Today is an exciting day at Rumanoff's Jewelry as it's the official launch of our blog! Continue to follow us for jewelry trends, tips, and simply to stay in the know about the latest and greatest at Rumanoff's. Before we get rollin', we thought we'd share a bit about how Rumanoff's has grown from a major distributorship to the jewelry store that you know today.
1930's: It All Begins
Back in 1938 Jack Silver began the family business in New Haven, CT, then known as the J.A. Silver Co. Soon after, Jack decided to hire his nephew, Eli Rumanoff, who was both smart and hard-working. With Jack and Eli working together, the business grew into a large wholesale distributorship for both jewelry and gifts.
1970's: Reaching New Heights
Fast-forward to 1975, when Eli's son Mike Rumanoff joined the family business. Mike was instrumental in the growth of J.A. Silver Co. helping it to become one of the most respected jewelry distributorships in the northeast.
1980's: Unfortunate New Trends
In 1988 Mike's brother, Steve, joined the Rumanoffs at J.A. Silver Co. Little did they know that there would be major shifts in the jewelry and giftware industry on the horizon. As time went on they realized that manufacturers were starting to sell directly to retailers and as a result, tthe need for J.A. Silver Co. services was diminishing.
1990's: Embracing Change
In the 90's, after experiencing more than 50 years of success, J.A. Silver Co. was put in a tough position. Rather than giving up, Mike, Steve and Eli, saw an opportunity to change their strategy from distribution to … retail. The business was moved to Hamden, CT, and the retail store opened as J.A. Silver II. Although this was new to the Rumanoffs, the team was excited, and relied on their relationships in the industry to fill the store with great jewelry at great prices. There may not have been any bells or whistles,, but it didn't matter. Treating others with kindness and respect, providing great value, and offering a family atmosphere was the Rumanoff secret. During this time Eli Rumanoff was able to watch his sons succeed and when he passed the business was renamed in his honor to Rumanoff's Jewelry & Design.
2000's: A Growing Team
Rumanoff's continued to grow and luckily Mike's son, Doug Rumanoff, was just finishing college at the University of Connecticut. The timing couldn't have been better. Never pressured to come work for the family business, Doug approached his father and uncle about the opportunity to carry on his grandfather's legacy. He knew the store could benefit from his business background and fresh perspective. Meanwhile Doug's sister, Leslie, lent a helping hand at the store through her high school and college days. When she graduated from Roger Williams University in 2009 she also joined the business full time.
Today: And We're Off …
Looking back, a lot has changed, but over the years our mission has remained the same - to provide our customers with a wide variety of jewelry at a great value. On top of that, we're also happy to offer our customers the latest trends. In the early 2000's it was Nomination bracelets. From there we became the first jewelry store in the area to offer Pandora charms. And then, it was Alex and Ani. Today we highly recommend you check out Mi Moneda at our store in Hamden, CT. The bottom line is that no matter the time, or the trend, you can count on us!
In addition to fashion jewelry, Rumanoff's Jewelry has also become a leading engagement ring and wedding band destination in the Connecticut area. Whether it's TACORI, Verragio, Michele Watch or Michael Kors, Rumanoff's will continue to bring you the best in jewelry brands all while maintaining a positive, family atmosphere.
With more staff, a larger store, and additional product lines there's no doubt that Rumanoff's Jewelry has grown over the years. That said, our approach to business has always remained the same. We continue to treat others how they wish to be treated and will always provide great value.
And with that, we're off. This blog will be one more tool for us to provide great service to our customers and we can't wait. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more …
