Warren Buffett said he wanted to prove himself as a hotshot salesman, and he did! The Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway spent Sunday behind the sales counter at Borsheims Fine Jewelry & Gifts and made dozens of sales. Mr. Buffett’s skills, combined with the buying power of tens of thousands of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, led Borsheims to its best weekend ever.
Mr. Buffett sold several items, including anniversary rings for couples celebrating their 30th and 50th anniversaries, necklaces and watches. He talked with customers about their purchases and closed the deal for many buyers. One couple was looking to replace a wedding ring the wife lost on vacation, and Buffett told of a similar thing happening to his first wife, Susan Buffett. He told customers that he never regretted buying jewelry for his family members.
In all, sales at Borsheims for the first week of the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder discount period were up 45% over last year. That period includes Berkshire Hathaway shareholders weekend and the time on Sunday when Warren Buffett sold jewelry.
Borsheims President & CEO Susan Jacques said it was Borsheims best weekend of sales ever. “We knew Warren would be a successful salesman and he did not disappoint,” Jacques said. “We’ll welcome him back to our expert sales team anytime.”
Borsheims is one of the nation’s largest independent jewelry stores. Proudly celebrating its 22nd year of being a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, the store is known for its extensive selection of jewelry, watches and gifts, its exemplary customer service and its exceptional “Borsheims price.”
For video of Mr. Buffett behind the sales counter at Borsheims, click here.
For photos of Mr. Buffett behind the sales counter at Borsheims, click here.
As Warren Buffett promised during the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ meeting, a team of people transcribed everything at the annual meeting that related to David Sokol and Lubrizol. The transcript is now available on Berkshire Hathaway’s website:
When Warren Buffett sells jewelry in Borsheims this afternoon, it will be a packed house. Due to safety and space constraints, we are limiting the number of people who will be near Mr. Buffett while he sells. That will include media.
We have arranged to have both a still and video pool camera to capture images up close for everyone to share.
The still photographer is Nati Harnik of the Associated Press. You can chat with Nati at the event or call the Associated Press to arrange for photos.
Mason Video is our video pool. They will send me a link to an ftp site with a few minutes of b-roll of Warren selling. I will email that link out to everyone on my media list by late afternoon.
If you received a test email from me this week, you will receive the email with the ftp link this afternoon.
If you did not and you would like the video, shoot me an email at tmeuret1@gmail.com.
You will be able to get some video or still photos of Warren Buffett in Borsheims, but it will be from about 30 feet away and with some shareholders in between.
Thanks so much for your cooperation and understanding!
If you plan on visiting the Qwest Center today for the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ meeting, you should definitely make a swing down through Berkyville (the exhibit hall). I know I mentioned it before, but these deals are too good not to bring to your attention again.
Remember, they’re good only at the Borsheims Booth at the Qwest Center today.
If you thought the Royal wedding was romantic… check this out!
These shareholders got engaged at Borsheims just a few minutes ago. Dick and Cynthia have been dating for about a year and a half. They were in Omaha for the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ meeting last year and returned this year to look at rings.
When Dick put this cushion cut emerald on Cynthia’s finger, it fit just right. So he asked her to marry him. Right there at the counter.
There was crying. And then lots of kissing!
And there was, of course, a very excited ‘yes’!!!
We are so thrilled for them, and so excited we could be a part of their big day. Congratulations Dick and Cynthia!!!
We do (@borsheimsbrk). And we’d love to tweet with you. Last year, after some back and forth discussion, the hashtag #brk2010 seemed to take over as the favorite. So this year, how about #brk2011?
Several of us are already using #brk2011 to mark our Berkshire Hathaway weekend-related tweets. Join the discussion by clicking the “follow in twitter” button on the right side of this page.
With the addition of Warren Buffett to Borsheims’ expert sales staff, Borsheims is prepared for an even larger than normal crowd of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders during the 2011 Annual Meeting weekend. Members of the media are welcome to visit Borsheims during the Berkshire Hathaway Weekend. Here’s your guide:
CREDENTIALS
Check in both Friday evening and Sunday at Borsheims by entering the northeast doors of Regency Court, near Garbo’s Salon. If you received an email from me, you’re on the list and we’re expecting you.
