The America’s Best Jewelers Network has announced their list of jewelers nationwide that have earned the “America’s Best Jewelers 2010” award for their high level of operational excellence. Edmund T. Ahee Jewelers, of Grosse Pointe Woods, was honored with this award for the third year in a row.
Ahee’s is recognized by America’s Best Jewelers as being one of the top couture retailers in the United States for 2010. Out of 56,000 independent retailers in the country, 17 received this distinction. Retailers were judged based on the past year’s performance, and Ahee’s was named America’s Best Jewelers because, as Whitney Sielaff, editorial director of National Jeweler said, “[they] proved themselves through that trying period, demonstrating they could maintain excellence in disciplines across the full range of jewelry retaining operations, from human resources to marketing and financial performance.” Ahee’s is one of only five jewelry stores in the country to receive this award three years in a row.
Edmund T. Ahee Sr. built his reputation and success from the ground up. In 1947, at age 26, he opened his first jewelry store in the lobby of his uncle’s bowling alley on Harper and Van Dyke, in Detroit.
“In the early years, Edmund carried a variety of merchandise and not just jewelry. In fact, in his second year of business, he won an award for selling more Hoover vacuum cleaners than the J.L. Hudsons Department store” exclaimed his wife, Bettejean. As his business grew, Ahee opened a store front in Detroit and later on to his Landmark store in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Edmund had a lifelong commitment to serving his community. With his growing success, his philanthropy increased as well. In 1981, he started a fundraiser for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen to raise awareness and greatly needed funds. To date, the annual event has raised well over $5 million for the Capuchin’s.
Edmund and Bettejean had seven children and they all joined the family business. Today, fifteen Ahee family members spanning three generations are all together at their jewelry store. Bettejean added “They each have their own areas of expertise to complement each other’s strengths and a great interest in the brand and the jewelry business. They have followed Edmund, my late husband, with their passion.”
The Ahee family has received many important awards over the years. Ahee’s daughter Pamela Ahee-Thomas leads their design team and has won numerous honors including first place in the coveted International Platinum Design Guild Award for her platinum entry. Grosse Pointe Woods designated their jewelry store as the first Landmark Award in its city. They have been named as Michigan’s Retailer of the Year and ‘Best Watch and Jewelry store’ by America Online.
“From the day my Father started in business, he was always in it for the long run. He insisted on giving each of his clients more than they expected” said Peter Ahee, the store’s President. “We were all so fortunate to have learned the business from my father. My siblings and I all started to work for our family business at a very young age and were taught so thoroughly by my Father” said brother Chris.
Bettejean added “Edmund truly appreciated all of the blessings that he received. It is my hope that we can continue his legacy for generations to come’.