EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT A FUTURE CAREER

At age 15, before graduating from Northeast High School, RW got his start in the jewelry business as an errand boy on historic Jewelers Row in Philadelphia. Between assigned errands, RW observed experienced salespersons (men and women) interacting with customers. After a usually happy customer departed the store, RW asked the salesperson about the jewelry product: how it was made, why it was unique and how much profit was involved in the sale. Outgoing, fun-loving, and smart, RW went on to become a salesman and then manager at a well-established store on Jeweler’s Row. 

TAKING A REASONABLE RISK TO OPEN A NEW BUSINESS 

At age 31, RW and his cousin opened their own jewelry business. About a decade later, he reached an agreement to purchase his cousin’s share of the business and eventually, his son joined him as an employee and later part-owner. His father also worked in the business after his retirement as a police officer. 

Why was it a “reasonable” risk? Because he already knew the details of the business, he was creating for himself.

CAREER SATISFACTION

RW’s family believes that his secret to business success was in giving as much attention to his family and customers as he did to his bottom line of profitability.  Jewelry was his stock-in-trade, but it was his warm interactions with family and shoppers that made his boutique feel more like a home away from home than a workplace. A fellow jeweler said that RW “was a friendly guy and so easy to talk to. He treated everybody like family.”