Submitted by L. Jeanette Strole Parks for Kluh Jewelers
Aside from efficient and clever ad campaigns, nothing convinces a new potential customer to try a new product or store as the trusted word-of-mouth references from another shopper. So it is that we bring you an installment of affirming words from some very content customers, Sheila and Ben. (Editor’s note: They have chosen to withhold their last names for this article.)
Ben, a retired sheet metal worker has lived in Thurston County most of his life, and graduated from North Thurston High School in 1966. At that time, the graduating class was presented with a 10% lifetime discount from the Kluh Jewelers family, and indeed, he has kept this card for life. In 1981, he married Sheila, (who has lived in this area since 1973), and they remembered this 10% discount card when it was time to buy a birthday gift for Ben’s mother. They made a trip out Kluh Jewelers, and he bought her some topaz earrings. “We were so impressed with the quality and service, that we have been going back for gifts for family (and myself) ever since.”
Sheila, who retired from Alaska Airlines recently, shares that she and Ben and her sister-in-law from California have been attending several of the Kluh’s lay-away and vault sales. The annual vault sale event, in November, is Sheila’s personal favorite when she does all her Christmas shopping each year. “As I was a flight attendant, and out of town a lot, I had to miss some, but Ben went for me. We love the door prize events which take place prior to the sale, and have even won some, such as a $25 gift certificate towards the purchase of an item, and also pearl earrings.” As she reiterates, the vault and lay-away sales are an excellent opportunity to come in and see what they have in stock, and what their environment is all about. “And the donuts are great,” she adds with wit.
Their support and loyalty to Kluh’s business has given them many opportunities to add special items to their collection. A recent such memory marked Sheila’s retirement with a little extra dazzle. “Ben and I were shopping and I gleamed onto a beautiful gold and diamond watch which I could not purchase at the time, but mentioned to my husband how much I loved this watch and what a beautiful retirement gift it would be. Well, on my last flight, he went with me. On my layover, I woke up in Chicago the next morning, and there was a beautiful gift wrapped box on top of my suitcase which contained the watch I had my eye on. “
She adds that Kluh’s does an excellent job with gift wrapping, which adds that much more to the experience of giving and receiving gifts from their store cases.
In all their years of shopping at Kluh’s she has never had any complaints with their inventory or service. If anything, the opposite has been true. “I have had several pieces of jewerly in the past that needed to be sized or repaired and their on-site jeweler has always done an excellent and timely job. “
The unique jewelry, friendly staff and customer service keeps them coming back. “You cannot find [this] at a big box store.” One of her upcoming notions is to have a gold bracelet (which she purchased at a lay-away sale) made into a charm bracelet with her airline-service wings.
Ben and Sheila would probably not have foreseen that the 10% discount card that he received in 1966 would lead to their lifelong habit of shopping at this multi-generational establishment. But they are most certainly pleased with each experience they have had inside the doors of Kluh Jewelers. “What stands out most is their customer service. When we walk into the store we are greeted with friendliness and they always remember our names. I would sincerely recommend anyone looking for a gift for someone or something for themselves for a special occasion to go to Kluh’s. ”
Kluh Jewelers
701 Sleater Kinney Road SE in Lacey
360-491-3530
