SCHERERVILLE | The 7,000-square-foot expansion of Albert’s Diamond Jewelers Schererville location now ranks the store as one of the top 10 largest jewelry stores in the country by physical size, according to Albert’s President Josh Halpern.
The retailer now occupies 20,000 square feet after expanding into the former Discovery Clothing space.
The Halpern family, who own Albert’s, has demonstrated a knack for reading the market. They selected high visibility locations, including the recently opened Westfield Southlake mall store, and the right mix of brands and customer service. They have consistently attracted a steady clientele from the tri state area that has served as a solid base on which to refine their marketing, buying and sales strategies.
Albert's sales doubled in 2011, according to Halpern. Last year was the company's best year, and with the expansions, 2013 may set a new records for both locations, he said.
The Schererville expansion allows Albert’s to showcase the wide selection of jewelry, with particular attention paid to the bridal, watch and service sides of the business. The bridal area boasts 100 linear feet of showcase space featuring popular jewelry brands such as Tacori, Simon G., Sylvie and David Yurman, along with an array of loose diamonds, bridal accessories and rings.
Watches are a strong draw for Albert’s clientele and buyer Charles Halpern has worked with many companies over the years to develop the right mix for their market. Consumers will find a range of brands from the tactically themed Luminox to the classic Cartier. The expanded space houses three branded watch boutiques: Brietling, Cartier and Omega.
“You’ve really got to see the Schererville space to believe it. We’ve developed it to give the customer a total immersive experience, from the seating to the lighting to the expansive showcases that ring the perimeter and fill the center. There’s eye candy everywhere you look,” said Josh Halpern.
Albert’s newly expanded workshops now house 18 customer service and repair personnel who are trained in all aspects of jewelry and watch repair, from reworking jewelry to restoring vintage timepieces.
The Schererville expansion will be officially completed in March. The Westfield Southlake mall expansion in Hobart involved a move next to Carson's and a doubling of the space.
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