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Cold-calling
telephone salespeople, advertisements, or Internet postings that
tout commodities, exotic financial products or supposed
anti-terrorist technologies should be a red flag for investors.
Investors should be especially wary of enticements to send their
money offshore to so-called "safe havens," White warned.
"In
times of tragedy, confusion, fear and uncertainty, there are always
those who will attempt to prey on the investing public," said
White. "In the wake of last week’s tragedies, investors
should resist the temptation to make hasty decisions about their
investments or finances. Our economy is the most diverse and
productive in the world, and the United States is and will remain
the world’s financial capital."
Recalling
that many con artists exploited fears associated with the year 2000
computer bug to tout investments in precious metals, emergency
preparedness scams and non-existent technology companies, White
urged investors to:
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Hang up on aggressive cold callers promoting "safe"
investments such as precious metals, oil, or gas and ignore
unsolicited e-mail or Internet chat room talk about small companies
with new anti-terrorist technologies or products;
[to top of second column in
this article]
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•
Contact the Secretary of State Securities Department to check that
both the seller and investment are licensed and registered. If they
are not, they may be operating illegally. The Illinois Securities
Department regulates the offer and sale of securities in Illinois
and can be reached at (800) 628-7937 and (888) 231-1175
(Spanish-speaking assistance).
•
Request written information that fully explains the investment, such
as a prospectus or offering circular. The documentation should
contain enough clear and accurate information to allow you or your
financial adviser to evaluate and verify the particulars of the
investment.
•
Use common sense. Some things really are too good to be true. Get a
professional, third-party opinion when presented with investment
opportunities that seem to offer unusually high returns in
comparison to other investment options. Pie-in-the-sky promises
often signal investment fraud.
[News
release]
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A
window display features the 20 different stones to be identified,
with prizes for five, 10 and 20 correct. On the opening weekend the
store featured a special selection of jewelry brought in for the
occasion and sold at half price. Melody Kay Shew, whose initials
gave the store its name, said the response so far has been
excellent. Visitors have included longtime customers and a tour bus
of people from Scotland.
MKS
Jewelers sells "anything from sterling to 14 carat,"
according to Shew, the manager and co-owner. In addition to jewelry,
stock includes a broad selection of gift items, such as candles,
coasters, clocks, frames and seasonal items. For 10 years MKS has
been a member of Retailers Jewelers Organization, a buying group
which enables Shew to carry lines which would otherwise not be
available to a small store. In addition to buying at the RJO show in
Des Moines, she makes selections at the Chicago Gift Show in July
and through company sales representatives. She was told she is the
only outlet in central and northern Illinois except the Art
Institute to offer Ortak silver from Scotland.
Shew’s
philosophy is customer-centered. "We try to carry what people
are asking for," she said. "I’m selling products that I
would be proud to wear myself." She believes in being honest
with customers, offering a quality product, backing it up and
offering a range of prices to fit community needs.
Services
offered by MKS include both bridal and gift registry (called the
"Wish List"), jewelry and watch repair, remounts of
stones, ear piercing and class rings. Fred Schroeder of Morton, one
of two bench jewelers to whom MKS sends repairs, studied with Shew’s
mentor Jim Williams.
During
its 20 years of existence MKS Jewelers has occupied three locations,
largely because of a disastrous fire. Shew and her husband Allen
bought the business on Sept. 8, 1981, from family friend Dorothy
Williams after the sudden death of her husband, James. Melody Shew
had previously worked part-time seven years for Jim Williams, who
taught her to engrave and to do some jewelry repairs. Williams had,
in turn, bought the business from Opal and the late Jacob Buttell.
MKS
Jewelers was originally located in the Miller Building on the corner
of Kickapoo and Pekin. On Feb. 24, 1982, a phone call in the middle
of the night alerted the Shews to a fire at the Miller Building.
