Family-owned retail is like no other when it comes to the watch and jewelry industry of the United States.
One of the businesses keeping up this tradition of quality and personalized service is North Carolina-based Reeds, owned by the Zimmer family and headquartered in Wilmington.
Reeds has created a team that performs at the high level you would expect of a multiple-store business that is well connected to the upper echelons of the industry while still offering a warm and welcoming service that is second to none.
The Zimmer family all grew up in Wilmington, and outside of work, they like to take advantage of living near the North Carolina coast by taking part in many water-based activities such as kite surfing, scuba diving, and sunsets on the beach.
Alan is the president and chief executive, Brittney is one of Reeds’ senior buyers, Genna is vice-president of operations and strategy, and Mark, the son of Alan’s sister, is the vice-president of store operations and recruiting.
The Zimmers hold true to family values in all facets of their work, which they believe is an important aspect of building a bulletproof team.
Mark Schreiber, a co-owner of the business, is a prime example, having been part of the Reeds family for more than 22 years. He started as a salesperson and worked his way up to his current position of vice-president of store operations and recruiting.
As well as reaping the rewards from investing in its people, Reeds has also benefited from placing faith in independent watch brands.
When discussing this subject with WatchPro earlier this year, the retailer stated that it believes independent brands will “continue to gain popularity like never before”.
Outside of tracking sales figures and managing people, Alan has a passion for philanthropy.
When asked about his greatest achievements of the past 12 months, he doesn’t point to the record-breaking sales Reeds has experienced over the past few years.
Instead, he reflects on his work with charity Jewelers for Children (JFC), commenting: “Personally, I believe we have an obligation to give back and we at Reeds try to do this through JFC and many other charities in our local communities.”
