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
    Hard Rock Summit event info
    Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023
    ASJRA brooch
    Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference
    DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    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
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
  • 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
    Hard Rock Summit event info
    Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023
    ASJRA brooch
    Iconic Jewelry Firms is theme of ASJRA’s 18th annual Conference
    DMIA members meet-and-greet and hear updates from GIA, NDC
    diamonds on plant
    How to drive more sales and referrals through social media
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    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
    Brad Huisken
    A quick note about technology
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Columnists

The Road Ahead – Change & Hope

Mia Katrin by Mia Katrin
April 1, 2009
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Just flip on the news. We’re bombarded daily with reports of major banks and businesses reorganizing and filing for Chapter 11. The new administration unfurls a continuous repertory of stimulus bills, TARP and mortgage restructuring plans. Not only is the road ahead changing, so is the very map, the landscape it’s embedded in. We’re in a brave new world and we’re not done yet.

 

The Chinese symbol for crisis also signifies opportunity, a fact oft-quoted in recent days. Change means new possibilities, new doors opening. Those that are alert will see them and act. This is the power of positive thinking. By seeing the glass half full, you focus on developing opportunities that lead the way to growth and success.

As always, the strongest will prevail. But strongest doesn’t mean biggest. It means most adaptable, intelligent, forward-thinking. As sign-posts along the way, some Prime Directives to keep in mind:
• Lean and Mean
Now is the time to clear out the cobwebs. Liquidate languid inventory. With gold over $1000 an ounce, it’s time to cash in on any scrap. Some retailers are enjoying a healthy new sideline of buying customer scrap and estate jewelry, which may be offered as a customer service.

Evaluate your sales staff. Who’s performing and who’s not? We have to be compassionate, especially in trying times. But consider added incentives for exceptional merit, even offering profit-sharing, a “piece of the pie” for outstanding performance. Have a brain-storming session. Listen to your staff. With fresh eyes, you may get some great creative suggestions.

Re-contact your loyal customer base. They are worth gold. Culture your top clients, reminding them of birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. Reward them with special incentives or “by invitation only” events including private Trunk Shows.

• Re-Think Strategy
Take into account changing customer attitudes as well as new governmental tax policies and incentives. Conspicuous consumption is out. People are loathe to be seen flaunting extravagant wealth in a time of need. But there is always an appreciation for enduring quality and lasting value. Gold and diamonds may project a stability at least as great as fluctuating currencies and stock portfolios! Jewelry, precious metals and gems are as old as humankind. Presenting them as a wise investment of enduring value fits in with the current calls of a return to common sense and pragmatism.

Promoting small businesses, stimulating the economy and creating jobs are national buzzwords. Counteract customer reticence by promoting awareness that buying is a win-win situation. By stimulating the economy, it resets the cycle from stagnation to growth. It helps our economy. It’s good for all of us.

• New Opportunities
Buy American. It’s a hot selling point. Promote products Made in America, even highlighting local and regional designers and artists. It’s easy for customers to see clearly how this helps the economy.

Link In. Are you taking full advantage of the hottest new trends? Blogs, enewsletters, and networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter allow you to promote your brand as well as keep in touch with your expanding client base in a cost-effective manner. It’s the wave of the future.

Give Back. Charities are enjoying a surge in popularity, a sign of the times. “Gift bags” full of expensive goodies to Hollywood celebrities at major events are being replaced by requests for their donations to favorite organizations. Consider designer pieces promoting a portion of the proceeds donated to non-profits. Medallions with positive messages such as “hope”, “dream” and “believe” will strike a chord. We’re all in this together, and hope is our future.

Mia Katrin is an award-winning, internationally celebrated couture jewelry designer, specializing in one-of-a-kind and limited edition high-end necklaces with precious gems in 18-24 karat gold and platinum. Her Collections, which have been worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities, are featured in many top galleries and stores throughout the country, where she regularly hosts Trunk Shows. Contact Mia via her website, http://jeweljewel.com, e-mail info@jeweljewel.com or call (877) JEWEL-MY.

 

Mia Katrin

Mia Katrin

Mia Katrin’s new agency TheJewelersMarketer.com, helps propel your sales to the top through social media marketing and ecommerce. Free initial analysis and recommendations. mia@jeweljewel.com. Mia is an award-winning designer featured in over 100 top retail stores nationally. www.jeweljewel.com. She’s an industry spokesperson, a byline columnist, and a regular speaker at major trade events.

Related Posts

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

What’s Hot Now!: Latest Designer Trends 2023

March 13, 2023

Latest News

Industry Events

Hardrock Summit to return to Denver in September 2023

March 22, 2023
Industry Events

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

March 22, 2023
Industry Events

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

March 22, 2023

Other News

How to drive more sales and referrals through social media

The Story Behind the Stone: Diamonds on Pins and Needles

Mystery shopping results reveal opportunity for proactive consumer natural diamond education

Jewelers of America announces 2023 GEM Awards winners

ASA partners with BrankoGems Academy to offer testing loose and mounted diamonds and gems training

KIL N.Y.C. introduces the Cranium Ring

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.