Snowed - but open!
Boy did we get snowed this week! As soon as we had gotten ourselves out from under the first blast, Tuesday comes and hits us again. We even had to close on Wednesday and last Saturday! The Baltimore Business Journal was not above noticing the adverse effect this may have on businesses, including ourselves:
Ron Samuelson, owner of Samuelson’s Diamonds in Baltimore, said shoppers are maxed out after Christmas shopping already, and doesn’t expect to gain a lot of Valentine’s Day business. Samuelson recalled the weekend in December before Christmas Day, when snow hurt retailers looking to gain from the last-minute shopper.
“Now it’s a double whammy, and downtown is pretty bad,” Samuelson said. His West Baltimore Street store was closed Wednesday.
Last Saturday was the first day Samuelson had ever closed the store, he said.
Undaunted, though, we’re back! And our Fans on Facebook may have heard:
we’re open for business. the main roads are fine so come on down and say hi, free beer and MAJOR discounts if you do!
We’re just sayin’ – if you’re in the ‘hood, don’t be shy. And if you’re not in the neighborhood, there’s really not much else to do once you’re done digging out.
If you are not familiar with INSTORE magazine (if you don’t work in retail you might 
not be) it’s the fastest growing jewelry trade magazine, and the Smart Jewelry Show is its super-sized progeny. Featuring some of the biggest names in the biz such as Matt Stuller, the show ranges from topics that interest retailers, owners and vendors, to those focused on people who make jewelry by hand.
All of this is to let you know that our own Ron Samuelson will be speaking at the Monday Pre-Show Conference in an exciting session called “Social Media – Myth or Miracle?“. Smart Jewelry Show is scheduled for four days from the 23rd of April to the 26th, and Ron will be speaking the morning of the 26th.
More details to come!
JUNE 3, 2009: Samuelson’s Diamonds, Baltimore’s downtown diamond destination, was the subject of Urban Discoveries Blog’s report entitled ‘Development Spotlight: 400 West Baltimore’:
… Samuelson’s Diamonds Downtown … a Baltimore institution for almost ninety years, has been very busy lately. In addition to relocating and renovating its own store, the family-owned company has invested in several properties on the 400 block of West Baltimore Street …
Ron Samuelson, the scion of the diamond dynasty, promises a PNC Bank, a Five Guys, and a Panera. Reputed to be somewhat excitable, but endearing, Mr. Samuelson also promises to play the video of your favorite song when you come visit the new store, which the family hopes to open later this year.
Samuelson’s Diamonds maintains its commitment to the redevelopment and reinvigorating of the downtown business district.
The original article is located here, “Urban Discoveries Blog – Development Spotlight: 400 West Baltimore”
Editor’s note: The new address is 419 West Baltimore Street.
Ron Samuelson, CEO of Samuelson’s Diamonds, the premier downtown diamond destination in Baltimore, was numbered among the ‘Top 40 under 40′ in this Month’s Baltimore Magazine:
Ron Samuelson, 35
Jewelry Entrepreneur
When Ron Samuelson took over the 72-year-old family pawn business in the mid-1990s, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore new opportunities for the operation. In 1997, after studying the jewelry business, he launched the website samuelsonsdiamonds.com to drum up interest in the store.
The site brings diamond buyers and sellers to the downtown location from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and has been a major driver of sales traffic—especially from young men looking for engagement rings, Samuelson says. Now he’s a developer, too: As part of the Westside renaissance, the Samuelson family—which includes his father and brother-in-law, also in the jewelry business—is redeveloping the 400 block of W. Baltimore Street in partnership with David S. Brown and A&R developers. Samuelson says he is proud that he has been able to maintain the business his grandfather started, and at the same time move it in a new direction.
“I love diamonds,” he says. “I love selling jewelry, and I’ve seen how the Internet drives everything that we do here.”
Samuelson’s Diamonds continues its commitment to being a leader in the field of local online retail.
The original article is available here: ‘Baltimore Magazine – 40 Under 40‘
