I N T H E
LOUPE
This Close!
Summer Buying Show in St. Louis Sees Great Turnout by Jewelers
RJO's Buying Show in St. Louis this month set a Summer Show record with 406 stores attending—51 more than the previous Summer Show record. But ... the 406 was just ... just one store below the all-time Buying Show record, set at this year's Winter Buying Show in Palm Springs. < sigh >
There's an extra-big silver lining with these results: Non-audited sales figures to-date have the St. Louis Show coming in at more than $22 million in sales, which is $2 million over our previous best of any Show.
What a Show! A huge thanks to all who attended this record-breaking event!.
The Premier Jewelers Cooperative
RJO SUMMER BUYING SHOW • AUGUST 2-5, 2024 • ST LOUIS, MO
Members Matter
AT THE BUYING SHOW IN ST. LOUIS this month, I was chatting with one of our newer members, and she said she was a little surprised about how much RJO offers to its members. She remembers a few things that prompted her to apply for membership, but once in, the offerings were much more than she knew. She also said she learned about a lot of these from this column in the Loupe
So, I looked back at a few issues, and I did notice I spend a fair amount of space describing all the ways RJO can help members and their stores. Well, good for me and good for you. This makes me realize, though, I should be sure to mention and thank all of you for the ways you help RJO grow and thrive. Here are just a few that come to mind:
Participation. If this issue’s cover seems familiar, it’s because our Buying Show attendance and purchases have been increasing on a regular basis. You don’t have growth without reaching milestones, and your participation is helping us achieve these amazing records more often! While we take great pride in hosting these events, it's each member's ability to see the Show's value and give them a priority that makes it work best. The same can be said for our Experience weekends, our European trips, and our seminars and educational offerings.
Encouragement. During the Shows, I’m always pleased to hear from members who tried one of our offerings for the first time, and it almost always comes around to having been encouraged
RJO Board News
to do so by a fellow member. You all know the importance of customer recommendations to your store; it’s no different here at RJO.
Camaraderie. You only need to spend a few minutes on our RJO Exclusive Facebook page to see the family atmosphere there. Sure, a lot of the posts are about helping colleagues find a wanted item, but many posts talk about family events, incidences, or likes. These are replied to with wisdom, humor, and care. It’s not unexpected, but seeing it so often, and on such a large scale, is quite moving and appreciated.
Chance-Taking. This issue’s cover story is the result
of an effort to create an RJO recipe book of members' favorite dishes. Other chances we've taken recently include Vendor Education, the upcoming Management Experience or the Bench Jeweler Experience this past Buying Show. These chances almost always pay off, but not always the way we expected. The dozen recipes in this issue’s cover story are a good of example of just that.
As the holiday season gets closer, I hope you’re able to leverage all RJO offers you and your store, and you move forward knowing we appreciate everything you do to make RJO better.
Sarah Streb RJO CEO
EARLY NEXT MONTH—on September 6—RJO will be requesting applications for all positions on the following leadership committees and boards:
•RJO Foundation Board of Directors (4 seats)
Merchandise Review Committee (3 seats)
Next Gen Advisory Board (6 seats)
Vendor Advisory Committee (8 seats)
These are all appointed positions, and interested parties will need to submit their applications by October 7, 2024. Keep an eye out for application information in your inbox and on our Facebook page.
S E R V I C E S
Centralized Billing
Patronage Dividend
RJO Website (rjomembers.com)
Buying Shows (Summer/Winter)
In the Loupe – RJO’s newsletter
RJO Exclusive on Facebook
Educational Seminars (at the Buying Shows)
Member-to-Member Incentive Program (Recruitment Program)
Organized Buying Trips to Antwerp and IdarOberstein
RJO Directory
Travel Vouchers at Shows (offered at varying times)
Free Hotel Room Incentive (at the Buying Shows)
RJO Informational Email Blasts
Purchase Vouchers (at the Buying Shows)
RJO Membership Certificate
JewelConnect, RJOmeet.me, and RJOCustomHatch
Scholarship Opportunities (from the RJO Foundation)
From RJO’s Facebook Page
THE MEMBER-ONLY RJO EXCLUSIVE PAGE ON FACEBOOK hosts a variety of interesting discussions every day. Here is an edited exchange from after this month’s Buying Show in St. Louis.
