Constance Polamalu, Chief Operating Officer of Zachary’s Jewelers, is extending the idea of retail beyond the store floor with her first children’s book, Zach Bear and the Window Necklace, to be released on April 19. The focus is on a “client-first philosophy” rooted in what she describes as “Humanity to Retail.”
The book centres on the retailer’s long-standing mascot, Zach Bear, a character that has “been bringing joy for many years.” For Polamalu, translating this into a children’s book is both personal and strategic. “I wanted him to have his own story,” she says, noting that some of her “favourite bonding moments” with her young children come from reading together. The character, already familiar to many clients, has served as a point of connection long before any purchase decision is made.
This also reflects a broader shift in how the Annapolis-based jeweller positions itself. “Our mission is to bring humanity to retail, and humanity does not simply begin and end when someone has a credit card or wish-list,” Polamalu explains. Rather than being a transactional space, Zachary’s Jewelers is envisioned as a “lifestyle brand,” one built around “family, community and legacy,” where a children’s book becomes a natural extension.
The narrative follows Zach Bear returning a forgotten necklace, highlighting “curiosity, bravery and the joy of helping,” while also reinforcing “the value in trying, even when the odds are against you.” It is “intentionally not focused on educating,” Polamalu says, but rather on entertainment, adding “a little more whimsy to a space usually reserved for grown-ups.”
Subtle references to the store appear in the illustrations, often noticed by children, while adults are “preoccupied searching for the perfect piece of jewellery.” Created with illustrator Nick Nikiforou, a “very talented friend,” the artwork captures the store’s “magic.” His familiarity with the store proved essential. “I don’t think an illustrator who had never experienced the magic of our team or our store could have ever produced what Nick has,” she shares, adding “when I was young, Madeline was my favourite book, and so his illustrations really spoke to my inner child.”
In-store, this philosophy is equally evident; children are actively welcomed with “kiddie case packed with little treasures” their smallest guests can leave with, or a “bucket full of magnatiles” they can stay and play with. “We really mean it when we say children are welcome inside our store,” Polamalu says.
The book is part of the jewellers’ effort at building relationships. “We work hard to be the jeweller that celebrates all of life’s biggest moments,” she adds. “When we sell push presents or know that our bridal clients are having a baby, we send a Zach Bear soft toy in a little gift box with a handwritten note, welcoming the newest additions to our family and community.”
By integrating story telling into its retail strategy, Zach Bear and the Window Necklace, establishes connection across generations, encouraging children — whether accompanying parents, or returning later as customers — to be part of Zachary’s Jewellers beloved community.