Jim Dunn as a kid raising Boxer pu
Ann Marie and Jim fishing in the Bahamas
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A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES After graduation, Jim began his work as a Sales Representative at IBM traveling door-to- door selling typewriters and copy machines. It wasn’t long before Jim had spotted Ann Marie, an executive secretary at IBM, and the chase began. “It was 1966, Jim and I were both working at IBM. Jim was a new hire and kept asking his associates, “who is that girl in the green corduroy mini skirt!?” He kept at it until one day in the parking lot, we crossed paths. Jim drummed up the courage to ask me out and wanted to take me to Coven’s for a hot dog! You can imagine my surprise—asking a true Italian girl to go out for a hot dog, an American food I had never even had.
And so, I politely declined his invitation, and we went our separate ways,” explained Ann Marie. The chase continued day after day. It turned out that his fourth effort to ask Ann Marie out was the ticket, when Jim invited himself to go to Ann Marie’s traditional Italian family’s house for dinner. “I could not believe his persistence. I thought to myself, ‘he is really trying’ and so I agreed. Jim walked into my family’s home that evening and got to experience a true, Italian family dinner for the first time. After all, as an Irishman, he was used to ‘good Italian food’ being Chef Boyardee! Jim absolutely fell in love with our Italian culture and cuisine that night. He couldn’t believe the way that we enjoyed a delicious spread of appetizers,
charcuterie, and big bowls of pasta—but then how it continued beyond that into a large plate of meatballs, roast beef, and fried peppers and on and on. The wine was flowing, the conversation was rich, and that was how our love affair first began,” said Ann Marie. “Jim was always a man who went after what he wanted, and that is what made our love, our family, and our business so full of passion.” A TRUE MARKETER ’ S MIND Since its beginnings, Jim’s passion flourished in the marketing side of the business while Ann Marie thrived in jewelry buying, finding unusual pieces of jewelry for their special clients—they were truly a dynamic duo. When their son, Sean, joined into the family business, he quickly followed on his father’s marketing-minded path. “The three of us have worked so beautifully together,” said Sean about their family dynamic. “Dad just brought it all together, he supported me starting the online business super early and we forged through our mistakes...he always had confidence in my Mom as his business partner and her uncanny knack to find the perfect piece for our client’s special occasions.” Jim was always using his wit and humor to come up with the next marketing campaign, a few of which have now become infamous Jim Dunn “icons.” During the late 80’s, Jim turned the hit campaign of “where’s the beef” into “where’s the gold!?” It was instantly a hit, remaining memorable in everyone’s minds.
Jim on a diamond buying trip to Israel
AU T UMN/ HO L I DA Y 2 0 2 1 2 3
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