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National Estate |
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Barry E. Blank graduated from State University of New York at Stoney Brook with a degree in psychology and attended the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for six months. (The GIA is a research and education organization that certifies graduate gemologists and issues the GIA Diamond Grading Reports that certify a gem's quality and characteristics.) He was then employed at Christie Manson and Woods in New York City also known as Christies (one of the world largest auction houses) where he was the head of both the Jewelry and Silver departments at Christies East. He also worked in New York City , Curacao and St. Maarten for a company named Apritzer and Fuhrmann (jewelers of the Caribbean by appointment by the Queen of Holland) where he managed chain of jewelry stores. However, he always wanted to start his own business like his parents and grandparents. Barry Blank grew up in antique business. His parents owned an antique store in Long Island. His grandparents were jewelers who had a booth on 47th Street in New York City. Blank combined his love of the two professions to start his business, which specializes in buying and selling estate jewelry and a range of antiques and collectibles. His psychological background hasn't gone to waste, however. Blank says it comes in handy because it helps him be a good listener when he's working with customers. Blank thinks that providing personalized attention and customer service is the only way a store like his can compete with bigger, better know jewelry retailers, such as Tiffany. Barry Blank considers customers the most important part of his business. He refers to it as a service business: "We offer a jewelry service that is very difficult for people to find. People want realistic evaluations. They want offers. Our motto is "we make you an offer." We never ask how much you want. It is unethical to ask. We do estate liquidations. People bring items in from relatives of from themselves. We give free evaluations when someone is interested in selling something. If they have a diamond to sell, it is tested and weighed, if necessary, right in front of the customer. The customer is informed of what is being done. The diamond is never taken our of the customer's sight when we're evaluating it. I would then make an offer on the price. If it's acceptable, I'll write them a check immediately…" The most important feature of Barry Blank's business is that his customers always come first. "For a profession, - he claims, - I wouldn't want to do anything else." |
