James Avery (Kerrville, Harper: sales, home, buy)

[majormadmax]

Since it was my wife's birthday today, I thought I would take her to someplace she would really like to go. So I took off from work early and we drove up to the James Avery "headquarters" north of Kerrville. (I also wanted to see where all my money was going anyway! )

Well, she thoroughly enjoyed our little jaunt. Of course I told her to find something nice she wanted for her special day, and we got to see some of the items being made. Plus, a real nice lady who I believe was a supervisor came up and talked with us (well, mostly my wife) about all their products. She was like a kid in a candy store, or me at a gun show!

If any of you are James Avery fans, I would strongly recommend a trip up to their headquarters. You will enjoy it and it is easy to find. It is about an hour west of SA on IH-10, just take the Harper Road exit as you pass by Kerrville and it is a mile or so north on the right.

Cheers! M2

[rd2007]

My wife works at one and you need to spend more money. Sales have been down quite a bit lately and she's in danger of not getting a bonus in the spring..
She also goes to a managers retreat in Kerrville every year and she really likes it. They're a pretty good company to work for.

[Eleanor Rigby]

Aww, I haven't been to the Kerville store in FOREVER! It was a HUGE deal when I was younger and went to camp up near Kerrville, because JA is the sole provider of the charms for each camp's charm bracelets. We would go on our way home from camp each year. I'd put a list together of all the charms I needed (the one for my cabin, ones for my activities, whatever cute ones they'd come up with that were specific to my camp that year) and we'd stop and buy them and if they weren't busy, they'd solder them on the spot.

I still have both of my charm bracelets, though unfortunately I can't really wear them around as they are so loud and heavy, I drive people crazy!

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by rd2007

My wife works at one and you need to spend more money. Sales have been down quite a bit lately and she's in danger of not getting a bonus in the spring..
She also goes to a managers retreat in Kerrville every year and she really likes it. They're a pretty good company to work for.

Their prices have gone WAY up in the last 2-3 years - silver charms went from $12.50 to $20 or $25 in a very short time.

Anyway. I still love James Avery and have been to the hq in Kerrville many times. I also had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. Avery - he and my sister are both alums of University of Illinois, and Mr. Avery hosted an alumni function at his home. I made him and his wife laugh because I asked her if he walked around with jewelry hanging out of his pockets.

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by Eleanor Rigby

I still have both of my charm bracelets, though unfortunately I can't really wear them around as they are so loud and heavy, I drive people crazy!

I wear mine nearly every day, loud and heavy be damned. I LOVE jangly jewelry. (I have 26 or 27 charms on mine.)

[rd2007]

The prices for gold and silver have also gone up a lot, so that's where some of the increases come from. They also pay their employees a better than normal wage/salary and all the jewelery is hand made.
My wife tells me all of this

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by rd2007

The prices for gold and silver have also gone up a lot, so that's where some of the increases come from. They also pay their employees a better than normal wage/salary and all the jewelery is hand made.
My wife tells me all of this

I know. And I appreciate them paying their employees better - that's why they have people who have been working for them for years and years.

But I do think that that price jump is probably not helping their business.

[Eleanor Rigby]

Originally Posted by LindaGrace

I wear mine nearly every day, loud and heavy be damned. I LOVE jangly jewelry. (I have 26 or 27 charms on mine.)

I wore them one day to school. I am in law school and I spend about six hours a day in the library studying, and by around hour four I finally had a friend snap and tell me either the bracelets went or I was going to get banned. Apparently, the jangle really carries in the dead silence!

[LindaGrace]

Originally Posted by Eleanor Rigby

I wore them one day to school. I am in law school and I spend about six hours a day in the library studying, and by around hour four I finally had a friend snap and tell me either the bracelets went or I was going to get banned. Apparently, the jangle really carries in the dead silence!

Ha! Yeah, that's different than just annoying the people you work with.

My sister is a medical librarian, though, and she wears loud jewelry all the time. She spends most of her time behind the scenes, but she does work the info desk maybe 8 hours a week.

[GoTexan]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Since it was my wife's birthday today, I thought I would take her to someplace she would really like to go. So I took off from work early and we drove up to the James Avery "headquarters" north of Kerrville. (I also wanted to see where all my money was going anyway! )

Well, she thoroughly enjoyed our little jaunt. Of course I told her to find something nice she wanted for her special day, and we got to see some of the items being made. Plus, a real nice lady who I believe was a supervisor came up and talked with us (well, mostly my wife) about all their products. She was like a kid in a candy store, or me at a gun show!

If any of you are James Avery fans, I would strongly recommend a trip up to their headquarters. You will enjoy it and it is easy to find. It is about an hour west of SA on IH-10, just take the Harper Road exit as you pass by Kerrville and it is a mile or so north on the right.

Cheers! M2

Just wanted to say that was a very thoughtful thing you did for your wife's birthday.....good hubby!