Samuelson’s Diamonds in the News
Posted on | May 27, 2009 | 2 Comments
The RambleOnRon PR machine is crankin’ this month! Here are a few articles that we’ve been featured in:
From the Baltimore Business Journal:
Ron Samuelson, CEO of Samuelson’s Diamonds in Baltimore, uses Twitter – a communication service emblazoned with a bird logo – to spur business and attributes much of his success of the year-old account to the service.
Samuelson also has used Facebook and personal blogging to reach customers who would otherwise see him as just a guy sitting behind a counter, pandering diamonds.
…
Samuelson’s shop of 10 employees was starting in 1922, far from the days of tweets and Facebook fan pages.
“The crowd I do business with now are very tech-savvy, so we have a full service Web site too, where we drive all our traffic,” Samuelson said.
From JCK Magazine:
Facebook’s personal nature is one of the things that draw people to it. Samuelson feels it’s important for a page to have personality. “One customer who friend-requested me said, ‘That’s so cool. You are just a regular guy who plays guitar,” notes Samuelson. “And that is what sales is—you find something in common with somebody.”
From MD Daily Record:
After 87 years and three generations of selling engagement rings, the Samuelsons are trying real estate development on for size.
The family-run business, anchored by a retail diamond store at the corner of West Baltimore and North Paca streets, is teaming up with Baltimore County developer David S. Brown Enterprises and Washington-based firm A&R Development to return a key downtown Baltimore block between the University of Maryland and the central business district to its former glory as a “thriving downtown area.”
Where did they find me? A PR firm? An ad agency? Did I give them free diamonds? NO! From MY BLOG and TWITTER FEED. So all of you business owners out there need to get on the bus and take the ride.
As Jerry Garcia said, “The bus come by and I got on, that’s where it all began…”
Tags: baltimore > commercial real estate > development > diamonds > facebook > hippodrome > news > pr > real estate > samuelson's diamonds > twitter > west side
Grateful Dead, Omni Atlanta, 3-30-94
Posted on | May 20, 2009 | No Comments
This was my senior year of college down at Emory U. I remember this Here Comes Sunshine opener specifically – sitting in the 4th row center with my buddy Ryan. Got mail order and got lucky for this show. Jerry still rips here – I love it and wish I could be back there in that state of mind.
And here’s the second set opener Feel Like a Stranger that I don’t remember – but I was there, I think…
Samuelson’s Finalist in Contest for Best Online Ad
Posted on | May 9, 2009 | No Comments
We were honored to be chosen as a Finalist in National Jeweler’s Best Online Advertising contest:
“Samuelson’s Diamonds, a Baltimore, Md.-based retail jeweler, was chosen as a finalist in the contest for its use of a viral marketing campaign.
The brand created a Facebook fan page simply called “Diamonds,” so that anyone searching for that term could become a fan, thus expanding the retailer’s exposure to a global audience.
The page currently counts more than 260,000 fans worldwide, with diamond enthusiasts in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and everywhere in between connecting with the retailer.
Samuelson’s adds frequent posts, updating its friends on giveaways and photos of new diamond designs that link fans over to Samuelson’s own Web site, SamuelsonsDiamonds.com.”
Here is the full article. Now the winner was ok, but to me just another flash website from NYC. But, hey, I’m just a diamond guy from Baltimore so what do I know? We were honored to get a mention and the good news is that we’re getting some recognition for our Diamonds Fan Page. (currently in the top 30 fan pages in the fashion category)
Look for some more great stuff on the way soon!
Tags: diamonds > facebook > facebook fan page > online ads
What To Get Mom? How about Mom Jeans!
Posted on | May 4, 2009 | 6 Comments
Yes Mother’s Day is around the corner. Another holiday besides birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Christmas or Hannukah to get your wife a gift. Of course I should be telling you to buy some diamonds for your wife/mother on Mother’s Day right? Or how about selling all of Mom’s old jewelry and giving her some cashola? Well, whatever you want to do is fine and I’m here to help you out, but take a look at this SNL clip that always makes me laugh. Get your wife some “Mom Jeans” and see where it gets ya!
Tags: commercials > diamonds > jc penny > mom jeans > mother's day > saturday night live > snl > snl skits
My First Live TV Broadcast
Posted on | April 24, 2009 | No Comments
So yesterday I had the pleasure of heading over to Blue Sky Factory for a live broadcast with my friend Greg Cangialosi. We had a great time and talked about business, Baltimore, Facebook, music and showed some big diamonds of course. We even had a little jam session! (about 37 minutes in) We also set a record for the number of viewers. How? We gave away a diamond necklace at the end of the show. Before the show we send out some emails and status updates to my 260,000 “Fans of Diamonds” on Facebook. Then we sent them to this landing page with a signup to win the necklace. So we got a bunch of entries and viewers and had a great time. Greg and I will be speaking at the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show next month and in Vancouver, Canada in August so we can try to get my industry on board with this stuff. So if you missed it, check it out here and enjoy!
 Greg and Ron live jam |
 A Lotta Bling! |
Tags: blueskyfactory > diamond fans > diamond necklace > diamonds > facebook > greg cangialosi > JCK > jewelry show > live tv
Carribean Queen
Posted on | April 22, 2009 | No Comments
Just a quick video of my 10 year anniversary trip last week with my Carribean Queen – yeah I know it’s windy but we were on a boat! Now it’s back to reality…
Carribean Queen from Ronnie S on Vimeo.
