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Jewelers have holiday boom
YOUNGSTOWN
There are a few days of holiday shopping left before Santa Claus comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve.
It’s why local jewelers in the Mahoning Valley are seeing a boom in business.
“December is our biggest month of the year,” Thom Duma Jr. said.
The owner of Thom Duma Fine Jewelers, 115 W. Market St. in Warren, said the business is all about celebrating milestones in people’s lives with their loved ones.
“We make people smile,” he said.
The jewelry store works in three categories: bridal, fashion and watches. Duma said brands such as David Yurman are wearable for all occasions. In bridal, engagement rings are popular during the holiday season. For watches, the store carries designs such as Rolex and Detroit-made Shinola.
“We want to be something for everybody,” he said.
Although the brands dictate the prices, Duma said the store offers gift cards to customers with a purchase.
Duma said their business has seen a 20 percent bump so far.
“We’re better than last year,” he said. “It’s never going to end until the fat man comes down the chimney.”
While Thom Duma offers a selection to compete with Cleveland and Pittsburgh jewelers, the owners at Cirelli Jewelers, 5903 Market St., said they offer competitive prices compared with the national chains.
“You should offer the best price every single day,” said Jayare Chichanski, co-owner of the store.
With 21 brands, 50 percent of the business at Cirelli is in watches.
They’re also the third-largest independent outlet for both Citizen and Casio brands in the country, said Mark Chichanski, Jayare’s father.
Mark said the store experienced double-digit growth over the past decade because it’s “consistently staying with the trends” in its selection.
The store is also open seven days a week for the holidays and also offers appointments after business hours, Jayare said.
During one Christmas Day, Jayare said he went to the store, still in his pajamas, for a client who had bought the wrong gift for his wife instead of the jewelry that was previously looked at. The store has a new system that records the products looked at by clients.
“It makes Christmas shopping very simple,” Jayare said.
Christmas shopping is also ingrained in some local jewelers such as Adamas Jewelry and Gifts, 8391 Market St., in Boardman. The 6,000-square-foot store experienced a slow period in November but it’s picked up rapidly in December.
“Normally it’s spread out,” said Judy Rafoth, the owner.
She said 80 percent of their business is in the final quarter of the year. Throughout November and early December, the store features trunk shows with vendors showing off their line of jewelry and gifts.
The store is the largest outlet for Pandora Jewelry in the area, Rafoth said.
It’s one of the 10 departments in the store. Additionally, the store has a year-round Christmas department with decorations and gifts for the holiday season.
“This is one-stop shopping,” she said.
Rafoth said the store is known for it’s signature gift wrapping. The store also provides a mailing service for its customers.
“It just makes life easier,” she said.