Connie Matsen: I want to thank Sari Reynolds of Kuhn Jewelers, Julee Johnson of Julee’s Jewelry, and RJO CEO Sarah Streb, from the bottom of my heart, for getting me to the RJO St. Louis Buying Show. I feltI was HOME with my RJO Family. It was exciting to surprise all of you. There were so many welcoming hugs, tears, surprised faces, and lots of love given to me this weekend. Thank you for the kind comments shared with me about Steve and I. I have missed all of you so much. My heart is so happy!
Reply One: So awesome to see you and hug you and catch up! Best extra Momma ever!
Reply Two: I’m so happy you got to go to the Show! You never got your farewell Show, so it makes my heart happy!
Reply Three: Such a surprise to see you. Love you Momma Matsen.
Reply Four: Love this. I didn’t get photos, but I got hugs. So nice to see you.
Reply Five: So great to see our Connie Matsen. We have so many memories which all started in Antwerp. Love you Connie.
Reply Six: It was so good to see you at the Show, I miss seeing you guys at the Antwerp meetings.
Reply Seven: Wish I was there for a hug!
Reply Eight: I am so sad I couldn’t come to the Show. Maybe see you in February?
Reply Nine: Sure looks like Connie is missed. Such a wonderful person to work with.
RJO Foundation Busy at St. Louis Summer Buying Show
THE RJO FOUNDATION CONTINUED its growth and efforts for education in the jewelry industry with some new announcements and the offering of some new fundraising fun and games at this month’s Buying Show in St. Louis.
RJO Foundation 100+ Club is Growing
A new level of commitment has been launched by the Foundation: the 100+ Diamond Club. Members moving to this elite level are agreeing to a $500-a-year commitment. The original 100+ Club is not going away; members can remain at this $200-a-year commitment if they choose. The Foundation signed up 15 Diamond Club members during its launch at the Show.
Fun and Games Raises Nearly $11,000
Money raised for the RJO Foundation from the raffles, t-shirt sales, and jewelry sales in St Louis totaled $10,814. Here are the winners from these raffles and Monday games. All monies raised go to the Foundation and the Mike Pribyl Endowment Scholarship Fund
Luck of YOUR Draw Raffle
•1st prize ($1,000): Lori Contreras, Oak Valley Jewelers, Oakdale, CA
•2nd prize ($500): Regan Laiben, Jayson Jewelers, Cape Girardeau, MO
Raise Your Spirits Raffle
Whether a seasoned enthusiast or an aspiring afficionado, this raffle offered an unparalleled opportunity to add a touch of opulence to a spirits collection. These three bottles, celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of premium spirits, were donated by the Mike Pribyl family of Cahill-Pribyl Jewelers, Inc., in Keokuk, IA. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s Mike Pribyl Endowment Scholarship Fund.
• Bottle of Jack Daniels No. 27 Gold Tennessee Whiskey: Kim Gassen, Grace Jewelry, Columbus, NE
• Bottle of Booker’s Small Batch Bourbon: Kim Gassen, Grace Jewelry, Columbus, NE
• Bottle of Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey: Joe Schiavone, Z’s Fine Jewelry, Peoria, AZ
A one-of-a-kind painting created and donated by Mike Doland, former RJO Foundation President and retired owner of Doland Jewelers, Dubuque and Davenport, IA.
•Brendon Davis, Thomas A Davis Jewelers, Holland, MI (shown above)
Monday Funday Games
Bingo Winners ($1,000 travel vouchers to be used for the Phoenix, AZ, Winter Buying Show in February 2025)
•Kathy Lyons, Zembar Jewelers, New Lenox, IL (2)
•Doris Butler, Butler Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, Selma, AL
Jewelers Jackpot (Purchase vouchers awarded toward purchases at the St Louis Show on Monday)
•$1,500: David Lorenz, Michael & Sons, Reno, NV
•$2,500: Norman Hargrave, Robson’s Diamond Jewelers, Baytown, TX
•$5,000: Heather Wahl, RC Wahl Jewelers, Des Plaines, IL
The RJO Foundation Scholarship program provides scholarships and grants to RJO retail owners, vendor owners, and their employees. The Foundation will continue their fundraising efforts for education in the jewelry industry through the generosity of our members and vendors during our Buying Show campaigns.
