Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Education, networking, hospitality featured at Spring Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Designer Brenda Smith announces new Black ’n Gold ’n Diamonds Collection
    JBT-logo-cover
    Richard Katz, Richline Group appointed Chairman of The Jewelers Board of Trade®
    Alan Revere
    AJDC elects Alan Revere as President
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: Stressing the bench jeweler
    The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jeweler brings Midwest to the Southwest
    Tara Fine Jewelry: Atlanta’s not-so-secret, best-kept secret
    Finding the Big Ones; Zambian Trophies for the Ages
    The Golden Girls of Gemstones
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    Education, networking, hospitality featured at Spring Atlanta Jewelry Show
    Designer Brenda Smith announces new Black ’n Gold ’n Diamonds Collection
    JBT-logo-cover
    Richard Katz, Richline Group appointed Chairman of The Jewelers Board of Trade®
    Alan Revere
    AJDC elects Alan Revere as President
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: Stressing the bench jeweler
    The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles
    Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide
    The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue
    What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023
    A Winning Strategy: How SEO and buying intent can skyrocket your sales
    business people shaking hands
    Networking for small business owners
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: A Clean Disaster
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Columnists

The Retailer’s Perspective: September 15th…

Chuck Koehler by Chuck Koehler
September 3, 2009
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Yeah, I know to most people it’s just another day. But this September 15th is one of the most important Tuesdays of the last couple of years. Why you ask? Let me explain.

For most people, the fourth quarter is the end of the year. Not for me. My fourth quarter is what I consider the beginning of my year. I’ve always been busy as I can be in the fourth, first, and second quarters. And, I’ve always been dead in the third during June, July, and August. So for the last couple of decades September 15th is the end of my fiscal and mental year. And, just like in the spring when the first buds are appearing on the trees, around the middle to the end of September some retailer is starting to advertise something about Christmas and it shocks me back into reality and my entire routine and mindset change back to work again.

September 15th is my annual ‘Summer is over’ and the busy season starts right around the corner. That’s when I switch gears from the summer doldrums to the ‘holy cow, I didn’t get half the projects finished I planned to this summer.’ September 15th is the date that kicks off the busy season that lasts for me almost 10 months until next June.

Two years ago in 2007, September was my 2 month anniversary in my new location and I wasn’t expecting much…and I didn’t get much. At the time I chalked it up to a new store, a new location, a new retail center, and no track record here. Looking back I can attribute it to all of those things plus one more; the Great American Recession was just beginning.

September, 2008 was the beginning of my second busy season in my new store. Life had been pretty good through most of 2008. I’d recouped a lot of my losses that my old store had racked up. I’d saved up some much needed cash, and was getting ready to kick it into overdrive for the beginning of my new fiscal year. Then….well, we all know what happened there. CRASH BOOM BANG goes the global economy along with my entire ‘10 months long’ busy season!

So now here we are a year later and September 15th is just around the corner again. The anticipation hangs heavy in the air. What is this September going to bring? I sure hope it’s money. For everyone’s sake I hope it’s money, jobs, business, and prosperity. Factories and retailers all over the country are waiting for something good to break loose. One good retail Christmas season would go a long way towards righting this ship. And you know what? I think it’s going to happen.

I’ve talked with retailers from all over the country that are merely ‘filling in holes’ in their inventory instead of stocking up. Most are still sitting on merchandise from last Christmas they need to sell. Thank goodness jewelry doesn’t go bad, it just goes out of style…but a good salesperson can work around that…can’t ya?

If we all have a good fourth quarter, the buying at the shows in the first quarter will be strong. All the manufacturers are really needing that to happen. Last year, almost every major retailer had a horrible Christmas season. Can they survive two horrible Christmas seasons in a row? I doubt it. Personally though, I’m feeling good about everything for the first time in well over a year. I really think I’m going to have a good Christmas this year and I think you are too.

So, September 15th, here we come, ready or not. Be kind to us, we’re counting on you.

Oh wait, what’s that? Is that Jingle Bells I hear playing somewhere in the background….Christmas 2009 is upon us! Good luck and let’s go get ‘em.

Chuck Koehler

Chuck Koehler

Chuck is the owner of Anthony Jewelers in Nashville, TN. Chuck also owns CMK Co., a wholesale trade shop that specializes in custom jewelry and repair services to the jewelry industry nationwide. If you would like to contact Chuck or need a speaker or instructor for your next conference/event he can be reached at 615-354-6361, www.CMKcompany.com or send e-mail to info@southernjewelrynews.com.

Related Posts

Is the customer always right?

Successful Custom: Stressing the bench jeweler

March 27, 2023

The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles

March 20, 2023

Jewelry Marketing Survival Guide

March 15, 2023

The Story Behind the Stone: Out of the Blue

March 15, 2023

Latest News

Industry Events

Education, networking, hospitality featured at Spring Atlanta Jewelry Show

March 27, 2023
Columnists

Successful Custom: Stressing the bench jeweler

March 27, 2023
What's New

Designer Brenda Smith announces new Black ’n Gold ’n Diamonds Collection

March 27, 2023

Other News

Richard Katz, Richline Group appointed Chairman of The Jewelers Board of Trade®

AJDC elects Alan Revere as President

Kingswood Company President and CEO Kristie Nicolosi inducted into Private Label Industry Hall of Fame

Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023

Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference

DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC

Southern Jewelry News

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Jewelry Trade Shows & Events
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.