Eileen Mcclelland

New Orleans

Managing Editor, INSTORE Magazine; Traveler, jewelry shopper, friend to golden retrievers; enjoys festival season in NOLA

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Articles

Memphis Location Marks New Direction for Sissy’s Log Cabin

1 month ago | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

Sissy’s Log Cabin, Memphis, TNOWNERS: Sissy Jones, Bill Jones and Sharri Jones; LOCATIONS: 6; FOUNDED: 1970; Opened featured location: 2023; AREA: 9,000 square feet; ARCHITECT AND DESIGN: Balaity Property Enhancement; TOP BRANDS: Rolex, Tudor, Cartier, Roberto Coin, Rahaminov; FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 119WHEN A KEY ARCHITECTURAL element defines your brand’s history, it’s not easy to go in a different direction.
New York-Based Jewelry Brand Catbird Expands to Chicago Market

1 month ago | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

WHAT BEGAN AS a small Williamsburg storefront in Brooklyn has evolved into an emerging jewelry empire with a cult following. Catbird, founded by Rony Vardi in 2004, is credited with launching trends like permanent jewelry, stackable rings and layered necklaces. The brand is in the midst of an ambitious expansion plan, opening its ninth location in Chicago in April and its 10th in Philadelphia in May.
How to be a Social Media Star in the Retail Jewelry Business

2 months ago | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

IN AN INDUSTRY TRADITIONALLY built on face-to-face relationships and the sparkle of gemstones under showcase lighting, independent jewelers are discovering that social media, particularly video content, has become essential to survival and growth.
Small-Town Jewelry Store Has Oversized Presence in Montana

2 months ago | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

Share Tweet Sugar Plum Fine Jewelry, Glendive, MT OWNER: Katelynne and Jayson Eslick; URL: sugarplumfinejewelry.com; FOUNDED: 2013; Opened featured location: 2023; EMPLOYEES: 4; AREA: 8,800 square feet; TOP BRANDS: Katelynne Eslick Designs, Stuller, Brevani, Legends Jewelry, Sterling Reputation; ONLINE PRESENCE: 18,000 Facebook followers KATELYNNE & JAYSON ESLICK had spent years planning to build their dream jewelry store in Glendive, MT, but faced numerous roadblocks beyond their control....
Washington, DC.'s Tiny Jewel Box Draws a Crowd With Styling and Piercing Event

2 months ago | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

HAVING HUNDREDS OF prospective customers fill a store the day before Valentine’s Day is an enviable scenario for any jewelry-store owner. For Tiny Jewel Box, Washington D.C.’s 90-year-old family-run jewelry destination, it wasn’t just another pre-holiday rush, it was the culmination of an edgy experiment with jewelry designer Jade Trau that combined professional ear piercing, personalized styling, and a party atmosphere all in one event.
Puzzled by AI? Here’s How to Make It Work for Your Business

Mar 26, 2025 | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

REMEMBER WHEN THE IDEA of social media and e-commerce for jewelry stores seemed revolutionary? Consultant Emmanuel Raheb, CEO of Smart Age Solutions, a digital ad agency, does, too. He witnessed firsthand how reluctant some jewelers were to add live chat to their websites 10 years ago. Now, as jewelry store owners are beginning to navigate artificial intelligence, they seem to be approaching it with more enthusiasm for technology than they had in the past. Raheb can hardly believe the change.
Bar Vibe Puts Jewelry Shoppers at Ease at The Diamond Bar

Mar 21, 2025 | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

Share Tweet Diamond Bar, Town & Country, MO URL: thediamondbarstl.com; OWNER: Chris Phillips; FOUNDED: 2019; OPENED FEATURED LOCATION: 2019; EMPLOYEES: 1; AREA: 900 square feet; ONLINE PRESENCE: 2.2K Facebook followers; 5 Stars on Google CHRIS PHILLIPS’ DECISION to keep his staff size small as he cultivated his business has proved to be alluring rather than off-putting to his custom-jewelry clientele, no matter how busy the studio gets. “You get the unique experience of working directly with...
Jet-Setting Jewelry Store Owner Delivers Engagement Rings by Plane

Mar 20, 2025 | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

DENSE CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC and tight client deadlines are no match for intrepid private jeweler Dan Moran, owner of Concierge Diamonds. Moran, an L.A.-based pilot, flies to his clients to deliver diamond engagement rings and fine jewelry, sometimes just in time. He describes his plane, a Piper PA-46 JetPROP, as a time machine. “It lets me get into situations I never could have otherwise,” he says.
How to Keep Your Store Fresh on a Shoestring Budget

Feb 19, 2025 | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

EXPERTS SAY A COMPLETE build-out of an average jewelry store can cost half a million dollars or more, often boosted by architectural elements such as columns, wainscoting, and ceiling design. Showcases are another pricey element. But if that’s not in the budget for 2025, where should you allocate the money you do have to keep the store looking fresh? A simple refresh can boost your confidence, your team’s morale and your customers’ comfort level with luxury purchases.
Rhode Island Jewelry Store Embraces Technology and Comfort With Major Expansion

Feb 17, 2025 | instoremag.com | Eileen McClelland |Eileen Mcclelland

Share Tweet Baxter’s Fine Jewelry, Warwick, RI OWNER: Paul Messerlian; FOUNDED: 1960; OPENED FEATURED LOCATION: 1969; RENOVATED: 2023; AREA: 12,000 square feet; DESIGNER: Leslie McGwire; SHOWCASES: Artco; LOCAL ARCHITECT: Saccoccio and Associates; LOCAL CONTRACTOR: Chirico Construction; DISPLAYS: Box Brokers; EMPLOYEES: 21; TOP BRANDS: Omega, IWC, Bell and Ross, Lagos, John Hardy, Fope, A. Jaffe, Tacori PAUL MESSERLIAN GREW UP working in a jewelry manufacturing business in Rhode Island...