Edge Retail Academy endeavors to support independent jewelry stores to achieve business success.
With that in mind, we’ve started an annual award to acknowledge the store which best achieves business excellence.
We are announcing that Sophie Shor and Lucy Zimmerman of Roman Jewelers have been awarded the first annual William (Wag) Wagner Award.
Roman Jewelers of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey is a family-owned retailer of more than 30 years with a passion for designing custom jewelry across 4 generations.
ERA Director of Business Development and Advisor Sherry Smith has worked with Roman Jewelers for 2 years. Sherry commented “Sophie and Lucy were very open-minded to implement industry best practices. They focused extensively on improving the margins of their sales team through a new compensation plan.”
Roman Jewelers found gross profit increased 16% in one year with the new plan.
Sophie Shor was excited to learn about winning the award. “My daughter Lucy and I never would have believed we were capable of accomplishing our margin goals without the guidance of Sherry and the Edge Retail Academy. They have made a measurable impact to our business.”
Wag Award
We’ve named the award after a long-time and well-respected ERA Advisor William (Wag) Wagner who exemplified this excellence. Wagner passed away in 2018.
The Award has two goals: (1) to acknowledge business excellence from independent retailers and (2) to honor the memory of long-serving ERA Advisor William (Wag) Wagner whose service, loyalty and advice went well beyond the expectations of our clients, his work colleagues and our company.
ERA President David Brown commented, “We honor Wag's enormous integrity, sense of fair play and friendship.”
Wag passed away in September 2018.
This is the first year that Edge Retail Academy has presented the William (Wag) Wagner Business Excellence Award. The award will be presented annually.