Diamond Art Raffle
2024 RJO European Rock Tour Rolls on October 3
TWO MONTHS FROM
NOW RJO’s Rock Tour is heading to Europe with its 2024 hosted tour of Antwerp and beyond.
The Tour is a dynamic purchasing experience that empowers RJO members to become
Direct Diamond Importers in their communities.
With two days of gem buying, exploration, and education in the gemstone haven of IdarOberstein, along with a personalized tour through Antwerp’s historic Diamond District, fine dining, and the warm camaraderie of fellow RJO retailers, the 2024 tour promises to be a vibrant celebration of color, connections, and business success.
The tour begins on October 3 for those starting early, with a visit to Frankfurt, Germany. These travelers will spend three days before they join with additional RJO travelers, who arrive direct from the U.S. to Antwerp. After five days in Antwerp (including a day trip to Lille, France) travelers return home, unless they've selected an optional two-day side trip to London.
Erika Godfrey, of Hawthorne Jewelry in Kearney, NE, and RJO’s Jodi Flaherty will serve as RJO hosts. The full itinerary, contacts and registration deadlines may be found here.
RJO Fall Foundation Scholarship Applications Due September
RJO RETAIL OWNERS, VENDOR owners, and their employees are encouraged to fill out an RJO Foundation Scholarship Application by September 15.
This RJO Foundation program provides scholarships and grants to use for continuing education, GIA courses, RJO’s Next Gen Experience, college coursework, the New Approach School for
St. Louis Buying Show Surveys
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Jewelers, industry trade programs, and online training.
Through direct member donations of our generous sponsor members and vendors, as well as group fundraising efforts, ten scholarships were awarded this past spring. To date, the RJO Foundation has awarded RJO members more than $126,000 across 177 scholarships.
To help us make our next Buying Show even better, RJO encourage attendees to let us know about your St. Louis Show experience. The survey questions are mostly multiple choice, but we do have spaces so you can tell us what you think! There's a general survey, about all things Buying Show, and a second survey is more specific, wanting to know about your experiences with our Buying Show education seminars.
Please respond using the links below.
General Show Survey
Educational Seminars Sur vey
Vendor Profile
Varsha & Fireworks Diamonds: Beyond Natural Diamonds
THE PAIRING OF DIAMONDS WITH LOVE is most often associated with romantic love, but brothers Nick and Jay Mehta look at it in a more profound way. Their father, Pankah Mehta, founded Varsha & Fireworks Diamonds in Los Angeles, CA, more than 30 years ago, with his philosophy, “If you love what you do, you will excel in that line of work. And, don’t be just good at it, be the best, because love is the closest thing to magic!”
Inspired by the lure of magical creations, Varsha Diamonds is known for its commitment to integrity, excellence, and sustainability, offering eco-friendly and conflict-free diamonds. The business is led by Nick (CEO) and Jay (Director of Operations), who continue to expand upon the company’s successes.
“We pride ourselves on staying ahead of market trends to meet and exceed client needs,” says Nick. “Earlier this year, we expanded our product line with all-new color collections (both color gemstones and color diamonds) with our signature Varsha quality and style. We offer a wide range of loose natural diamonds and finished diamond and gemstone jewelry, as well as our own brand of diamonds, Fireworks Diamonds®, which earned an exclusive AGS proprietary cut grade.”
“Fireworks Diamonds, our branded natural diamond line,” continues Nick, “offers retail partners an opportunity to earn higher margins for their diamond sales and for their customers to get more bling for their buck. Fireworks-branded diamonds are exceptional natural diamonds, scientifically proven to be the brightest and largest in the industry, all backed by advanced technology, like AGS Laboratories’ ASET and Sarine Technology.”
