How to slip back into semi-retirement?

I see there are quite a few of us who lost out on business dealings
with the Zaruba’s, whether with Doug or Andrew. And I most certainly
respect we’re entitled to our resentment. But resentment is a
cul-de-sac. Fix it or let it go, but don’t fuel it by going over it.
Live long enough and you’ll accumulate plenty if you want it. Rise
above it. I can’t forget my own responsibility for the business
relationships I choose, and as I’m blaming others, even justly,
there’s that little niggling in the back of my mind saying, “you
ignored the warning signs, didn’t you?” And that is more troublesome
to me than any money or sleep I lost.

I would like to take an opportunity here, not necessarily to defend
Doug and Andrew Zaruba, but at least to give credit where credit is
due. I’ve been in this trade for decades, and I’ve seen many a
business owner get caught up in a spiral of debt and deceit, and
really, none of us is immune to something like this. Drugs, divorces,
illness, or just that first time you can’t make the sales tax payment
because you spent the money on other expenses and you’re scrambling
to catch up, betting on the next accounts receivables to bail you out
before the ax falls. That said, is it fair to burden the people
who’ve helped you with your problems? I believe every effort should
be made to avoid it, and that is my business policy too. Better I
should struggle than those who depend on me.

Doug is a very intelligent, talented and accomplished jeweler. He is
also a spiritual man. I tend to hold people responsible for living up
to any claims to enlightenment or righteousness, but Doug never made
any claims as such, so I consider his beliefs to be of a personal
nature and therefore irrelevant here, except to say, it points to
some depth on his part. I may or may not care for his designs, but he
insisted that they meet his very high standards of workmanship. He
called this “competition grade finish”. I’m fairly certain he never
needed to copy anyone else’s work. I found him to be a charming man
and respectful of the accomplishments of other craftsmen. His son
Andrew also was very personable and did excellent work, especially
for his young age at the time. If you’ve read Benvenuto Cellini’s
autobiography, you know that the story of a great artist with a
troubled life and less than forthright business dealings is nothing
new. I hope this doesn’t sound like a eulogy by this point. And my
point is, I don’t believe it is beyond a possibility that the
Zaruba’s can get things turned around, make amends, retrieve a
reputation to suit the decades of serious and considered effort that
they put into their jewelry, for they certainly took great pride in
that work. I beg forgiveness of those who were taken advantage of in
their business dealings with Doug and Andrew, but I will offer Doug
and Andrew my best wishes. We are a small brethren toiling at work
that is so often under appreciated, and the Zaruba’s belong to our
community. I’m sure some will disagree. We are made of weaknesses and
strengths, and the balance can always be tipped for the better.

David L. Huffman

Doug, and all.

I have found this very hard to read, and wish it had been taken off
list, or never appeared here in the first place.

I have expressed myself, in the past, when accusations flew and
tempers were hot, and others with minor gripes entered the fray at
first opportunity to get their moments of fame, and put or bring
others down for their own sick satisfaction.

I believe there are issues here, I don’t believe this is the right
venue to resolve them.

Over time, and to notables as well as average persons, family issues
and pain have become very public, and sadly some bask in the misery
of others. I already know far too much of Doug’s personal life and
family issues. In older times, the actions of family brought shame
on the entire family. More recently, it has helped others dealing
with similar issues better handle their own.

Please move this away from Orchid. Watching Doug bare his soul in
public is painful. That some know and use public records does not
make you better, posting the here, with the accompanying
dialogue, was that satisfying? I believe in the United States, an
individual is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of
law. Last time I looked, Orchid was a place to share and
not a court of law. I am a member or Orchid, not a jury member.

Sincerely,
Terrie

Doug zaruba has had the reputation for not paying fellow jewelers for
at least 20 years that I know of. When he posted on Orchid recently,
several jewelers mentioned his not paying them. Doug’s response was
to show what he did with their money- he posted pictures of his beach
house in Columbia. I’m not speaking of his son. I’m speaking of
Douglas Zaruba. When people still question his non-payment of his
debts, his latest response is “sue me”. Wow!

Tom Arnold

David Huffman, what a beautiful and sensitive essay about "our"
human condition. May prosperity bless each of our friends who
suffered loss in this matter, and that includes both Zaruba’s. Peace
and love to everyone in our community and a personal petition that we
let this matter rest with David’s most excellent note.

