MULTIFACETED FAMILIES
featured in Crain's Detroit Business

Edmund T. Ahee Jewelers knows a thing or two about incorporating younger generations in the family business. Ten of founder Edmund Ahee's adult grandchildren work full-time at the store, along with Ahee's four sons, his daughter and a few teenage grandchildren who work part-time at the Grosse Pointe store.

President Peter Ahee said that incorporating his father's grandchildren into the business has brought many benefits. The younger generations are beginning to make their mark, by adding technology for designing jewelry and attracting younger shoppers into the store.

"It's been really wonderful seeing them develop and all the interest they've taken in the business," said Peter Ahee. So far, introducing more family has been good for business. Sales for specialty jewelers nationwide typically range from $500 to $700 per square foot, said Kenneth Gassman, president of Jewelry Industry Research Institute in Glenn Allen, Va. Using those averages, Ahee Jewelers' 7,000-square-foot store would generate sales of $3.5 million to $4.9 million. But Vice President John Ahee says sales were more than $10 million last year.

The Ahee 20-somethings have been allowed to work in various aspects of the business, such as accounting and design, and decide what area they want to work in. "We've all had different interests," said Anthony Ahee, 23. "What's nice about the jewelry store is that there are so many aspects."

Anthony Ahee has taken on public relations for the company and heading up the company's annual Capuchin Souper Summer Celebration. The event, started by Edmund Ahee in 1981, benefits the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit and has raised $4 million for the organization to date. This year's event will be June 23 at Comerica Park and is expected to draw about 7,000. The event is free, and donations for the soup kitchen are raised through raffle tickets. The Ahee grandchildren plan to hold a party for their friends before the Capuchin fundraiser to teach their peers about the event and hopefully inspire them to support Capuchin, Anthony Ahee said.

While raffle tickets were previously sold at various metro Detroit locations, Anthony Ahee added Internet sales this year to reach younger donors. "We felt a lot of people our age and every age want to be able to use their credit cards to make purchases," Anthony Ahee said.

Peter Ahee said the family's third generation has used technology to benefit the company in other ways. One of his nephews is learning to use CAD-CAM software for jewelry design, and while other young family members have used desktop publishing software to create Ahee Jewelers' in-house catalog. "They've increased the quality tremendously," Peter Ahee said.......