The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
WJ Hinman Jewelers to close its doors
ONEIDA, N.Y. » A long-standing Oneida business will be closing its doors after over 100 years of service.
Owners and siblings Guy Wallace and Tari Peters of WJ Hinman Jewelers located on Main Street have announced their retirement and subsequently, the closing of their business.
“It’s just time for a new chapter in our lives,” Peters said.
Starting all the way back in 1881, the jewelry store has withstood the test of time and has impacted multiple generations and Oneida residents.
Two brother watchmakers from Deansboro started it all, Peters explained, and from there it was passed to a daughter, who sold it to a sister, who then sold it to Peters’ father who ran it for 35 years.
Both Peters and Wallace helped out at the store for over a decade before purchasing it from him to run it themselves. The siblings have been partners for over 28 years, Peters said.
“It’s been a tough decision.
We’ve had some really great customers through the years we’ve come to call friends, and we’ve worked hard to have a good reputation, and we just welcome people with open arms,” the coowner stated.
Getting to connect with her customers over the years has been a great source of joy for Peters and has shaped how she does business. She recounted often personalizing customers’ shopping experiences because she knew their likes and dislikes so closely.
“That’s one nice thing about a small town. You can go into a store and see a customer and you know them by name. It’s a wonderful thing,” she said.
Jewelry is Hinman’s main source of business, offering an assortment of rings, chains, pendants, watches, and more. The jeweler also offers services such as ring sizing and remounts, special orders, and various repairs. Additionally, a gift shop on the side of the store offers home decor and meaningful gift items.
Peter and Wallace’s business is expected to close by the end of June, they said. Customers can take advantage of the retirement/closing sale currently happening and lasting until the jeweler’s very last day.
Discounts include jewelry at 30% off, giftware at 40% off, and Belair watches at 50% off, according to Hinman’s Facebook page.
Looking forward, Peters shared her excitement for a new way of life. She hopes to spend more time focusing on volunteer opportunities, traveling, and ultimately, “taking life a day at a time.”
A special part of the sibling partners’ business will live on, however. Partnering with Finnland’s Fosters, a cat rescue in Oneida, Peters revealed that their beloved gift shop will become part of the animal rescue, where a portion of the money
raised from gift sales will go towards Finnland’s Fosters mission.
“We felt it would be nice to find a way to support a local organization that’s not for profit that’s just trying to get by and help out helpless animals.”
“Our mom was a great cat lover, and we are too,” she added. “It’s a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts.”