b'HOLLY WESCHEHolly Wesche built this 15,000-square-foot store, now Wesche Jewelers only location, helping the customer, helpingafter taking over the family business. It fulfill their dreams and Holly wentopened in September forward to do that. 2006.People who have known her forever will say that Holly is Jim [reincarnated].After moving away for a while, Brockert ended up back in Florida, working for Holly and helping her transition to the new location.While building the new store was an exciting time of dreaming and planning, it was also a stressful time for the team, who, in the pro-cess, dealt with stolen funds, hurri-canes, and the Great Recession.It was horrible timing, because imagine opening a big, huge store with a big, huge mortgage inpeople in the store, came up with clever advertising, just did as many September 2006 when the worst recession to date was right aroundfun things as we could.the corner, Holly says. The only time in my entire careerandShe managed to keep employees employed. If you needed $50 or Im 58 years old nowI had the conscious thought, I might go un- $5 or $5,000 and asked her shed be the first to say, Ill move heaven der, was December 2008 because business was so bad that month.and earth to get that for you.It wasnt an easy journey, but Wesche Jewelers pulled through.Holly kept us going, Brockert says. She stayed in touch withNIGHTS TO REMEMBERall her vendors. We worked with anybody in any way we could to getThe team at Wesche Jewelers always considered themselves the Continued on page 22INSPIRING CHANGEWe congratulate Holly Wesche as the 2023 Single-Store Independent Retailer inductee, and SURREALs first Certified Surreal Grower. We thank you for your contributions to our industry, and wish you continued success.SURREAL DIAMOND50 W. 47th Street, New York, NY 10036For more information email us at info@surrealdiamond.com'