Three years after our retirement from Day’s "day to day" operations, and on the morning of September 17, Jeff and I dressed in our business attire and prepared for a fun filled Discover Day's Day. We were both so excited to reconnect with members of Day's leadership team and to meet a recently hired and newly indoctrinated co-owners ’ team
When greeting the new Day's attendees as they entered the meeting venue, I experienced a flashback. The warmth I felt from each of the new team members brought back nostalgic feelings from when I was a full-time member of the Day's team - it was like returning home again. I'm extremely proud of the sincerity, engaging and embracing of the "Day's Culture" new Day's owners. I’m also enthralled with Day’s leadership team for making the excellent recruiting and hiring choices they did, as in my mind, “the talent runs deep in this room. ”
As for myself, I couldn’t help but notice the reactions of people in the Discover Days room, as they listened to Jeff’s story about Alonzo. It’s one that I’ve heard no less than 50 times before – to this day it still brings tears to my eyes. This heartfelt story epitomizes the crucial role we play in people’s lives The jewelry industry is so unlike most others and we ’ re all so fortunate to travel on this road. Have fun every day, love the customers you serve and earn the rewards of a rich and quality life.
Fondly, Kathy Corey
theCHR ut
New Earned Time Off Policy
If you haven't already taken a look at the new policy, please do so It's attached to the email that went out on 9/18/2025. You can also find the new policy here: P:\Procedures\Human Resources\Benefits\Earned Time Off
Mileage Reimbursement Process Reminder
All mileage reimbursements are to be signed off by your direct supervisor and then submitted to Finance@Daysjewelers com Finance processes these and they get the information to HR for payroll entry
Introducing Day’s Classifieds
Share More, Waste Less
Day’s Classifieds is a new space for our team to give items a second life while reducing our collective carbon footprint Instead of throwing away items you no longer need, post them on Day’s Classifieds We can cut down on waste, keep useful items in circulation, and support each other!
Free Only: All items listed must be free. No money will be exchanged, this is about sharing, not selling.
Where to Find It: You can access Day’s Classifieds in the Teams channel titled Classifieds. How to Participate: All of the rules and guidelines are posted in the channel to make participation simple and fair for everyone
Together, we can make a difference, one item at a time.
theCHR ut
Shine Bright with Your Benefits!
2025 Open Enrollment Recap: September 15 – 26
Lauryl Bridges
This year's Open Enrollment was all about helping our co-owners shine bright with their benefits and what a great few weeks it was! I had the pleasure of visiting co-owners at all 9 stores and HEM, answering lots of great questions and sharing helpful information.
Venrollment made things easy this year, just go to the Blue Box, click on “My Employment”, “Benefits” then select the Venrollment box There, I showed how to access everything in one spot: plan information, vendor contacts, and Paylocity’s Bswift portal to make your benefit elections sparkle. Don’t forget the 2025-2026 Benefits Guide is there as well. Huge thanks to Bobbi, Brian, and the talented team at the Varney Agency for their incredible work on this year ’ s guide and Venrollment.
As many of you know, benefits are my passion! With over 25 years of experience, nothing compares to helping a co-owner find the right benefits for themselves and their families. For a company our size, Day’s offers an impressive and well-rounded benefits package, including:
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Medical Insurance – Multiple plan options with competitive premiums, with Day’s paying a generous share of the cost.
Dental & Vision Insurance
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
401(k) with company match
Accident Insurance
Hospital Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Pet Insurance
We had Freebies galore this year. Thanks to our amazing benefit vendors for making Open Enrollment fun and memorable with these giveaways:
Varney Agency: Day’s LED Flashlights (because benefits should shine bright)
Harvard Pilgrim: Chip clips, ChapSticks, and pens
NE Delta Dental/Vision: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and eyeglass repair kits
UNUM: Stress balls, lanyards, pens, and magnet clips
HP Wellness: Stretch kits, sleep kits, and snack cutting boards
theCHR ut
RAFFFLE WINNER ANNOUNCED!
The final Day’s cooler goes to: Christian Roderiques – congrats! And of course the legendary HR Candy was back too!
Co-Owner Quotes from the Road
Here’s what we heard during our benefit visits
“OMG, can I have two of each?”
“50 Shades of Better Sleep! (A blindfold and a paddle!)”
“We need a gift bag for all our stuff!”
“No throwing stress balls at each other!”
“Yay, free stuff!”
“The videos in the Benefits Guide are awesome!”
“Do I have to do anything if I’m not making changes?”
“Can I just pick the ‘don’t go to the doctor’ plan?”
“I finally understand how an HSA works.”
“This new telehealth option looks really useful.”
“I know the difference between a PPO and a HDHP now!”
