The decision to close Reising Jewelers and Gemologists in Cincinnati was
an easy one for owner Ed Kuhlman. After 40 years in the jewelry industry
and 23 years at Reising, Kuhlman tells JCK
it’s time to retire.
 
“I’m tired of working,” he says. “When you work retail six days a week for 40
years, you don’t have much downtime.”
 
Kuhlman has reduced prices 50 percent to 60 percent. With
very little inventory left, Reising will close its doors just before the
holidays on Dec. 23. “It’s the perfect time to have a retirement sale,” he
says.
 
Kuhlman joined Reising in 1987 as a salesman. He earned the store by buying
12 shareholders out around 15 years ago. “I started off with nothing as a
sales person and ended up owning my own business,” he says. “I’ve had a good
career. “
 
He decided to close the store in early spring and began selling the store’s
timepiece inventory. Kuhlman says business has been great the past three months,
but it’s nothing like it was in the mid-’90s.
 
Reising prides itself on its personalized service. “I was here every day at
every hour,” Kuhlman says. “If you work hard and are honest with your customers
they’ll keep coming back. I’ll miss them.” Cincinnati CEOs and professional
athletes were among the store’s high profile customers.  

The jewelry store has been known for high-end lines but Kuhlman says diamond
studs were a big seller for the store this year. “I had a big inventory of
loose diamonds, so I made a lot of diamond studs and our customers were buying
them at cost.”
 
With 40 years under his belt, Kuhlman says he’s had a very rewarding career, but
is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with his grandchildren upon
his retirement: “I’ve worked downtown Cincinnati my whole life and it’s been
very good to me. I’ve made a lot of good friends. It’s bittersweet, but it’s
time to take a step back and do some other things.”

JCK