Jay says Fireworks Diamonds offers RJO members distinct competitive pricing, higher profit margins, and a product line that ensures top-tier light performance, minimal light leakage, and little-to-no bowties. Known for their brilliance, fire, and scintillation, these diamonds, says Jay, are cut for beauty, not for size, and the difference is clearly visible, even without a jeweler’s loupe.
Varsha’s most popular collections include:
• Varsha Vintage: Unique, vintage-inspired Art Deco designs with natural diamonds and precious-colored stones, like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
• Color Candy Collection: Semi-precious gemstones in the retailer’s choice of 14K or 18K gold or 14K goldplated sterling silver. It includes two dozen styles in gemstones such as amethyst, garnet, blue topaz, and citrine.
• Rose & Amor: Three-carat and higher lab-grown colored diamond jewelry with vibrant pink, blue, and yellow center stones.
• Varsha Programs: Timeless basics with excellent price points. Minimalistic designs for everyday wear.
Nick knew of RJO’s stellar reputation, as many of the company’s retail partners were members, so it seemed a natural fit when they joined as an RJO vendor in early 2021.
“Doing business in the multi-faceted jewelry market for more than 40 years,” says Nick, “the RJO guaranteed payment is definitely a welcome benefit and probably, for us, one of the best aspects of being an RJO Vendor. It builds trust immediately and allows us to focus our efforts on developing more great jewelry designs.”
“The networking and business opportunities within the organization are critical elements to helping us achieve our goals and objectives,” says Jay, “so we are delighted to be an active member. We cannot think of a better audience for our particular product offerings than the RJO community.”
Varsha & Fireworks Diamonds is located at 550 S. Hill St., Suite 1390 in Los Angeles, CA.
Phone: (213) 683-0848
Website: www.varshadiamonds.com
Can AI Agents Add Value to Your Store In 2024?
By Andy Boundy MyStore.Jewelry
IN THE LAST EDITION of In the Loupe, I wrote about the importance of keeping store value within the store and not promoting AI (artificial intelligence) over your unique service. AI is everywhere now, and the tech is coming quickly, promising all sorts of benefits. As a tech provider to RJO and RJO members for more than a decade, I keep a close eye on such tech. Following are my recommendations for a busy store, using AI to add value where it can do the most good.
Let me first reiterate any use of AI in your store should not interfere with the customers’ reliance on your store personnel to get what they need. In other words, because everyone can use AI, you need to ensure you don’t dilute your store’s value by showing you’re just supplying what they can get elsewhere. You built your store on service excellence, and it’s important to keep that first and foremost in the eyes of the customer.
That said, your store is not open 24/7. Because of this, stores often are at a disadvantage to online providers. Since we know customer shopping is done when you are closed, you can lose out.
Before AI, this was a tough hurdle to overcome, unless you want your cell phone on you all the time. AI, because of its ability to understand intent, can actually help here.
There are two technologies I think are suitable for this. One is AI website chatbots and the other is voice-AI. They both do the same basic thing, but the former is texting and typing, while the latter is voice operated. These are often referred to as AI agents or assistants.
Chatbots can be trained on your store’s information and can answer questions from your customers 24/7. In this, AI is far superior to leaving a message or texting, because there’s an instant, relevant response. If you have shoppers wanting service after hours, your website can now actually assist. Website chatbots can answer many of the common questions you get in the store, by phone, in an email, or via a text message. Your “bot” can answer questions on when, what, where, and how your store can provide service.
If your store has certain types of e-commerce, you can have chatbots recommend items or categories. It’s like having a salesperson on-hand all the time.
This certainly does not replace the human element of service (nor should it), but when that is not available, it does close the gap between nothing and something.
For voice agents, the task is similar, but it works most readily on the phone. Essentially, this is an intelligent answering machine that understands questions and responds audibly. You can chat with a voice agent to some degree, and should the question be something the voice agent can handle, the customer gets what they need.
Of the two technologies, chatbots appear to me to be more reliable right now, but AI techs believe within six months, the voice agents could be equally as valuable. If getting your customers the information they need right away, 24-7, is important to your store, this tech is a good, affordable, and progressive step.