Sandy Capparell, Atlanta

I believe there are issues here, I don't believe this is the right
venue to resolve them. 

Well, where better? Where else, indeed, at all?

This is one aspect of what I, for one, count on from Orchid. I put
my own work, for example, into a gallery I “met” through Orchid, with
little hesitation, and I have done business with various others from
here, because only an idiot would deal badly with a fellow-Orchidian,
knowing they would be exposed in front of the other 12,000 or so
members.

I believe that a forum like Orchid is just about the only way that
we, as isolated independent jewelers, can protect ourselves from
being taken advantage of. If just one person accuses, then it must be
taken with a large grain of salt. But when so many well-respected
members of our community have the same complaint, then the
“soul-baring” you speak of reads to me like self-justifying excuses,
and, quite likely, prevarication. I have no sympathy for anyone who
cheats other artists. Or cheats anyone, for that matter.

Noel

I believe that a forum like Orchid is just about the only way that
we, as isolated independent jewelers, can protect ourselves from
being taken advantage of. 

I agree with Noel. I have about 12 local metal artists who consign
to my store. I do not want to end up the subject of a discussion like
this. I am not saying it could not happen. I am working hard so it
won’t, in spite of the current state of the economy. U.S. gold market
not open yet, world wide market, gold is almost at $1700.

Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co.

The Reason why this issue is here in this forum at this point is
because we believe that our community needs to Know. the Artists
that the Zaruba Gallery owes funds to have been working hard at
collecting with no solutions.

None. I personally have been working on my part since june of 2010.
And Teresa THIS forum was my last option. like the rest of my
colleagues owed money to, between the Law offices, the better
business bureau, the Police in Fredrick, and the police in my city,
plus the civil court clerk in Fredrick MD, the consensus is you can’t
do anything to get paid the owed money from your own work. as long as
the person owing the funds is not willing to pay. contract or no
contract. almost all the artist are from out of state of MD so that
in itself becomes a factor in this game of cat and mouse. My whole
point to begin with was to let the community know of these dealings
with this particular gallery. there are facts that have taken place
in my own case, that’s it. I don’t recall any post asking for
judgment On Douglas from you or any other member. but this forum is
our metals /jewelers community and we need to be in the know of these
types of delinquent behaviors of galleries and stores. there are the
people who are friends with the zarubas and they will defend their
actions, and then those who are not friendly or have been burnt by
the Zaruba gallery and will put forth their own complaints. I
personally got burnt and found out that it was not an accidental
undesired behavior, but a long term continued delinquencies in
business dealings with other jewelers in this community. the community
is all individuals who are involved in making, selling, collecting,
educating, a continuation of the craft. if we can not treat one
another with respect, honesty and dignity then what are we doing here
as a community? I would not want to hide my head in the sand and
pretend that there is nothing going on wrong. I wonder what you would
do if you were in the shoes of the artists owed a few thousand
dollars to? just something to think about!

Atelier Hratch Babikian

I sell my jewelry exclusively through consignment galleries, so I am
very interested in truthful accounts of problems Orchid members may
have had when dealing with galleries. Perhaps this kind of
will keep me from making serious business mistakes in
the future. Please keep these discussions on Orchid.

David Luck
davidluckjewelry.com

Replying to David Re: selling through galleries… I’ve had good
experiences and bad ones. Right now I’m in a great new gallery which
is selling several pieces a week. I visit the gallery every week and
receive frequent emails during the week. On the other hand, I had
pieces in a gallery which I could only visit once every other month.
When I stopped in the gallery for my first visit I was told “I’m
glad you stopped in, I owe you $200.00 USD.” I replied “I’d like to
inventory my pieces so that I know which to take out of my
inventory.” When we did the inventory we discovered that the gallery
owed me $800.00. She paid me with a check which I had to wait to
cash. Finally it was good, but needless to say my relationship ended
soon. In case you check my website, the bad gallery is not included.

Dick

Hello Doug,

Is it possible to pass a business like this on to someone else?
Does it have value, beyond the tools and inventory? 

I’m a retired public and corporate accountant. And yes, there is
value for many businesses beyond that of the tangible assets. There
is an intangible asset called “goodwill”. The value, or actual dollar
amount that comprises goodwill are things such as “integrity”,
reputation, trustworthiness, and so on. Based on others’ responses to
your post here on Orchid, I’d say that your “goodwill” adds little,
if any, value to your business.

Vicki