Melody Shew remembers standing in the bitter cold, watching the fire
and the water freezing as it dripped. In the store the floor was
eaten away and only a wall added by the Williamses prevented the
safe from falling through to the flooded basement.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Though
the stock outside the safe was all destroyed, it was stored in the
State Bank West basement vault until the pieces could be identified
for insurance purposes. "The whole bank smelled of smoke,"
Shew said. "Nothing was melted; it was all water damage,"
she added. Firemen noticed that Timex watches in a display near the
door were all still ticking. Two days later, however, they weren’t.
Display cases from the fire site were reconditioned and are still in
use.
After
the fire the store was relocated to 125 S. Kickapoo for two years
and in April 1984 to its current location at 614 Broadway. With help
from family and friends, the Shews renovated the former Schoen’s
Shoe Store in one month. Allen Shew built the wall partitions at
Chestervale Grain Elevator, which he manages.
In
1997, after purchasing the store from Landauer’s, the Shews
extended the rear of the showroom about 12 feet and built new
offices, work stations and a repair center at the back of the store.
At that time they repainted, laid new carpet, and added a new
furnace and air conditioning.
Since
opening the store, Melody Shew has studied diamonds and jewelry
retailing through correspondence courses offered by the Gemological
Institute of America. She belongs to the Illinois Jewelers
Association, and she and Angela Getchel, her daughter and assistant
manager, attend educational seminars each year.
The
store, which had three employees besides Shew when it opened in
1981, now has five: Getchel, Shew’s sister Kenda Colby, Nancy
Yeazle, Lois Laughlin and Lori Farwell. Getchel is in charge of
keeping a computer record of the stock.
Shew
belongs to the local chamber of commerce and was on the first Main
Street Lincoln board of directors. Following a tradition from
Princeton, Ill., her former home, she instigated the Grand March at
the Logan County Courthouse for LCHS prom goers and took over the
project last year when Main Street ceased sponsorship.
"I
have seen a lot of stores come and go," says Shew.
"Sometimes it amazes me that we’re still here. I really feel
like the Lord has been a part of this from Day 1. He’s seen us
through so many trials."
[Lynn
Shearer
Spellman]
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OJT
highlights
•
Assists employers with training costs
•
May last up to six months, depending on skills required to master
training
•
Minimum paperwork (monthly invoice)
•
Full-time, permanent work opportunity required
•
Minimum wage of $7 required for reimbursement
•
Employers may refer candidates
•
IETC will assist with candidate recruitment if desired by employer
•
Candidates must meet qualifications for assistance
•
IETC will determine candidate eligibility
If
you are interested in learning more about the On The Job Training
Program, please contact Jan Gleason or Rod Lewis at (217)
735-5441. The local Illinois Employment & Training Center is
at 120 S. McLean, Suite B, in Lincoln.
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The
Gold Medallion program addresses consumer demands by identifying
studios that meet their expectations for personal service,
knowledgeable beauty advisers and pleasing atmosphere. These
award-winning studios set the standard for service quality among the
2,300 independently owned retail outlets nationwide.
"Our
Gold Medallion program distinguishes studios that meet the highest
standards of excellence Merle Norman represents," said Art
Armstrong, president of Merle Norman Cosmetics. "We’re
delighted to present the Gold Medallion Award to the Lincoln, Ill.,
studio, which offers unsurpassed personal service."
Merle
Norman herself was a pioneer in understanding the importance of
customer service. Her long-standing policies of "Try Before You
Buy" and "Free Makeovers" were the cornerstones upon
which she built a cosmetic empire from an auspicious start making
cosmetics on the kitchen stove in her Ocean Park, Calif., home.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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"As
the owner and proud recipient of the award, I’m honored to be
recognized as a Gold Medallion studio," says Julie Tarter.
"Being customer-oriented is the best way to compete in
business, and I’m excited that Merle Norman Cosmetics recognizes
my studio as one that meets the expectations of my customers."
Julie
has owned the Lincoln store for five years and is planning an
anniversary and Gold Medallion celebration for October.
[News
release]
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The
Chamber Report