An interesting turn of events led to the opportunity for a longtime locally owned business in Downtown Rogers to continue carrying on a family tradition. In the fall of 2022, Rick White, owner and founder of White’s Jewelry & Company, announced his plans to retire. His professional career in the industry dated back to his first job in the jewelry department of Walmart Discount City when he was a teenager. After decades in the business, he, with the help from family members and several retirement ready employees, decided it was time to clear out the inventory and shift to other ways to fill their time.

Though he grew up in the business, Rick’s son, Clennton White was not a candidate to take over as the 2nd generation operator. He was busy jet setting around the country—literally--as a private pilot, part time family farmer, and owner of an RV Park on Beaver Lake. His work schedule was: a week on, a week off, and work and global travel balanced with time at home--life was good. In late 2022, the “off weeks” became more scarce, the younger Mr. White was finding his time tending to his NWA responsibilities limited.

The retirement sale marketing efforts kicked into high gear and the store was consistently busy thanks to news coverage, bright yellow retirement sale banners, texts, phone calls and other advertising. A mobile digital billboard was deployed and it was hard not to know this icon business was closing its doors forever.

Friends and customers stopped by to say their goodbyes, and took advantage of below wholesale pricing as the inventory was liquidated over the next several weeks. The community resolved to say goodbye to the White’s name while remembering the friendly faces and dependable customer service developed over the years.

White & Co. Jewelry announced their closing day of business Saturday, January 14.  But approximately January 11—three days before the end of White’s Jewelry as we knew it--a combination of events caused Clennton to rethink his priorities, and consider his options. He could operate 3 family owned businesses and still pick up charter flights for his longtime clients without working as a pilot full time. So he sat down with the senior White, and pitched the idea of taking over the family business.

The liquidation sale made a serious dent in the store’s inventory and this provided Clennton with the opportunity to reevaluate the product line and add a few new and different items to both satisfy current customers and attract new clients.

In addition to fine jewelry, custom made jewelry and jewelry repair, the store will carry select high end purses and designer shoes. They will also expand their watch line with classic watches including Rolex and a new custom designed line of watches under White's own brand. The first of which is a specialty aviator watch that operates on Zulu Time—the universal time used in the military and aviation. Zulu time--also known as Universal Coordinated Time or Greenwich Mean Time--was created to eliminate confusion caused by different time zones.

So, you will see some changes with fewer antiques, more specialty items and the addition of the letter “C.” in front of the company name. The White family's longstanding commitment to the jewelry business and Downtown Rogers will be celebrated with a display along one wall to commemorate the family business. But the family legacy and C. Whites & Company will continue to serve Historic Downtown Rogers. 

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