Our History When Howard Tapper sold his car to raise the capital required to open his first jewelry store, he had little idea that his dream would not only become a reality, but would far exceed his wildest expectations. Howard was introduced to the world of jewelry at the age of 15 when he took a job in the stockroom at E.L. Rice. Asked to help out on the sales floor during a particularly busy day, Howard quickly established himself as a talented salesman by selling a gold watch in his first few hours on the floor. After 10 years of working for others, Howard decided it was time to try his own hand at the jewelry business, and, with the help of loans and the aforementioned sale of the family car, opened the first Tapper’s store — a 1,000-square-foot space in front of Racquetime health club on Northwestern Highway in Southfield. Joined later that year in the business by his brother, Steven, the duo quickly established Tapper’s as the premier destination for gifts of diamonds and fine jewelry in the metro Detroit area. Howard and Steven point to the excellent selection of merchandise as well as the personal dimension they added with excellent customer relationships, “well before that term became popular,” notes Steven. A number of expansions and renovations saw the Southfield location grow to 6,000 square feet, six times its original size. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s, however, that changes in demographic trends caused the Tapper’s to set their sights on the growing affluent suburb of West Bloomfield, eventually moving the store to the current Orchard Mall location in 1995. With over 16,000 square feet in the complex, the Orchard Lake Road store boasts a spectacular showroom – an emporium of light, beauty and splendor. Although he and his store have received countless awards and honors over the course of 30 years, the main source of personal satisfaction for Howard Tapper has been celebrating the happy occasions of his customers’ lives. “We mark the most special moments – engagements, weddings, anniversaries, life cycle events – and help to bring joy into the lives of others,” Howard remarks. “What job could be better than that?” With 30 years of celebrating customers’ moments under their belts, the Tapper brothers looked ahead again, this time to the opening of a second Tapper’s store in the newly-renovated Twelve Oaks Mall, nestled in the burgeoning suburb of Novi. That both Tapper’s stores are located inside shopping centers which are named for trees is not lost on Howard. “A tree grows stronger each year, adding an additional layer of experience,” says Howard. “Our store has grown similarly, and as our staff grows, new branches are added to the family business. Our roots grow stronger and deeper in the community each year as well, and the combination of the two gives us both stability and beauty.” A company that has grown as quickly as Tapper’s has stands vulnerable to losing some of the character that makes it special, but the entire Tapper family is committed to preserving the unique qualities they bring to the business. Howard’s wife, Susan, has been by his side every step of the way as Tapper’s grew, and her contributions have greatly contributed to the company’s success. The couple’s daughter, Marla, joined the Tapper’s staff in 2003, after earning her MBA from Indiana University and with several years of business consulting experience under her belt. Now, Marla is part of the company’s executive committee and the ideas she is bringing to the table are adding a “fresh, young perspective,” says Howard. Inspired partially by the teachings of their Jewish heritage, the Tapper family considers the values of community involvement and philanthropy to be integral elements in their company’s philosophy, and it is stated as such in the Tapper’s mission statement. “Our entire business is predicated on the idea of giving,” says Howard Tapper, president and owner of the Michigan-based jewelry store. “There is no celebration that can not be enhanced by giving something meaningful. We help our customers “Mark the Moment” of their special occasions with precious gifts of jewelry. My brother Steven and I have been blessed with a degree of financial success, and, therefore, we mark our company’s special occasions by giving back to those in need.”