b'CRAIG & JUDD ROTTENBERGJudd and Craig have been around enough family businesses to knowbut then doing the right things to make sure we continue making it the no-pressure approach isnt universal, and they dont take theirbetter and better.fathers grace for granted. Judd says it was a big moment in the stores history when Craig [Bob] allowed us to be who we were, and here we are. It was thecame on board in 2005.right path because it was right for us, individually, says Judd. If you look back at any company, at its paradigm shifts, at the Were here because we want to be here. moments when things started to happen dif-Theyre in the stores ferently, there was a pieceCraig was oursBUILDING OUT THE TEAMday in and day out, that put the engine in motion in a different Craig and Judd, whove now been in theway, he says.business 19 years and 30 years, respectively,whatever time of year itIn the two decades since Craig joined the busi-work in tandem.is, whatever needs to beness, Longs top-line sales have increased fivefold.Each of us focusing on different parts led toOur father had been very entrepreneurial continued growth, Craig says. done.Shari Reddish, and put the train in motion in a certain way, Judd goes where his personality shines,but we needed a different kind of gas, a dif-spending most of his time on the salesfloor. Longs Jewelersferent level of expertise and push, Judd says.I love to talk to people. Im curious, I love toNow with a head of steam, the brothers learn, and I love to make connections, he says. find themselves in the same place their father once wasthey have For Craig, its about continuing to piece together the puzzle, findinga growing business and need help managing it.ways to be both present and forward-thinking while focusing on growth. At this point in the life of the company, they say its about getting the I think one of the reasons weve been successful is, were muchright team in place and establishing a culture in which that team can thrive. more focused on three years, five years, 10 years from now than thisIn the last year and a half, theyve added a head of marketing, a direc-year by itself, he says. tor of stores, and even created some new positions to solidify the team.When youre living quarter to quarter, or living just for this year,Were in such a good position, but as we look ahead to how were youre making short-term choices. For me, its about finding thegoing to keep up this really fast growth, we have to keep shoring up balance of what we need to do to have a successful business todaywith people from top to bottom, says Craig.Congratulations, Judd, Craig,and the entire Rottenberg family!May you continue to Shine as New Englands premierluxury retailer. What an amazing family journey youare on as you approach Longs sesquicentennialanniversary.Our hope is that you are given good healthand good fortune to continue on thisincredible path. Your friends and family at20 RETAILER HALL OF FAME 2024'