130-year-old Henne Jewelers has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and, most recently, a worldwide pandemic.
Now under the leadership of its fourth generation, president John Henne is facing an exciting year, doubling the size of its Pittsburgh store.
“We have been working with architects, contractors and designers to more than double the size of our store with construction beginning in 2023,” John describes.
“There is still a lot to accomplish to execute this major undertaking, but I am confident our team will see it through.”
John, pictured here with his wife Dara and children Mark, Luke, Clark and Jack, wears a lot of hats in his role, from working on the sales floor to taking care of the diamond purchasing.
Despite his busy schedule, John ensures that he uses his role to connect with and invest in the community.
Henne Jewelers is an advocate for a number of non-profit organizations both in the industry and in the Pittsburgh community.
His interests include the Light of Life Rescue Mission and the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation.
When it comes to the timepiece industry, he believes passionately in preserving the craftsmanship of watchmaking and he fears a shortage of watchmakers in the future.
“What happens to the industry in five to 10 years when all the watches we have sold over the last two years during this spike in demand come in for service?” John poses.
“We need to find ways to attract talented individuals to the watchmaking profession.”
With their single store operating with 40 employees, he takes a meticulous approach to hiring.
“I believe finding people who fit your organisation’s values and culture is critical,” he says.
When speaking of rebuilding his team after the lock downs, he says: “Your people are by far your most important asset. Invest in them, trust them and treat them with great dignity, love and respect.”
