Our Philosophy

One reason Fremeau's salespeople are able to create a relaxed environment is they do not work on commission. Instead, the store has a monthly sales goal. If the goal is reached, all of the employees receive a percentage based on the number of hours they worked during that period. This method supports teamwork, Wood says.

"A lot of times customers come in to look at jewelry several times before they buy something. Nobody working here ever says, 'That's not my customer.'"

Furthermore, Wood says none of Fremeau's customers ever say, "If only I'd waited to buy it on sale." Warren Wood didn't believe in sales, and his son agrees. "Dad felt it was fairer," Wood explains. "It doesn't matter when you walk in here, the piece you were looking at is always the same price."

Wood adds he is fortunate in the jewelry business because the product mix remains relatively unchanged year after year. "Diamonds and precious gems are millions of years old. They're not like cars or clothing, which go in and out of style. There isn't a 1999 diamond or a 2001 sapphire. This isn't the clothing business where you have to figure out what next season's styles are and if you miss, you mark down. These gems are timeless."

Private Diamond Rooms & GIA Training

For those choosing jewelry, Fremeau provides "diamond rooms" so customers have privacy when looking at and discussing jewelry with salespeople. "People don't always want everybody to know they're getting engaged or how much they're paying," Wood says.

What they do want is to know they're talking to a knowledgeable salesperson; thus, Wood's employees are not allowed to sell the store's most precious gems — diamonds — until they have taken the GIA course, which is offered by correspondence. Archambault and Woodrup are working to become certified gemologists.

A Single Store, Built to Last

With more than 180 years of business behind his store, Wood doesn't see the need to make any major changes to Fremeau Jewelers. "I see it continually as a single store as opposed to branching out," he says with certainty.

"I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing. In my mind, there are no jewelers other than Fremeau's."