INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving." – Dennis Waitley
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Well, another Groundhog Day has come and gone — How was it? If life in your store feels like you’re having the same day ... over, and over… do something about it. Try a trunk show, get in a coach, join the local chamber of commerce — anything that you may have previously viewed with skepticism.
2. Jeweler pleads guilty to money laundering.
3. Court sides with Trollbeads in Lund dispute.
4. Jeweler's contest gives winner a billboard proposal.
5. Seven secrets to becoming a self-made millionaire.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." – David Frost
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Check yearly targets you created last month. Did you make January’s targets? If not, call more customers, sell more add-ons, promote more. Make up that deficit!
2. Jewelry sales anticipated to be 15 percent of Valentine gifts.
3. Online jeweler hosts line-naming contest.
4. U.S. jewelry sales post record mark of $68.3 billion in 2011.
5. How to safeguard online shopping transactions.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." – David Brinkley
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Decorate your store for Valentine's Day. (Also, try to coordinate the outfits of employees this year. Red shirts for the men and red dresses for the women).
2. Swarovski continues support of women's health.
3. NRF launches best retailers contest.
4. Five methods to retain your top performers.
5. How an iPad can boost productivity.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Motivation will almost always beat mere talent." – Norman R. Augustine
TODAY'S TO-DOS: You’ve made it through the busiest time of year. Schedule a vacation in March.
2. Jeweler draws crowd of 2,000 to try on necklace.
3. AGL conducts on-site testing in Arizona.
4. Consumer spending set to rise for Valentine's Day.
5. Best business forecasting tools and software.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail.” — Unknown
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Finalize your Valentine’s Day promotions. With the economy still in recovery, people are more picky about who they buy gifts for. That’s good news for you. Be sure to showcase popular Valentine items on your homepage — with a special emphasis on items that are exclusive to your store.
2. Milovanovic first woman to serve as Chair of the Kimberley Process.
3. Advertisers salivate at approach of Super Bowl.
4. Social media campaign will promote Jewelers for Children.
5. Six ways to improve your focus at work.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work if you won’t.” — Unknown
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Think of a project you can post — a store promotion, a themed event, a favorite customer’s wedding, a trunk show — and invite your staff to brainstorm. You can create different planning areas for checklists, ideas and images.
2. Ambassador will head KP.
3. High conversion rate for online fashion consumers.
4. Mobile web access doubles in Q4.
5. Easy methods to build a better website on budget.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life. ” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Switch up the lineup in your showcases to make them more appropriate for Valentine’s Day. Red decorations should set the tone in the store.
2. Suspect in Connecticut jeweler murder arrested in Spain.
3. Lower assortments and prices at DTC January Sight.
4. How to get Facebook fans for your small biz.
5. Online sellers brace for new tax filing requirements.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions.” — William F. Scholavino
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Launch a Saturday sales contest: Beat the Boss. Sell more than the boss, get a reward.
2. Westport jeweler's murder suspect arrested.
3. Tiffany to enter discussions in India.
4. Exhibitors: Increased interest in silver at JANY.
5. Engaging Facebook posts to consider using.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” — Mark Victor Hansen
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Set a meeting with the accountant and mark a date (shoot for Feb. 22) to finalize your monthly profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet. While going over your books, create a monthly cash-flow projection for the coming year.
2. Police on lookout for rings from fatal robbery.
3. Tiffany & Co. announces expansion plans.
4. Jewelers Mutual partners with Hearts on Fire.
5. Reduce customer service expenses with social media.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown." — Ross Perot
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Create a monthly cash flow projection for 2012.
2. Sales slow for speciality jewelers in November.
3. Jewelers of America offers e-commerce discount program.
4. Are you compatible with your business?
5. Attract new employees to your store.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Action is the foundational key to all success." — Pablo Picasso
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Highlight Valentine items on your homepage — with an emphasis on exclusive items.
2. Amazon best in service according to shoppers.
3. Jewelry brands slower than most to embrace mobile.
4. Facebook habits that are bad for business.
5. Learn to disagree in a positive and productive manner.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." — Abraham Lincoln
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Contact local news editors this month. January is a forward-looking month in the news business. Reporters in print, radio and TV will be looking for economic stories during an election year. Call a business reporter and suggest a story about what you see for the upcoming year in the jewelry business. Remember, it’s not necessary for you to be correct. All journalists want is your opinion.
2. It's time to purchase online scheduling software.
3. The benefits of online continuing business education.
4. Inventor of GemDialogue passes away.
5. Bad culture can penetrate your store.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "If you think you made it, you're at the wrong place, never stop." — Chris Pardo
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Set up a “birthday card list” for customers, prospects, employees and other contacts.
2. Business brisk at Vicenzaoro Winter.
3. Rio Tinto diamond production down 15 percent.
4. Richemont Q3 sales rise 24 percent.
5. The rise of the ethical consumer.
INSPIRE ME TODAY: "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." — David Brinkley
TODAY'S TO-DOS: Inspect your video system — aiming, focusing and aligning cameras.
2. Capitalize on business optimism.
3. Tips for writing solid press releases.
4. Forevermark still growing on consumers.
5. Belgium's polished trade show grows, while margins shrink last year.