The takeaway here is chatbots are ready to go and make a great addition to any website. Voice agents are here, and I think soon, will be very capable of adding to (but not replacing) your store value for customer service. Technology should never replace your personal service, but it can certainly supplement it when you’re not around.
RJO Summer Buying Show 2024
( Click on the photos below to have larger versions pop up in a new window )
Showcase Tower
Display Winner Parle' Jewelry Designs
RJO Lifetime Achievement Award
MIKE PRIBYL THE RJO FOUNDATION
RJO Next Generation Advisory Board
LOST a true leader on Friday, January 19, 2024, when Mike Pribyl of Cahill-Pribyl Jewelry & Gifts in Keokuk, IA, passed away. Mike was elected to the inaugural RJO Foundation Board of Directors in April of 2015 and elected President of the Foundation in 2018. Mike was serving as Foundation President at the time of his passing.
Mike was selected as the recipient of 2024's RJO Lifetime Achievement Award. RJO CEO Sarah Streb's tribute to Mike may be viewed here.
Jessica Dust Weber, Jason Baide, Samantha Tupper, Josh Durham, Devon Bond, Allison Leitzel Williams, Liz Chamberland Emery, Brittany Murrell, Katherine Dahlkemper Yezzi
2024 RJO Vendor Award Winners
VENDORS OF THE YEAR
Finished Goods Allison-Kaufman
Clock/Watch Citizen Watch Co.
Finished Goods Ostbye
SALES REP OF THE YEAR
Service/Specialty Products Edge by Abbott
SALES REP OF THE YEAR
*In the Loose Goods category, this year's winner was GN Diamond. No photo was available.
RISING STAR AWARDS
The Rising Star Award is meant to recognize those vendors who experienced the greatest year-over-year sales growth. We are thrilled to see this growth and excited to recognize these three emerging vendors.
Tim Marr Ostbye
Ralph Crivelli Victor Corp.
Recipes from Members
RJO Favorites
In this month’s edition, we’re excited to share a collection of cherished recipes submitted by RJO retailers and vendors. The RJO Foundation has been working on putting together a cookbook, but gathering enough recipes to complete the project has proven challenging. So, instead of waiting, we wanted to share these delicious dishes with our community now. From savory dishes to sweet treats—and even a little something for your furry friends—each recipe offers a taste of the culinary talents within our RJO community. We hope these recipes inspire you to try something new and bring a little bit of RJO flavor into your kitchen!
ACQUAVIVA’S BOLOGNESE PASTA
Gina Bogda
Metal Marketplace International Philadelphia, PA
1 large onion, roughly diced
2 celery sticks, roughly diced
2-3 carrots, roughly diced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground veal
3/4 cup red wine
1 can (32 ounces) crushed tomatoes, salt to taste
Pepper or red pepper flakes, to taste
Take roughly diced onion, celery, carrots, and garlic and place into food processor. Pulse until finely ground. If unable to use food processor, finely chop everything. Heat large sauté pan, with olive oil, to medium-high heat. Sauté onion, celery, carrot, and garlic mixture for 5-10 minutes (do not brown). Add ground veal. Using spatula or wooden spoon, break up ground veal into the vegetable mixture, until both are well blended and no longer pink. Add red wine and simmer until alcohol evaporates (approximately 5 minutes). Pour in can of crushed tomatoes, plus approximately a half can (16 ounces) of water. Stir to blend and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover pan, and simmer for approximately 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over one pound of your favorite pasta.
“This Bolognese recipe is a staple in my home! Growing up as an Acquaviva, my Italian grandparents and father (Metal Marketplace’s owner Tony Acquaviva), family gatherings always revolved around big meals, and we ate a lot of Italian food! In true fashion, the recipes were rarely written down and took hours to make. This is a family recipe I have adapted over the years to a step-by-step version that is quick and easy to make. The recipe is also very forgiving— go heavy or light on the vegetables, hand-chop veggies (or use a food processor—like me—to save time), substitute different meats (ground beef or pork), or even use fresh tomatoes. It is always good, and the results will not disappoint!”