POOL CAMERA
Because of space and security constraints, access to the media will be limited while Warren Buffett is selling jewelry inside Borsheims. You will be allowed to stand with other shareholders at a distance from Mr. Buffett and take your video/photos. Two pool cameras will supply up close shots.
Our video crew will have the b-roll available on an ftp site within two hours of the event. Please test out the site and download by clicking this link and then clicking the download button. If this type of file does not work for you, let me know and we’ll figure out a file that will. I will send out an email to everyone with the link(s) to the file(s) on Sunday as soon as it is available. If you received an email with this message on Wednesday, you’ll receive the email with the link on Sunday.
Our still photographer is Nati Harnik with the Associated Press. Since he is the designated pool photographer, everyone will have access to his photos. If you don’t know how to gain access to pool AP photos, I’ll put you in touch with Nati at the event.
SCHEDULE
Friday, April 29
Borsheims Shareholder Only Cocktail Reception 6pm – 9pm
Look for:
- Shareholders shopping and receiving exclusive discounts on more than 100,000 pieces of jewelry, watches and fine gifts
- Shareholders enjoying signature cocktails like a Fortune Fizz, Profit Punch, & Berkshire Brew
Borsheims is one of the nation’s largest independent jewelry stores. Proudly celebrating its 22nd year of being a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, the store is known for its extensive selection of jewelry, watches and gifts, its exemplary customer service and its exceptional “Borsheims price.”
Record Sales Anticipated from Buffett, Borsheims Booth
The addition of Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett to Borsheims’ expert sales staff is expected to be a highlight of this year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ weekend. Mr. Buffett, who sold shoes at J.C. Penney’s 63 years ago, expects to prove himself as a “hotshot salesman” and is encouraging shareholders to come, buy and “make me look good.”
Buffett’s sales won’t be the only boost to Borsheims sales during this year’s shareholder weekend. For the first time, Borsheims is taking jewelry to its booth at the Qwest Center exhibition hall to sell during the annual meeting Saturday. The jewelry is available at a steep discount and only at the Qwest Center during the April 30 meeting. The jewelry includes diamond earrings, pearl necklaces, watches and more. An example of the discount? A diamond anniversary band valued at $825 will sell at the Qwest Center for $405.
Borsheims is excited to host the large crowds both at Borsheims and the Qwest Center. Here are a few guidelines to help shareholders navigate the crowds:
Any Berkshire Hathaway shareholder will have the opportunity to purchase from Mr. Buffett, but time and space constraints will dictate how many shareholders will get in.
Berkshire Hathaway shareholders hoping to purchase from Mr. Buffett should be in the store and shopping around 1pm on Sunday, May 1.
The Borsheims Booth Deals will be available ONLY at the Qwest Center and ONLY on Saturday.
A complete list of the Borsheims Booth Deals is available at www.borsheimsbrk.com.
As in the past, Borsheims shareholder pricing begins in store today and runs through Saturday, May 7. Shareholders can take advantage of the discounts on jewelry, watches and gifts at any time over the next two weeks.
Since becoming a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary 21 years ago, Borsheims has been proud to host shareholders during the annual meeting. This year, shareholders will be welcomed to Borsheims for an exclusive cocktail reception on Friday, April 29, from 6 pm – 9 pm. They’ll also be treated to a shareholder-only shopping day on Sunday, May 1, from 9 am to 4 pm.
For more information about Borsheims or Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ weekend, contact Trisha Meuret at tmeuret1@gmail or (402)658-0017 or Adrienne Fay at (402)341-0900 or adriennefay@borsheims.com..com
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NOTES FOR MEDIA:
Media members will be allowed to document Mr. Buffett’s sales from a distance.
Pool cameras (both still and video) will provide images from up close.
For more information, contact Trisha Meuret at tmeuret1@gmail.com or (402)658-0017.
If perusing this website on a large computer screen isn’t your thing, you can now get all your Berkshire Hathaway shareholder weekend related updates on the go. We’re mobile-ready. And so are you.
So keep checking in with www.borsheimsbrk.com from your phone in the airport, cab, restaurant, coffee shop, etc. Just not while you’re driving, okay?
