b'JEFFREY ZIMMERpearl farmer to search through 5,000 pearls to come up with 20 pairsthe company that way and then implement it. of earrings, or Im sitting in Thailand with a sapphire vendor andId made lots of other things, but Id never done it from start to were trying to put together a bracelet or a special ring, Jeffs alwaysfinish right at the source. So that was really incredible. included me in all of those things. She adds, It helped me learn, toBRINGING THE WORLD see whats involved in making eachTO BUFFALO piece from the very, very beginning.Jeff is often praised for his fore-When it comes to teaching, Jeffsight over the course of his career. is gracious about sharing his passionHis colleague, the now-retired and insights with all team members,owner of Honora Pearls Joel Schech-she says.ter, recalls how, in the economically New hires for the stores, thechallenging 80s, Jeff was thoughtful factory, and the office all come andand resilient, working out the issues tour the company headquarters,with his suppliers and adjusting his located in Amherst, New York, for abusiness model.day. They meet everyone, learn whatThis remained his mindset about they do and who to reach out to withchange, including the decision to shift questions. Jeff has traveled the world to bring the best gemstones back to Buffalo. Hes picturedout of malls to build standalone stores. If youre a new marketing personhere with his friend Hement in Jaipur, India, in 2016. Looking at the world and saying, in the company and youre interestedI need to shift, I need to change, in our factory and want to go back and learntook him from a struggling business into a about manufacturing, he is always there toHe loves the artsuper retailer, Schechter says. This kind walk people through, so they understandof buying, he lovesof foresight in business to see the future, to whats involved with manufacturing a pieceskate not to where the puck is but where of jewelry, Weyand says.to get to the sourceyou think the puck is going, is a talent he One of her favorite memories is Jeff encour- . He likes to travelreally has. aging her and Reeds Marketing DirectorJeffs unique approach to inventory and Ashley Hall to explore a design idea while onthe world to bringsourcing gemstones also sets him apart. a buying trip to Jaipur, India, a few years ago.the best back toHe built his own factory, and he travels Jeff was sorting to make selections ofto the source for diamonds and colored tanzanite, emeralds, and aquamarines, but heBuffalo. gemstones.allowed Ashley and me to pick some stones Alan Zimmer, ReedsMany [retailers] build factories, but I dont we really loved, like an uncleaved emerald,Jewelers (North Carolina) know any of them who travel to India and a 14.50-carat ocean blue tanzanite, andThailand and these other areas to get the raw elongated aquamarines,material, Schecter says.she says. Jeff and Schechter While these stoneshave a nearly five-decades were outside of hislong relationship, and projected purchases, hethe two share a love for allowed us to take sometraveling to the source. chances and build someTheir fathers did busi-unique one-of-a-kindness together, and they pieces.eventually formed their All of the pieces theyown bond when, in Thai-designed sold, she says. land in the 80s, Schech-It highlights whatter introduced Jeff to one he has let me do. As aof his suppliers and he finance major, I wasnt re- began to really learn how ally creative or anythingto do business directly at like that, but I always hadthe source. a feel for what looks niceJeff got so good at and whats salable; thatthis that not only did he was just something with- From left to right: Sam Zimmer, Robyn Zimmer, Jeff, Arnold Zimmer, Rachel Zimmer, and Adam Friedman form these incredible in me. Jeff really fosteredrelationships with people that and let me grow withover in Thailand, but he NATIONAL JEWELER 37'