CHEESE FUDGE SQUARES
Cheryl Turner
Jim’s Jewelers Tyler, TX
1 pound cheddar cheese, grated 3 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup green sauce (salsa verde)
Spread half the cheese in an 11” x 7” baking dish. Combine eggs with green sauce and spread over cheese in baking dish. Add remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Cut into 1-inch squares and serve hot on tortilla chips or serve alone as an appetizer. It’s great with Mexican food.
CORN
CHOWDER
Lisa Pribyl Cahill-Pribyl Jewelry & Gifts Keokuk, IA
5 slices bacon
2-1/2 cups milk
1 bag (2 cups) frozen corn
1 cup diced potato, cooked
1 medium onion, separated into rings
1 can cream of mushroom soup
In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon, drain grease, and crumble bacon. Cook onion rings in drippings until tender, and then drain. Stir in milk, corn, potatoes, and can of soup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 2-3 minutes. Season to taste. Garnish with crumbled bacon.
“It’s a family favorite for sure. My mom made it many, many times. Usually on the first good crisp fall day, this soup would be on the menu.”
CUCUMBER PIE
Joanna Gruver Jo & Co. Jewelers Wirtz, VA
5 cucumbers, diced (enough to make 3 cups cucumber sauce)
1 teaspoon allspice
5 eggs
3 cups brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups cream or whole milk
1 cup milk
3-4 graham cracker crust pie shells
Place diced cucumbers in saucepan and cook until tender. Purée in the blender. Empty blender and then put eggs, milk, and cream in blender. Mix. Combine cucumber, blender mix, and additional ingredients in the blender. Mix and then pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350° until the center sets (approximately 40 minutes).
“This is a great use of cucumbers if your garden produces too many.”
DOGGIE TREATS
Debra Cormier
Hager Jewelry
Hutchinson, MN
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Mix ingredients and roll out to desired thickness. I use a doggy-bone cookie cutter (I don’t think they really care!). Bake 20-35 minutes at 300° degrees.
“Delicious!,” say family pets Gunner, Finley, and Luna.
Shuck and de-silk corn. Set aside. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir together until a paste forms. Apply mixture—coating thoroughly—to each ear of corn. Heat grill to 375-425 degrees; grills vary based on type, cooking area and distance from flames. Cook for 8 minutes, turning every 2 minutes until a light grill mark starts to appear.
PANCAKE SYRUP
Kathlene Peck
Val Casting, Inc.
Bucyrus, OH
2-2/3 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
2 cups water
2 teaspoons maple flavoring
Combine ingredients in saucepan and heat thoroughly until dissolved, stirring constantly. Syrup does not need to boil. Store in refrigerator.
PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE
[ NO-BAKE GLUTEN FREE ]
Judy Cole Jim’s Jewelers Tyler, TX
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
GRILLED CORN
Ashton Couch
Couch & Co Jewelers
Bossier City, LA
3 ears of sweet corn
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon paprika or cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic, minced Squeeze of lime or lemon juice
1-3/4 cups powdered sugar
10 tablespoons butter (at room temperature), divided 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup milk chocolate morsels
Lightly spray an 8” or 9” pan. Line with foil and let sides hang over, so you can grab to lift fudge out and cut into bars when done. In a large bowl, cream half the butter (5 tablespoons) until smooth. Mix sugars well (this is important) with the butter. Add peanut butter a little at a time so it mixes smoothly. Press into pan. In small bowl, mix chocolate morsels and remaining butter together. In microwave, heat and stir in 20-second intervals, until all is melted and smooth. Pour over peanut butter mixture that has been spread in pan. Chill for 3 hours or overnight. Lift out and cut into squares. Keep refrigerated.
“This is similar to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!”
