Chuck Schlanderer now runs his family's longtime Ann Arbor jewelry shop.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

What does it take to stay in business for 130 years? The answer can be found at 208 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor at Schlanderer and Sons Jewelers.

Schlanderers has been in its current location since 1932 and in Ann Arbor since it opened in 1880. Chuck Schlanderer, the fourth generation of his family to run the business, said the reason for longevity is simple — customer service.

“We take good care of our people and they take good care of us,” Schlanderer said.

He shared a story earlier this month of a customer who lives in North Carolina who shipped his watch to the store with a detailed list of what he needed repaired. He noted that he wanted to pick up the watch the day before Thanksgiving when he would be in town visiting.

That devotion of customers is perhaps part of what has kept the jeweler in business for so long. But Schlanderer said they have also weathered the economic downturn fairly well.

“We had a good year last year,” Schlanderer said. “But this year has been even better.”

Schlanderer said the holiday season should bode well for them also. He said he has seen an increase in what he called self-gifts.

“People are starting to buy for themselves again,” Schlanderer said. “People are realizing that they aren’t as bad off as maybe they had thought. That they are doing better.”

High end items like Rolex watches are moving well Schlanderer said. He also noted that he has seen an increase in yellow gold sales as its value has reached near record marks.

“I expect good things as most of our sales are geared toward the holiday,” Schlanderer said.

Wendy Ochoa is freelance writer in the news and business sections. She is also a journalism student at Washtenaw Community College where she writes for the Washtenaw Voice.