Behind The Counter   

At my FL store the tag prices were marked to be able to offer 50% off everyday. Of course it was a gimmick, but it worked for the store. At my store in Charlotte—the tags are marked at what I want to sell the pieces for—a well made piece of jewelry, at a reasonable retail price to the consumer, and a reasonable profit to stay in business; but of course customers are still asking for a discount. Unfortunately, I don’t have it in most of the pieces to be able to offer a discount and I’m finding out some of my customers are buying the same brand name item at another local store. So—I went to that store (not so local but close enough) and found out their tags were marked higher and they were discounting the piece and selling it about the same price as Guliani’s.

Have you asked your vendors for merchandise they are wanting to get rid of out of their line rather than buying new merchandise at full price? A friend called me this morning with news of one of her bridal vendors offering her a discount on old merchandise. Interesting I thought…I’ve never asked a vendor about rings they were discontinuing or wanting to get rid of from their line. She told me they offered her a sweet deal and the rings were beautiful (of course, I can’t see them and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder). But for a second there…I was pretty shocked.

With many stores declaring Chapter 11, local stores discounting left to right (For example my local Carlyle&Co was taking 30% off of any TAG in the case), and the media saying that diamonds are a bargain during a bad economy…is discounting what it takes to stay a float during times like these?

What about online marketplaces like AAFES and Overstock? AAFES stands for Army Air Force Exchange Store—it is where many military families can shop from jewelry to electronics and everything in between. AAFES offers discounts to military families and ships to you without tax. AAFES and Overstock sell many branded lines…from ...Read More

I want to throw a men’s night sometime in November to help jump start the special orders. I’ve talked to my vendors and friends about ideas—and it’s sad in some aspects but I keep hearing men are only interested in the following:

1. Booze
2. Lovely Ladies
3. Gambling
4. Sports

Does that about sum it up? So—in order to make the night fun and entice men to shop I need to have at least 3 of the above—that’s what I’m hearing. Here are some ideas my vendors and friends shared:

Rob Bates brought up an interesting discussion with his blog titled Stuller Blogging: Can "Glass and Brass" and RFID Make Jewelry Shopping More Fun?

Between drastic fluctuations of metal prices, diminished consumer spending, an unsure economic market, and the possibility of having to kiss terms good-bye…have any of you considered brass and glass? I know the idea of a brick and mortar is allowing a customer to walk out with a piece and take pleasure in the store experience—but isn’t that store experience changing with the internet? Aren’t w all taking pleasure in ordering items online?

I have to admit I didn’t know much about the Brass and...Read More

During the dog days of summer I’m always looking for inventive ideas to bring in customers. We’ve all heard of “Christmas in July” but does that kind of marketing send a message of desperation to customers.

This week I’ve received at least two or three emails (my gym, online ornament shop, to local sporting good stores) about “Christmas in July Sales.” Have you tried it before?

Did you know stores like Kmart, Sears, and...Read More

Every year that I’m at JCK my close friends bring at least two or three different staff members to the show. Be prepared because I’m curious to know your thoughts on two parts of this:

First and foremost I think it’s an awesome idea to take staff members to the show. They can attend classes that aren’t always available, they get a chance to mingle with others in the industry, can see what’s new in and in-style, and I think they’d come back even more enthusiastic about the trade their in. What better things to share with customer’s than their own experiences at trade shows and talking with manufactures.

My questions:

After I came back from JCK it took me a month to get back into the groove of things.

I finally finished tagging most of the inventory from the show and did get a chance to enjoy July 4^th will my in-laws and husband’s grandparents. After they left I finally got the chance to sit and think about this year’s show. This past show was one of the most difficult I had ever been too. Most of time vendors/manufactures are pleading with jewelers to take their merchandise on memo or buy from them with terms that are out of this world; terms that could help a store owner open a second or third store—but NOT this time.

Every year I search for one new vendor—or at least I try...Read More

I actually saw a lot of movement. Today, it felt like there was a jewelry convention going on. Downstairs, in the main area vendors had retailers around their entire booths; though, at the very back of the showroom—I couldn’t help to notice a ton of empty booths. I realized if there was a year to get a great spot upstairs—this was the year to do it. Many of my vendors were able to secure a spot upstairs—I hope it worked out well for them. I had the chance to speak to some of the vendors. Many felt the same as all of us—times are tough and they weren’t worried about selling but instead collecting. Then there were a few (specifically non-branded bridal retailers) who said they were doing extremely well. They told me their retailers needed an assortment of rings that filled price points because they knew even in this ec...Read More

I felt the show floor was very slow and I think I saw more exhibitors than retailers. As I walked around the aisles I noticed many of the sterling exhibitors seemed to have retailers sitting and picking out large quantity of pieces—price points of course or they’re thinking like me and wanting to bring in new people (ones whom might want to spend less now) during the grueling summer months.

As I walked down the aisles I didn’t see anything new or different—I’m sure Jennifer Heebner probably did and will post those pictures. I did, however see, pave rings, hearts, and pendants—ones like in the late 80’s but these were white gold and not yellow. Some pendants depicted interesting shapes and the pave rings were wide and concave like&mda...Read More

To be able to book a Couture appointment two weeks before the show is astonishing to me. I did not know the number of days I would be attending the shows; so of course, I waited until the last minute to make some appointments. The show was terribly slow but it was only the second day in.

My first appointment was 10am this morning with Scott Kay. Surprisingly enough he did have some new bridal pieces—because of the way things are going I figured not many vendors would be showcasing new merchandise. He also introduced a new sterling line/designed pieces called “Faith.” In addition, while pursuing the cases I saw men’s black titanium rings which looked extremely similar to the ones I have by ...Read More

I’m sitting on the plane and as I type this…I can’t help to look around at who I think is going to the show and who’s not. As I watch men and women walk down the airplane aisle I notice some very nice pieces. Expensive taste (I think to myself while in gym pants and an old t-shirt and sweatshirt) wondering if they own a store or are buyers or just haven’t seen them shop at my store and wondering if I should slip them a card.

The plane is in the air and I am free to use my much-loved laptop. In the row in front of me there happens to be a man and his wife armed with inventory (best seller sheets). I see the pictures of the jewelry, prices and so forth. He is also thumbing through some direct mail pieces. First off, I wouldn’t be caught de...Read More