Family-owned Kramer Jewelers closing its doors

Running a small business is demanding work, requiring energy, commitment, and the mental strength to persist through unpredictable challenges. For decades, Richard and Leslie Kramer have given much of their lives to Kramer Jewelers. Now they are ready for a change and have started the process of closing the store.

Leslie and Richard Kramer (Candace Paris photo)

By the time the Kramers leave the store forever some time this winter, the family business will have been operating for almost 100 years. Started in 1922 in downtown Boston by Richard’s grandfather, the store was first called Kramer Watch Repair. Morris Kramer had recently immigrated to the U.S. from a town south of Kiev, Russia, now Ukraine, where he had been a watchmaker. He brought with him his wife and three small children, including Richard’s father, Louis.

In high school, Louis studied auto mechanics, but he went to work with his father after he graduated in the 1930s. “He stayed with it for the rest of his life, so he must have loved it,” Richard said.

Richard himself first worked for various companies as a store planner and designer but changed his career to jewelry, joining his father in 1976. They moved the business to Canton in 1982, locating in a space on the second floor of the same building that they are presently located in. Father and son worked together for several more years before Louis retired and moved to Florida.

Richard and Leslie put down strong roots in Canton, raising their son and daughter here. “Doing business in Canton is good — people have been great,” Richard said.

The couple has always worked together, with Richard serving as the mechanic and Leslie handling sales and minor repairs. Richard noted, “It’s like anything else, a matter of accommodation. But we get along great.”

Kramer Jewelers is a full-service jewelry store. Besides selling jewelry and watches, the business has offered in-house design work and especially repairs, including all watches. Richard has also done trade work, that is, repair work for other area stores. With three other jewelry stores currently in Canton — Artin, Burchell’s, and Robert’s — and two more in Sharon, local business has always been competitive yet cooperative. Leslie said, “We have a very nice relationship.”

Richard and Leslie have also had strong relationships with customers. Richard said a small town-based business is far more personal than either a chain store, which tends to have high staff turnover, or an online business. “We make sure customers are happy before they leave the store,” he said. “There’s a big trust factor.”

Internet purchases are often impersonal, but Richard noted that his customers typically come in having already learned a lot about jewelry online, which helps him. “I have to refine their education — I help them apply it to a particular product,” he said. This assists him in building an intimate relationship, so on balance, he finds the internet to be a plus.

A combination of factors led to the decision to retire. Family health considerations is one, but so too is the desire to spend more time living rather than working every day. The pandemic hasn’t brought a major downturn in the business, but Richard said it did make the decision easier.

“We’re happy and we’re sad,” he said, noting that the ringing phone is one thing he won’t miss.

The couple is looking forward to spending more time with family, including their two grandchildren. Their daughter lives near by and works in real estate; their son lives in Woburn and works in computers. Both are happy and successful in their careers; neither wanted to follow the family jewelry business tradition.

Depending on how quickly inventory goes, Richard and Leslie could be closing their door for the last time soon after New Year’s. The Going Out of Business Sale begins tomorrow, November 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come in to take advantage of 30 to 50 percent price reductions and the opportunity to wish the Kramers well on their retirement.

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Posted by Candace Paris on Nov 13 2020. Filed under Business. Both comments and pings are currently closed.