retail profile Survival instinct James O. Poag Jewellers celebrates 50 years in the biz By Jacquie De Almeida he says with a slight chuckle, recalling the early days of his parents’ jewellery store in Strathroy, ont., located halfway between london and Sarnia. Poag was 12 years old when he joined his mother and father behind the counter at James o. Poag Jewellers ltd. That was three decades James and Judy Poag with their sons, James (left) and Jeff (right) at their jewellery store in Strathroy, Ont. J 52 ames Poag Jr. remembers the clock room vividly—dozens of clocks hanging from the walls, tick-tocking endlessly and chiming in unison. This was long before the invention of the quartz movement, ago. Today, he and his brother, Jeffrey, are co-owners, and the business their parents built celebrated its 50th anniversary last october. “It was an incredible event,” says Poag of the fully catered shindig that saw the street in front of the store closed off and three tents erected to shelter 600 invited guests from threatening skies. The Poag lovefest was so great, the family held an open house for an additional 500 people later in the week. The celebrations offered the chance to see old friends, share memories, and give back to the town and trade that helped Poag’s Jewellers grow over the last half century. Jewellery Business ❘ February 2010 Photo by Susan Bradnam, Sun Media