James Avery Craftsman
Encyclopedia
James Avery Craftsman is a private company that designs, manufactures, and sells jewelry, primarily Christian in theme. The founder, James Avery, started the business in 1954 in Kerrville, Texas
out of his two-car garage with about $250 in capital. The business has grown to about 200 independent retailers and 50 of its own stores in Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The James Avery jewelry collection carries 1,100 designs and 14,000 pieces made in sterling silver, 14-, 18-karate yellow and white gold, and gemstones.
More information about James Avery is available online at www.jamesavery.com/about,
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JamesAvery.
By the 1970s the company employed 35 people and generated $400,000 in sales. In 1971, Chuck Wolfmueller, a student at the University of Texas working on a master's degree in business, was hired to help grow the business. Wolfmueller initiated a number of changes and the business saw a 40 percent increase in his first year of employment.
The first retail store was established in Kerrville, Texas in 1973.
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
out of his two-car garage with about $250 in capital. The business has grown to about 200 independent retailers and 50 of its own stores in Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The James Avery jewelry collection carries 1,100 designs and 14,000 pieces made in sterling silver, 14-, 18-karate yellow and white gold, and gemstones.
About James Avery Craftsman
Established in 1954, James Avery is a family-owned jeweler that offers high quality, hand-crafted jewelry in sterling silver, gold and gemstones. From a one man endeavor in his mother-in-law’s garage, James Avery has grown into a team of 1,400 designers, craftsmen, sales associates and support staff offering unique designs to customers throughout the nation. James Avery maintains over 1,000 designs in the active product line. Each design is originated by skilled men and women in the James Avery design studio and then finely crafted and produced by artisans predominantly in the Texas Hill Country. James Avery currently operates a total of 62 stores across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas with a 63rd store location opening in Charlotte, North Carolina in October 2011. James Avery jewelry is available at retail stores and online at www.jamesavery.com.More information about James Avery is available online at www.jamesavery.com/about,
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JamesAvery.
History
In the first year of business, Avery sold $5,500 worth of jewelry, and $7,500 the following year. He eventually moved his business to a studio he built in his house close by. By 1957, Avery created his first catalog consisting of 16 pages and 39 items for sale. Also that year he hired his first employee, Fred Garcia. The business continued to spread throughout the state of Texas with items being sold in clothing boutiques and church gift shops. By 1965, the jewelry store was incorporated into James Avery Craftsman, Inc., and soon after in 1967, Avery bought 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of land where the corporate headquarters would soon stand.By the 1970s the company employed 35 people and generated $400,000 in sales. In 1971, Chuck Wolfmueller, a student at the University of Texas working on a master's degree in business, was hired to help grow the business. Wolfmueller initiated a number of changes and the business saw a 40 percent increase in his first year of employment.
The first retail store was established in Kerrville, Texas in 1973.