Helzberg Diamonds

Helzberg Diamonds
Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded 1915 (1915)
Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Founder Morris Helzberg
Headquarters North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Number of locations
 200+ stores (2017)[1][2]
Area served
 United States
Key people
 Beryl Raff (CEO)
Products Jewelry
Parent Berkshire Hathaway
Website www.helzberg.com

Helzberg Diamonds is a jewelry retailer founded in 1915 by Morris Helzberg that has 210 stores in 36 states.[1]

Leadership

A Helzberg Diamonds shop in Arlington, VA

In April 2009, Beryl Raff, former executive vice president and general merchandise manager of fine jewelry at JCPenney, was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Helzberg.[2]

History

Soon after Helzberg's founding, Morris Helzberg became ill and the company was taken over by his son, Barnett Helzberg Sr., at the age of 14.[3] In 1963, Barnett Sr. became Chairman of the Board and his son, Barnett Helzberg Jr., took over company operations.[4] Barnett replaced his father in the Chairman position in 1988. Barnett Jr. sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway, owned by Warren Buffett, in 1995, and authored the book What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett.[5]

In 2017, Helzberg closed a few stores. For customers who had purchased the Lifetime Care plan for their jewelry, the chain offered affected customers two options: 1) up to 12 months to travel to another store for inspections & cleanings, or 2) prepaid mail labels to send the jewelry to a Helzberg service center.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Helzberg Diamonds Fine Jewelry Store Online - Helzberg Diamonds". Helzberg Diamonds. 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. 1 2 Halkias, Maria (April 6, 2009). "Penney's top jewelry exec Beryl Raff leaving for Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary". The Dallas Morning News, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  3. ↑ "Our Story: 1915-1929". Helzberg Diamonds. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Our Story: 1960-1969". Helzberg Diamonds. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  5. ↑ Helzberg, Barnett C. (2003). What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Developing a Highly Successful Company. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-27114-7. Retrieved 2011-10-23.


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