Jewelers of America will award its 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement to Matt Stuller, founder and executive chairman of the board of Stuller Inc.
Stuller (pictured) founded the company, and ran it out of his Nissan 240Z, in 1970. It set up shop in Lafayette, La., its current headquarters, in 1982. Since then, Stuller Inc. has grown into an industry behemoth that offers a seemingly limitless number of products and services: mountings and finished jewelry; chains and components; natural and lab-grown gemstones; cutting, setting, and engraving; tools including metal and stone testers, microscopes, and 3D printers; packaging supplies; bench-jeweler and software training; and much, much more.
In 2010, on the occasion of Stuller Inc.’s 40th anniversary, Stuller shared some of his business philosophy with JCK. “Unhappy customers are the greatest resource in improving your business. I always tell customers that I’m the ultimate complaint department,” he told us.
And his perspective on the brick-and-mortar vs. e-commerce struggle still holds true today: “Online, jewelers will always be vulnerable on self-purchases of fashion jewelry at a lower price—under a few hundred dollars—and certain branded products. But people still want to buy a piece at a jewelry store based on the store experience, which is all part of the emotional connection to the product.”
David Bonaparte, Jewelers of America president and CEO, said in a release: “It has been remarkable to see what Matt has accomplished, the extensive list of businesses he has served, and the impact he has made on our industry. We can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor on our 25th anniversary.”
Recent previous Gem Lifetime Achievement honorees include Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers; John A. Green of Lux, Bond & Green; Susan Jacques of GIA; watch industry veteran Steven Kaiser; Stephen Lussier of De Beers Group; John Kennedy of Jewelers’ Security Alliance; and Ed Bridge of Ben Bridge Jeweler.
The 25th annual Gem Awards will take place March 12, 2027, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.
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