“First time enrolling in benefits – I feel like an adult!”
“I’m accident-prone – sign me up for the Accident Plan!”
Thank you all for welcoming me into your stores, it was a pleasure assisting with your Open Enrollment needs. If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here for you.
Let’s continue to shine bright together!
Lauryl – your Payroll and Benefits Coordinator
Based on you year ’ s Holiday Party es or navigating p ns that let you graze, m
Tenderloin, Pickled Onion & Horseradish Cream on Crostini
Skewers of Grape Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil
Pasta Station
Five Cheese Ravioli with Roasted Pepper Marinara
Penne in Pancetta Cream Sauce
Gnocchi in Lemon Garlic Sauce
Handhelds
Angus Burger
Pulled Pork & Slaw Slider
Crab Cake with Cajun Tartar Sandwich
Sweet Potato Fries with Mustard Aioli
Garden Salad
Dessert & Coffee Station
Assorted Mini Pastries
Whoopie Pies (a Maine favorite!)
For dietary restrictions, please connect with Lauryl so we can be sure you ’ re taken care of
The Showcase Inventory
Our inventory on Sunday September 21st had fantastic results. Thank you all for your hard work, preparation, and execution on inventory day!
Final Results
Variance of -$2,427 36, - 01% of all dollars we counted! 2026 September inventory was -$4,637.58/-.03%
Low inventory variances mean that our inventory is accurate, which helps our store teams when they are selling, our finance team when they are working with the bank, and our buyers when they are looking at inventory levels.
Accurate inventory doesn’t just happen in one day The work each of you do every day is important! Accurate, precise procedures that are easy to follow (thank you Heather and Randy!) Correct, scannable price tags on every item (with the variant codes!) Scanning transfers when they arrive in your store and when they leave. Weighing loose diamonds when they arrive, leave and when you show them! Organization in your showcases, in the inventory room and vault, with your understock, in your service areas, in your shops, and with your layaways!
Thank you to our inventory team, buying team, and our store teams for your work on Sunday! A special thank you to our HEM staff who volunteered to help on Sunday- Liz Mahoney, Randy Rackley, Abby McKenney, Lisa James, and Nikia Levesque
And, an extra special thank you to Heather for the procedure, the prep, the training, and looking at each and every item on the variance reports to ensure complete accuracy!
-Julie Collins
Next Inventory- Sunday January 11, 2026
The Showcase Inventory
The Showcase
Merchandising
We are happy to announce that we have started a relationship with Roberto Coin.
We will be adding the line in our new Salem store!
Converge
Vanessa Phipps - Auburn, Store Manager
Annually, The American Gem Society (AGS) is host to "Conclave", an educational meeting of the minds for professionals across the many facets of the jewelry supply chain. The 2025 event took on a new name following the recent merger between AGS and The Gemological Institue of America (GIA) and delivered "Converge", held in Carlsbad, CA September 8 - 10. Attendees submerged themselves into a plethora of seminars and training demonstrations that focused on the latest in gemological research, ethics, trends, and security. Additionally, there was no shortage of opportunity to network with industry friends new and old; as well as be witness to powerful speakers that could warm hearts of stone.
Nya Chapman (Waterville, AM) and I had the privilege to represent Day's Jewelers at this year's event - which was amazing. There wasn't enough time, nor repeat sessions to cover everything that sparked our interest so we had to be selective on what would have the greatest impact to return to Day's. I focused on gemological studies and advancements, liabilities and responsibilities regarding the way "appraisal" services are sold; valuating lab grown diamonds for insurance replacement claims; gemstone grading and pricing; and tariffs in the current jewelry supply chain. Nya attended seminars featuring selling high-ticket items; the emphasis of the natural diamond story to consumers; natural diamond traceability, the carbon neutral natural diamond supply chain; and selling to Gen Z customers. Jointly, we attended training on best practices to "work smarter - not harder", by utilizing AI; and multiple sessions focused on jeweler security, organized crime in luxury goods with the FBI, and the latest trends/threats in cyber security
Converge
Vanessa Phipps - Auburn, Store Manager
Every time I travel with Day's it never fails to surprise me (with all the warm and fuzzies) how well known, revered, and sought after Day's Jewelers is throughout the industry I mentioned this to Nya before we set out on our westward journey, but what surprised me were the occurrences new faces recognized our name, congratulated us on becoming an ESOP, wanted to know how it began, and how it benefits us as company owners By the second conversation, I could hear the cogs of succession planning turning for other jewelers and suppliers - I have a hunch it will only be a matter of time before others follow in our footsteps!
We are currently in the process of creating a presentation to share with everyone, so stay tuned for an explosion of information to come your way in the next few weeks!
