E2

Business & Professional

ENTREPRENEUR

®

Tapping In from page 41

Optimist.

Pessimist.

Enthusiast.

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R eporters tend to narrowly focus on two groups of investors: those who

see the glass half full, and those who see it half empty. But investing is never

that simple. Global markets comprise endlessly repeating cycles of ups and

downs over any extended period, during which there is opportunity for

money to be made, or at a minimum preserved. An essential element of

success is appropriate asset allocation. Financial advisors are very good at

preaching it, but few have the resources and attention span to practice it.

An exception is Greenleaf Trust. With billions in assets and the distinction

of being one of Michigan's first trust-only banks, we have the extensive

human and financial capital to competently manage the complexities of

wealth from one generation to the next. It's far from easy, but because

of our broad, long-term perspective and unique, client-centric team

approach, the proverbial glass is neither half full nor half empty:

it's 100% opportunity.

so

®

GREENLEAF
TRUST

®

Financial Security from Generation to Generation

34977 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 200 BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009

WWW.GREENLEAFTRUST.COM

2.48.530.6200

877.530.0555

1573540

42

November 11 2010

liquidity, and our exchange locations
make it an easy, comfortable, efficient,
transparent experience,' he said.
"Unfortunately, some gold sellers are
unlicensed, with an atmosphere that
makes gold buying an uncomfortable
transaction for customers!'

Gold Finances Improvements
Expanding on the Gold Exchange,
Mark Tapper said, "It's a fascinating
business. Several well-known people
in the Jewish community have brought
in gold coins to finance vacation trips
and special projects. One person got
$25,000 to remodel her northern
Michigan home; another got $10,000 to
install a swimming pool."
"If people have gold assets that they
haven't used in years, they might as
well cash them in now',' said Howard
Tapper, displaying a small pouch from
a customer containing miscellaneous
pieces of gold worth $3,400 and a
charm bracelet worth $500. "Some
people inherit gold pieces that they
really don't like!'
Tapper's sells the more valuable gold
pieces to specialists in pre-owned jew-
elry who repair them. It also sells gold
with diamonds to diamond dealers or
sells to refineries which melt down the
items.
Besides the gold buying, the new
Somerset store also offers the same
customer services as the other two
stores, such as custom design, jewelry
and watch repairs, and a pioneering
cash refund policy. The flagship West
Bloomfield store, with 16,000 square
feet, has three full-time custom design-
ers and four rear rooms, staffed by five
people, where jewelry is made or refur-
bished — including a $20,000 laser
machine.
"Another off-shoot of the recent eco-
nomic situation is that many customers
are refurbishing old jewelry instead of
buying new items',' said Howard Tapper.
In a way, the success of the Tapper
brothers fulfills their father's dream
of having his own business. Morris
Tapper, a clothing salesman, died at
43, before his plan could be realised.
Howard Tapper had a similar dream
and vision after working for others for
10 years, following his graduation from
Wayne State University.

Back Room To Sales Floor
Howard had been introduced to the jew-
elry world at the age of 15 while working
in the stockroom of the E.L. Rice Co. in
Detroit. Asked to help out on the sales
floor during a particularly busy day, he
sold a gold watch in his first hour.

Marla Tapper Young, Steve Tapper and
Mark Tapper at the Troy store

Howard sold his car and borrowed
money from family members to
raise the capital required to open his
first store, with 1,000 square feet, on
Northwestern Highway in Southfield.
With Susan always at his side, he
later was joined by Steve, an Eastern
Michigan University graduate and for-
mer teacher. The store was expanded
and renovated several times, increasing
to 6,000 square feet, but in the early
1990s, changes in demographic trends
prompted the Tappers to move to West
Bloomfield.
"Now, its great to have Marla and
Mark in the business with us',' said
Howard Tapper. "They're well educated,
have a real interest in the business and
provide a fresh, young perspective and
innovative ideas that you would expect
from a new generation."
Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry
has received countless awards and hon-
ors over 33 years; the firm's charitable
work in the community is widely rec-
ognized, including an annual coat drive,
and fundraising for breast cancer, Kids
Kicking Cancer, HIV/AIDS prevention
programs and other philanthropies and
community involvement.
The family has a strong Jewish
heritage. Howard Tapper belongs
to Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield and Steve is a member of
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Their
stores are closed both days of Rosh
Hashanah and on Yom Kippur, sticking
to their commitment even when one of
the holidays falls on a Saturday — as
Yom Kippur did this year — their busi-
est day of the week, usually yielding
about 100 complete transactions. H