JCK asked its Retail Panelists where they found their best employees:
| Recommendation | 59.4% |
| The response rate for the April 2004 JCK Retail Panel survey was 29.2% (196 responses out of 671 questionnaires sent). Totals add up to more than 100% because respondents could select more than one response. | |
| Newspaper advertising | 21.7% |
| Former customer | 20.8% |
| Hired away from another jeweler | 10.9% |
| GIA | 3.4% |
| Internet advertising | 1.2% |
| Other responses included: friends, high school marketing departments, home-schooled students, churches, other retail/service employees, charity volunteers, networking groups, jewelry schools, professional recruitment firms, and walk-in applicants. | |