SMOKEY CREAM CHEESE
Jeff Wickersham
Wickersham Jewelry
Rothschild, WI
1 block (8 ounces) of cream cheese
Dry rub
Jalapeño pepper jelly (optional)
Crackers (for dipping)
Preheat smoker to 175-200°. Put the unwrapped cream cheese on aluminum foil or inside a pan. Make shallow slits on top of the cream cheese with a knife. Shake or coat the outside of the cream cheese with the dry rub. Smoke for 2 hours. Use Super Smoke setting, if available. Take off the smoker, add jalapeño jelly on top of the smoked cream cheese. Serve with crackers.
“You can use whatever type of rub you would use for smoking meat. I use John Henry’s Sugar Maple Rub. For crackers, I use Ritz or Town House. Giddy up!”
SUZY’S CHILI
Suzy Taylor
E.B. Gray Jewelers
Livingston, TN
1 pound ground beef
1 pound hot sausage
1 package chili seasoning
1 can chili beans
1 can (10 ounces) ROTEL Original Tomatoes & Chilies
1 large can (29 ounces) tomato sauce
1/3 cup of packed brown sugar
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
1 teaspoon Emeril’s “Bam!” seasoning
Brown ground beef and sausage with the onion. Drain and mix in with all other ingredients. Cook in the crockpot on low for about four hours. (Optionally, it can be cooked on high for 30 minutes on the stove top).
“This is the best chili ever! I actually won a chili cookoff at my church with this recipe a couple of years ago! It’s great with Frito’s or Mexican cornbread! Just top it
off with cheddar cheese and sour cream before eating!”
THREE RIVERS CHICKEN
Allison Williams
Leitzel’s Jewelry
Hershey, PA
4 tablespoons flour 1/2 pint sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup white wine or sherry
Pinch of black pepper
4 chicken breasts
Mix flour with sour cream. Combine all other ingredients. Place chicken breasts in large baking dish. Pour mixture over chicken. Bake at 350° for 90 minutes. Serve with white rice or pasta.
TIPSY REINDEER
Debra Cormier
Hager Jewelry
Hutchinson, MN
2-1/2 cups orange juice
2-1/2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups ginger ale
2 cups vodka (can use soda pop instead)
1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
Lemon juice
Sugar
Mix all ingredients together. Add juice of lemon in small amounts to taste. Add sugar to sweeten beverage, if needed.
“Place a green licorice stick or red/green jelly circle candy as a fun garnish for Christmas.”
Jeweler Profile
Robinette Jewelers: Celebrating 80 Years in Seneca Falls
IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE of New York, a bit south of the eastern coast of Lake Ontario, lies Seneca Falls. Just shy of 7,000 residents, Robinette Jewelers has been Seneca Falls’ hometown jeweler since 1944. In July of that year, George S. Robinette opened the doors of George S. Robinette Jeweler. At the time, George had finished a short employment at another jewelry store in central New York state, had graduated as a certified master watchmaker of Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA, and was continuing to take courses in jewelry repair.
“He had lots of help during those early years,” says Mark Robinette, George’s youngest child and the store’s current owner. “Five children worked at various times at the jewelry store, along with my mother Mary, and her father, Thomas. Additionally, several local people also worked here over the years, helping the store grow and outlast several other jewelry stores in the area. I think much of that success was due to the watch and jewelry repairs we provided in-house.”
Mark, after working in the store weekends and other hours during high school, left Seneca Falls for a while, attending Gem City College in Quincy, IL. Upon graduation, he returned to the family store to work full time, marry his high school classmate, Susan, and raise two children. Founder George retired in July 1980 and sold the store to then 24-year-old Mark, who went on to get his diploma for GIA’s Diamond Course.
Mark and Susan’s children—Daniel and Deborah— both worked in the store along with their aunt Laurie Sweeting. Eventually, Daniel went on to GIA Carlsbad to become a Graduate Jeweler and Gemologist, and earn other certifications from GIA. Gaining experience both at his parents’ store and others, Daniel spent 15 years in jewelry manufacturing, returning to Robinette Jewelers. He has taken over doing most of the in-store repairs. Daniel’s daughters—Alyssa and Madison— joined the Robinette Jewelers staff in 2020, working part time on weekends and holidays.