The Samuelson Family is Rebuilding Baltimore
Posted on | April 11, 2009 | 5 Comments
Well it’s almost here. After eight long years of waiting, negotiating, and thinking about the redevelopment of our city block, the 400 block of West Baltimore Street, we are finally ready to move forward. And it all started in 1972 when my grandfather, Milton Samuelson, bought four properties on this block after our move from 902 Pennsylvania Avenue, where we were since 1922. It’s the third move in the history of our business. This move is a lot closer, just across the street. But the change for Samuelson’s Diamonds, formerly known as “Boston Loan”, is huge.
My great grandfather, Samuel Samuelson, (yes you read it right) was an immigrant from Lithuania. He first owned a hay, feed and grain store (this was before there were cars) and then a bar. His five sons and a daughter were all born above that bar. Our store, a pawnshop, was actually founded by my great uncle, Aaron Samuelson, the oldest of the brothers. This store was the financier of all Samuelson Family business, whether it was real estate deals or other stores. One was Crown Loan, another Baltimore pawn shop, and Tommy Tucker Five and Dime Shops. In 1936, my grandfather, who was the youngest, bought our business from his older brother Aaron and it flourished. My father came to work in the 60’s and I’ve been here since I was a kid in the 80’s, on summer breaks and Saturdays. When I got here full time in 1994, we were a very successful pawnbroker and jeweler. Sure I liked the guitars and other cool stuff, but it was diamonds that interested me the most. I do believe that the pawn business suffered from the Home Depot’s, Guitar Center’s and Walmart’s of the world. Ebay became a big help to move stuff, but you can also argue that it hurts the pawnshop, as people can find pretty much anything second hand at a good price.
Anyway, I took my last Stratocaster and a nice Paul Reed Smith and I got rid of the other stuff. Just concentrated on jewelry and started catering to my website customers. There was, of course, a HUGE magnetic force of resistance coming from my father, and understandably so. The business had served him and his father very well. Why change? Why screw up a good thing? In 2003, when my brother-in-law, David, came on board, we tore it up. Why? One thing my grandfather always said was, “Change with the times.” There you go. Aside from the fact the I love the jewelry business, you have to change. And it’s for the better.
We partnered with David S Brown Enterprises and A & R Development and not only did we build ourselves a beautiful new jewelry store, but we’re making this block beautiful. PNC Bank, Five Guys, Panera Bread, and other major retailers will be our tenants and this will be a neighborhood that people will want to visit.
So CHECK OUT OUR FLICKR PAGE to take a look at the progress of our new store. Soon you’re gonna walk in and I’ll put up a video of your favorite song on the plasma, and we’ll hang out and talk about diamonds – or about music or sports or whatever you want. Get ready for the new Samuelson’s Experience in 2009 and take a look at one of my favorite videos that gives me chills every time I see it:
Oh yeah, and we have three new websites on the way…
Tags: baltimore > baltimore street > boston loan > commercial real estate > crown loan > diamonds > family history > grateful dead > jerry garcia > pawnshop > ramble on rose > samuelson family > samuelson's diamonds > tommy tucker
Eastbound and Down is Funny Stuff
Posted on | April 3, 2009 | 2 Comments
This show is the best I’ve seen in a while. My friend posted about it a while ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. This is about the cleanest scene I could find so enjoy and if you haven’t seen it, go to your on demand and watch this show. Only five episodes – when will it be back?
24 Hours in NYC
Posted on | March 25, 2009 | 2 Comments
So I went up to NYC for a little getaway for my 10th anniversary. (we’re headed somewhere warm on a nice four nighter next month) First we went to NEO for some GREAT Japanese food. Take a look at the pic of this tuna dish with avocado sauce on DoYouLoveit.com. Then took a walk down the street to see The Allman Brothers Band with special guests Bruce Hornsby, Susan Tedeschi (who should stick to singing and not playing lead guitar) and a horn section. Awesome show. Check out the footage I got with my flip. The HD Flip is my next purchase.
Then we met a new friend that I connected with on twitter (who is also a third generation jeweler) for brunch at Sara Beth’s – sooo good. Yes the power of social networking – it’s good stuff.
After that, we went to a check out a diamond that was a 5.34 carat off color round, and then recut to a 4.14 fancy yellow radiant. All I can say is WOW. Check out this video of the unfinished diamond and this video of the last trip to NYC to have it examined. This cutter is the man – it is unreal. It’s being made into a ring with two white radiants on the side, and you’ll see a pic of it soon with the sweet new camera we bought from B & H Photo. We have been buying and selling cameras from them since they were on 47th Street. Well their place on 34th and 9th is just insane. You need to check it out – what an operation and not a bad website either. Then we walked from B & H to Penn Station, and hopped right on the train – perfect timing and back home for dinner. It was beauty. We did so much in so little time. Wait until you see this ring…
I forgot to say what happened first. We met John Waters in the train station and got a picture with him!
Me and John Waters
Tags: allman brothers band > b & h > b&h photo > diamonds > flip > flip HD > john waters > mino flip > new york city > NYC > radiant diamond > ring > sushi > yellow diamond
Going to The Allman Brothers at The Beacon
Posted on | March 20, 2009 | No Comments
I am getting so psyched to see one of my favorite bands, The Allman Brothers, at The Beacon Theatre in NYC tomorrow night. I usually go every year and meet up with my boys from college, but this year I’m taking the wife for my 10 year anniversary. Wow, time flies. Well, I’m a happy guy, can’t say that I wouldn’t want my wife to give me what Larry David’s wife offered him for his 10 year, but I don’t think that’s happening yet. So check out what The Allmans and The Beacon are all about. Here they are playing with with Buddy Guy and Phish last week. I’m missing Clapton tonight, but I’m hoping they’ll have a great guest star up there tomorrow. Enjoy – I know I will!
Tags: allman brothers band > anniversary > buddy guy > larry david > new york city > phish > the beacon theatre
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