Centurion News Appleton, WI–This last weekend in Chicago, I was reminded once again that there’s really nothing new under the sun in our industry. The same challenges keep showing up in jewelry stores year after year—and the number one culprit behind most of them isn’t inventory, marketing or even the economy. It’s communication. Independent jewelers … The 51% That Makes or Breaks Your Store
By Jimmy DeGroot, Train Retail | August 07, 2025 Centurion Jewelry News Appleton, WI–Sometimes the most valuable training doesn’t happen in a formal meeting—it happens during the real-life moments when we’re setting up the store, brewing coffee, and dusting displays. That’s why today, I want to encourage you to turn your setup time into productive conversation time. … When the Best Moments Happen
Centurion Jewelry News July 9, 2025 Appleton, WI–I feel like the last guy in the world to be talking about the fashion trends because on any given day you’ll find me in a pair of Public Rec Everyday pants (they’re comfy as all get out and look great with a t-shirt or a dress shirt), … How to Sell Fashion in 2025
https://news.centurionjewelry.com/sales-strategy/detail/jimmy-degroot-pick-one-this-to-work-on Appleton, WI–Last Friday during morning training, we talked about something Harry Friedman once said, “Salespeople have to be memorable.” I know this seems like an obvious sentiment, but when was the last time someone sold you something and remained prominent in your brain? Perhaps it was a kindness, a very helpful hint, or maybe … Be the Store They Remember
By Jimmy DeGroot and Kyle Bullock, Train Retail | June 23, 2025 (0 comments) Appleton, WI–If you’ve ever caught yourself daydreaming about retirement—fishing pole in hand, business in the rearview mirror—this one’s for you. In our latest Slow Growth podcast, Kyle Bullock and I sat down to talk about Jesse, a jewelry store owner from Abilene, Texas, who’s beginning to … What’s Next? Isn’t About Retirement, It’s About Purpose
Centurion Magazine May 28, 2925 Appleton, WI–Again, drawing from Garry Ridge’s book “Any dumbass can do it” we’re drilling down to the true function of our business by looking at a toaster. What is the function of a toaster? Sure, it’s to toast bread. But why? Because toasted bread is tasty. But why? Because the … Your Purpose is NOT Your Product
By Jimmy DeGroot, Train Retail | June 04, 2025 Appleton, WI–Out of all the training videos I’ve made over the years, the one that’s still topping the charts on YouTube is Turning Jewelry Service into Sales. And yeah, I had more hair and questionable wardrobe choices back then—but with over 20,000 views, it’s clear: service traffic is gold. We … Turning Jewelry Service Into Relationships (and Sales!)
By Jimmy DeGroot, Train Retail | June 11, 2025 Appleton, WI–Think for a moment how much more profitable, more happiness, more sales, more team lifers, and more peace the entire team and you would have if you had a friction free environment. Of course friction free is a panacea and a little friction can be a good … How Much Friction Does Your Store Have?
By Jimmy DeGroot, Train Retail for Centurion Jewelry News Appleton, WI–Have you ever found yourself on a plane, earbuds in, zoning out, when suddenly someone leans over and wants to chit chat? And you realize—uh oh—I am not in the mood or even ready for this conversation? Kyle Bullock and I had a training conversation … How to Hold a Meaningful Conversation
Centurion Jewelry News, May 22, 2025 Appleton, WI–Drawing from his leadership experience at WD-40 Company, Garry Ridge recalls a story that’s been passed down from early IBM leadership where an employee made a very expensive mistake valued at $600,000. Naturally when the mistake was discovered the employee thought he was going to get fired. But … I Just Spent $600,000 on a Teaching Moment