[Jewelry making - Article 00223] - Re: [Orchid] Bench jeweler's working conditions

[sbright]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Hi David

    "Capitalist" is a funny word. It depicts pictures of two big fat
    guys wearing top hats and suits, smoking cigars, and laughing all the
    way to the bank. Although I own my own store, which is a dream come
    true culminating from a years of saving up for a down payment on a
    business loan, luck, and being ready to take the plunge when the
    opportunity arose, (oh and a blessing from my wife) I would hardly
    consider myself a capitalist. There are lots and lots of more
    profitable occupations than either being a bench jewelers, or a store
    owner. Owning a roofing company or a chimney sweep comes to mind
    first. 

    I can understand what you're saying about it not being the worker's
    job to paint the walls and put up lace curtains, but you know--
    there's that happy medium where the worker opens his mouth and says
    "Hey lets change this. I think it would be better because of such and
    such." instead of sitting under a flickering flourescent lamp in a
    dirty basement with old green paint on the walls. The guy who sits at
    the bench accross from me shakes his head at me lots of times. I
    always want to listen to what he says. Sometimes I go along,
    sometimes I dont. It's never a money thing. It's a "does it suit me
    in my business" thing. 

    I bought disposable masks to wear during polishing-- which don't get
    worn. So I changed the way we do polishing. All at once now- not one
    a t a time. Maybe then the mask wont be so hard to put on. I put in a
    brand new $10K a/c system in the store, keep the temp at 68, buy
    whatever tool we need, (we have lots), even throw in an occasional
    instructional video, in other words I reinvest in ourselves and our
    shop, and yet the attitude I get from people who work in my store is
    that I'm the "Capitalist". Short of presenting a a stack of cash on a
    silver platter while wearing a tux, I really don't know if *I* can do
    anything to make things better or easier. That's why I say it's up to
    you to set your own environment. If lace cutains would make some
    people happy- do it. Yellow walls- do it. Just don't expect the
    Capitalist to take a detour from the cigar shop on the way to the
    bank to stop by at Home Depot. Largely because we don't know what
    would make people happy and we're tired of guessing. Besides, we're
    not on the way to the bank we are busy answering the phone which is
    ringing off the hook, talking to suppliers, they want to get paid,
    the landlord wants his cut, customers want their jewelry fixed
    (properly I might add), ADT can't get the call list right, taxes are
    due, the insurance company wants some more paperwork, I can go on and
    on but I'm sure every body catches the drift. As an owner, I really
    don't think I could do any more for my jeweler than I already do. Oh,
    maybe draw him a parafin wax dip for his feet. :-) I guess what I'm
    saying is that it's up to the jeweler (or any other employee for that
    matter) to create a work environment which is conducive for their
    work and their well being. Not just the owner. 

    By the way, I am starting to look for a proficient bench jeweler in
    the Balimore area who could take some of the heat off of me. Light
    casting, stone setting, some custom work. Laser welding experience
    would be a plus-

    but I'm willing to train. Customer service skills a must. Contact me
    off list if interested. 

-Stanley Bright
owner
aandmjewelers.com
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________