Walking into Worldwide Creations, owned by Bob Gutwald, is an experience in itself. Outside the store is a table topped with interesting objects like Lenox vases, china dishes and small birds along with Hummel figurines and other interesting pieces for the dining table and china closet. The remarkable thing is that everything on the table goes for five dollars.
Entering this small store, I see that it is packed with goods. “There is a lot more in the warehouse Bob says. Looking at the left side of the store left and see large glass cases with large variety of of sports memorabilia on shelves, some of it signed by players in all the major sports. Of particular interest to me are the plaques that were both signed and unsigned. Prices varied according to the value of the items. Going toward the front of the store are a variety of Lenox birds and animals, Beam birds and Hummel collectibles.
On the right side of the store and in the back is jewelry fine, new jewelry, that includes hundreds of rings with diamonds and other stones, earrings, bracelets and pins. Bob, a friendly man with a warm smile says, “I am doing what most jewelry stores won’t do. Their view of merchandizing is to not put out a large selection of jewelry on display. I like giving people lots of choices. Let them look until they find what they really want, not something I am trying to get them to buy.”
In the back of the store is the estate jewelry, something that Bob specializes in and displays in several cases. The jewelry, some very old, is gorgeous. Everything from rings made before the 1920s that have Euro cut diamonds to Victorian cameo pins and lots of contemporary items. This may be used jewelry, but unless you knew, you wouldn’t be able to tell because it is all finely polished and beautiful.
Bob’s selection of jewelry is both new and used. About 75 percent of what he sells is estate jewelry and he wants people to know that he has a full-service jewelry store. “That includes jewelry repair,” he says. He also sells watches, a business that is not doing as well now that younger people like to look at their phones to tell the time. Worldwide Creations installs 150 to 200 watch batteries per week. He also repairs watches.
Worldwide Creations is located in the University Plaza Shopping Center at 108 Flock Rd, Trenton, NJ 08619. To reach Bob you can call 609-890-0123.