Business Briefs: BerkChique! benefit sale; Jewelers announce retirement; new venture for Red Lion’s Church; ‘Making Your Money Work for You’ seminar

BerkChique! benefit clothing sale

Dalton — 1Berkshire will continue the tradition started at Berkshire Creative by hosting the highly anticipated used clothing sale BerkChique! at the Stationery Factory on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., with a ticketed “first dibs” party from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6.

BerkChique! will benefit area nonprofits Community Access to the Arts, IS183 Art School of the Berkshires, WAM Theatre, and others. The majority of items at the sale, all one-of-a-kind and new or gently used, will be affordably priced between $5 and $40. Those interested in donating women’s and men’s clothing and accessories are asked to contact Rebecca Weinman at rebecca.weinman@gmail.com. For more information and tickets to the “first dibs” party, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or contact Julia Dixon at jdixon@1berkshire.com.

–E.E.

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Longtime jewelers announce retirement

Herman and Gayle Rotenberg.

Pittsfield — After 36 years in the family business, Unusual Wedding Rings and More owners Herman and Gayle Rotenberg have decided to retire and close the doors to their downtown store for good. In celebration of their retirement, the Rotenbergs will hold a retirement/store closing sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28.

Gayle Rotenberg’s father, William Schifrin – who was born in Pittsfield in 1918 – started the business on 47th Street in New York City’s Diamond District upon returning from World War II. Gayle grew up in the business and Herman joined her 36 years ago. After running the business for 30 years, they realized their dream and moved the store to the Berkshires as they prepared their long-range retirement plans. Specializing in wedding and engagement rings in New York, they expanded their offerings when moving to Pittsfield to include fine gold and silver jewelry, repairs, and customizations.

–E.E.

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Red Lion’s Jayne Church moves to artist representation

Jayne Church.

Stockbridge — After 18 years at the Red Lion Inn, Gift Shop Manager Jayne Church has announced that she will be retiring from her position at the end of April.

Church says that the most rewarding part to her job has been seeking out local artists to feature in the shop and guiding them through the ins and outs of retail, and so she has started Great Stuff, a new business that allows her to continue working with and mentoring local artists by representing those artists in the retail trade. Church will visit gift shops, museum shops, galleries, book stores, and other venues in order to sell locally produced merchandise for re-sale. She is looking for local artists, jewelers, non-perishable food producers, fabric artists, fine crafters, and others who are interested in possible representation. Church is in the process of setting up Great Stuff now and will start calling on retailers in mid-June. For more information, email greatstuffsells@gmail.com.

–E.E.

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Seminar: ‘Making Your Money Work for You’

Salisbury, Conn. — Salisbury Bank will offer the free seminar “Making Your Money Work for You” in the community room at Noble Horizons on Thursday, May 5, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The seminar will include information on how financial habits impact financial independence and why what you do with what you earn is as important as what you earn. It will cover the importance of defining one’s financial goals as well as how creating a budget can help attain those goals. Additional topics will include how to access and protect your credit score and how to use budgeting services and apps to help manage your cash flow. The presentation will also provide tips on how to save for the future. Assistant Vice President Branch Manager of the Canaan Office Stacey Curtis will present the seminar.

Online registration is available, though reservation is not required. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Kevin Norton at (860) 435-9801 x1010 or knorton@salisburybank.com and type “MONEY” in the subject line.

–E.E.