“I like to say we grow our own bench jewelers,” says Mark. “Susan and I cared for our oldest granddaughter, Madison, at the family store for about her first three years of age. She would watch all the activities that go on at a jewelry store, including Papa doing jewelry repairs. During high school Madison’s activities included sports, music, and auto-tech classes. Having graduated from high school with several awards—and with a greatly appreciated RJO
Foundation scholarship, she is now attending Gem City College, her Papa’s jewelry school, 50 years later.”
Mark says the store had a very low-key 80th anniversary recognition this past July. While the store has earned a number of awards over the years, the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce was particularly timely in presenting the jeweler with its Small Business Product Based Award for 2024.
“Seneca Falls is a great place to live and work,” says Mark. “It is recognized as the birthplace of women’s rights and is the location of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. We also have the movie-inspired It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, and we’re located in the heart of the fantastic Finger Lakes region. We are near nationally recognized state parks, and award-winning wineries surround several of the beautiful lakes that are centrally located between the cities of Syracuse, Rochester, and Ithaca.”
In addition to its 80th anniversary, Robinette Jewelers is also marking its 25th year as an RJO member.
“Dan and I both like the interaction between the members and the vendors—in person and on Facebook,” says Mark. “The Buying Shows are great, as are the variety of vendors and the Shows’ informational meetings. Many of the vendors we have used for many years are also members of RJO, and this leads to added savings, which we very much appreciate.”
Robinette Jewelers is located at 90 Fall Street in Seneca Falls, NY. Phone: (315) 568-6222 Website: www.robinettejewelers.com
Madison, Mark, and Daniel Robinette
MILESTONE
Lanny “Lamar” Murrell, retired owner of Selman's Jewelers in McComb, MS, passed away on Sunday, July 28. He was 67. Lamar and his wife Betsy worked together until they retired in 2023 and sold the business to their daughter.
Our thoughts go out to the Murrell family.
CALENDAR
September 2024
2 Labor Day—RJO Office is closed (Aug. 30 - Sept. 2)
6 Applications available for RJO Foundation Board of Directors, RJO Next Gen Advisory Board, RJO Merchandise Review Committee, and RJO Vendor Advisory Committee
8 Grandparents Day
10 All payments must be received in RJO office
15 RJO Foundation Scholarship applications due
22 First day of Fall
23 All invoices must be received in the RJO office
NEW MEMBERS
Anderson’s Diamond Jewelers
Kevin Anderson Lancaster, SC
Referred by Dave & DJ Necker, Necker Jewelry, DeWitt, IA; and David Kux, Kux Jewelers, Laurel, MS
Balefire Goods
Jamie Hollier Arvada, CO
CBC Fine Jewelers
Jesus & Gerardo Cardenas El Paso, TX
Referred by Matt Stuller, Stuller, Lafayette, LA
F October 2024
2-4 Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset 3-15 RJO European Rock Tour
8 Applications due for RJO Foundation Board of Directors, RJO Next Gen Advisory Board, RJO Merchandise Review Committee, and RJO Vendor Advisory Committee
10 All payments must be received in RJO office 11-12 Yom Kippur begins at sunset 16-23 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
23 All invoices must be received in the RJO office 31 Halloween and Diwali
Green Brothers Jewelers
Allen Green Bay City, TX and Victoria, TX
Referred by Judy & Jim Cole, Jim's Jewelers, Inc., Tyler, TX
Hodges Jewelers
Courtney Hodges Marshall, MI
Referred by Alissa Sweet, Sweet Custom Jewelry, Lansing, MI; and Laura Culy, Culy’s Jewelry, Coldwater, MO
Horne Custom Jewelry
Cliff Horne Gulfport, MS
Referred by Randy Arnett, Randy Arnett Jewelers
Hughes Jewelers
Cristy & Paul Hughes Helena, AL
Referred by Sammy Turner, Shefi Diamonds, Inc., New York, NY
Motif Jewelers
Karyn Chopjian & Eric Chopjian Taylor, MI
Renee Taylor Gallery
Renee Taylor Sedona, AZ
Thank you to the jewelers referring new members to our group. These jewelers will receive a $1,000 finder’s fee for their referral, payable after a new member has been in good standing for at least six months.