Corrigan’s Fine Jewelers
Founded : 1922
Activities : Retail diamonds, gold, precious and semi-precious jewelry and watches
Parent Company : Finlay Enterprises
Stockists : 5+ locations
Origin :
Houston, TX
www.CorrigansJewelers.com

Corrigan’s Fine Jewelers is a regional specialty retailer of fine jewelry offering a selection of merchandise in the following categories: diamonds, gold, precious and semi-precious jewelry and watches. Corrigan’s was owned by a Houston family that started in 1922. Corrigan’s was bought out by Zale’s in the mid 50s.

Zale stores operated within four distinct divisions: the Zales division, with 534 stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico representing 42 percent of company revenues, focuses on mainstream, middle-income consumers, and specializes heavily in diamonds; the Gordon’s division is positioned as a regional retailer for the lower and middle-income consumer, with 332 stores operating primarily under the Gordon’s name (14 stores operate as Daniel’s Jewelers in Arizona) providing 26 percent of Zale Corp. revenues; the upscale Fine Jewelers Guild division accounts for 19 percent of company revenues and comprises 123 stores operating under the Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Zell Bros., Sweeney’s, Corrigan’s, and Linz trade names; the fourth division, Diamond Park Fine Jewelers, operates 188 leased jewelry departments for such leading department store chains such as Dillard’s and Dayton Hudson, providing 13 percent of company revenues. The brand is now an integral part of the Fine Jewelers Group of Finlay Enterprises.

Finlay Enterprises, Inc. is one of the leading jewelry retailers in the United States. Unlike competitors such as Zale Corp., Finlay initially operated few self-standing retail locations. Instead, the company operated fine jewelry departments in leased spaces in stores owned by 26 major and independent host store groups. Once the largest share of Finlay’s 1,097 U.S. departments were located in stores in The May Department Stores group, including stores such as Filene’s, Kaufmann’s, and Lord & Taylor, which acts as host to 343 Finlay departments.

Another top Finlay host is Federated Department Stores, Inc., which owns stores such as Rich’s, Sterns, and Burdines, and which hosts 153 Finlay departments. Independent store groups featuring Finlay Fine Jewelry departments include Belk, Carson Pirie Scott, Liberty House, Dillard’s, Steinbach, and others, bringing Finlay into 43 states and Washington, D.C. Finlay is the largest operator of leased jewelry departments in the United States.

Finlay Fine Jewelers, America’s Finest Jewelers and it’s brands have conducted almost $50 billion in jewelry sales with some of the leading retail partners in the world since 1832. Finlay Enterprises Incorporated’s principal activities are the retailing of fine jewelry products and operating leased fine jewelry department stores throughout the United States and France. The Group operates under many brands in addition to L.D. Giddens & Son (1858) including Shifrin-Willens (1926), Merksamers (1979), and Jay B. Rudolph (1967).

Vertical integration is a key component to success in the jewelry industry. While Vin Lee Jewelers has been featured along side Harry Winston and worn by celebrities, dignitaries and even royalty, many of the brands within Finlay Enterprises cater to a broader audience. Starting with the acquisition of American Jewelry Manufacturers in the early 90s, the Group became the jewelers jeweler, providing precious metal and gemstone inventory, manufacturing, and design work for other retail and wholesaler operations.