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Staff photo by Nick Graham
Rod Corwin is back working for Rogers Jewelers at the Towne Mall location after being off work for several month after the downtown Middletown store closed down. Corwin has worked for Rogers Jewelers for 29 years.
Jeweler shines when it comes to customer service
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By Rick McCrabb,
Columnist
8:32 PM Monday, November 30, 2009
There’s a flicker of life inside the Towne Mall and it’s radiating from a familiar face.
Rod Corwin, who managed the Rogers Jewelers downtown location for nearly 20 years, was laid off when that store closed in February.
“Not one day went by that I didn’t miss the opportunity to serve people,” he said.
Corwin worked out of his home for several months, but now, thankfully, he’s back at Rogers. Officially, he’s been the assistant manager at the mall location since Nov. 16, but really, he’s director of customer service.
Not at Rogers.
But whenever he goes.
For instance, on Monday, Nov. 30, as Corwin took a smoke break outside of Towne Mall, he opened the door for every customer. He greeted them with a smile, and he seemed to know most of their first names.
“Hello Rita,” he told one woman. “It looks like you’ve lost some weight. You look great.”
Always a salesman, this Rod Corwin.
He’s a people person who happens to sell and repair jewelry. Before this, about 43 years ago, he was a people person who managed restaurants in Dayton.
In another life, he probably was a people person who was Ice Salesman of the Year in Alaska.
“It’s all about people,” Corwin, 67, said, relighting his cigarette. “I can’t be without people.”
Then he stopped and opened another door.
“Where was I?”
“People.”
“That’s right,” he said. “Without people, you have nothing.”
Then he remembered the glory days at the downtown location when customers stopped by, not to purchase jewelry, but for a little conversation. Corwin always has a good story to share.
He formed such relationships with his customers that they frequently brought his co-workers food during the holiday rush. Even a constant optimist like Corwin admits Middletown has seen better days.
“But,” he said, changing into his cheerleading uniform, “we have the greatest people in the world.”
Then I asked him to describe a “good day” at work. First, he corrected me. He doesn’t consider what he does work.
Then he answered: “Let’s say an older lady comes in, like somebody’s grandmother or great-grandmother and she has a little piece of jewelry she wants fixed. Maybe it’s a tiny purse that’s been in the family for 50 years and I’m able to fix it and bring a smile to her face, that’s a good day.”
Contact this
columnist
at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.
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4:48 PM, 12/1/2009
9:44 AM, 12/1/2009
8:22 AM, 12/1/2009
Mr. Edwards, what does your comment have to do with the article? You take away from the purpose of the article and try to turn it into a bad thing. That is what is wrong with this country, people like you!
8:08 AM, 12/1/2009
11:53 PM, 11/30/2009