Diamond consumers around the country are dreaming of a white Christmas this year.
A number of diamond and fine jeweler retailers have offered to refund all purchases made during the holiday season if their town sees several inches of white powder on Christmas day.
Bob Komara, owner of Komara Jewelers in Ohio, told local wytv.com news that “Everything that was purchased and paid for by the 18th of December” is included in their offer this year. :If it snows four inches registered at the Youngstown Airport, it will be free,” he continued.
The store has taken out a special insurance policy this year as the weather has gotten colder and snowier. According to Bob, it’s been four years since the company has been offering this promotion, but they have yet to see enough snow fall on Christmas to meet their promotion criteria.
Allen Perry, a Wilmington Jeweler, is offering a similar promotion on his
diamond and fine jewelry. His store, Perry’s Emporium, is offering to refund all customers who bought any jewelry from November 26th-December 11th if it snows three inches or more at the Asheville airport in North Carolina.
Perry has also taken out an insurance policy that will actually pay for the massive refund if the snow does start falling. He has paid them a percentage of every dollar he earned during the promotion to keep in his investment safe.
“I first took out a $200,000 insurance policy and had to get an increase” Perry told Rapaport News. “Sales went over by $163,000.”
While Bob Komara has been doing his promotion for years now, this is the first year that Perry is offering this unique Snow Contest. He said he got the idea from another jeweler who offered a smiliar deal. And according to numbers, the promotion has already boosted sales which increased by 30% in November and 34% in December compared with his 2009 totals.
In fact, Perry said that he had to hire six additional employees this year to handle the increase in sales. “Men came in early this year; usually they wait until the last minute.”
Diamond jewelry stores in Iowa, Indiana, Texas, Michigan and other states across the country are offering similar deals this year as well.
So, what is the chance that Perry and Komara customers will be getting their diamond engagement rings refunded? This year has seen unusually cold weather with lots of snow already, keeping customers and store owners on their toes.
Youngstown, Ohio, snow is already being forecasted for the morning of the 25th, but it has yet to be seen how much will actually fall. And the forecast for Asheville is calling for up to 5 inches of snow on Christmas day.
So, as Perry said in his latest promotion in Wilmington, “Let it snow, baby! Let it snow!”
