Editor's Note

Can We Just Talk About Jewelry For A Change?

INSTORE editor-in-chief previews the June issue and Online Jewelry Week.

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2020

Trace Shelton Instore June 2020 Issue

“WHEN CAN WE get back to talking about jewelry?”

That’s the question on everyone’s minds, I think, since soon after the COVID-19 pandemic began. We’re all tired of worrying about our health, worrying about our businesses, and wondering when or if we’ll ever be able to get back to life as normal. If only we had some new awe-inspiring jewelry designs to distract us from these weighty concerns!

Good news: You’ll find just such jewelry in this issue. That’s right, it’s our fifth annual INSTORE Design Awards, and boy, do we have some jaw-dropping pieces to show you this year!

You’ll also see our expanded New Arrivals section with four trends to watch in 2020. Usually, we cover these as trends to look for at the trade shows in Las Vegas, but this year, you’ll have to make do with seeing them in print and calling these suppliers to make sure you’ve got them in your showcases.

Speaking of trade shows, you’ve hopefully heard by now about INSTORE’s Online Jewelry Week, which featured a series of “desktop interviews” with jewelry suppliers, giving them a chance to show off their latest pieces. We also interviewed organizations and service providers and offered free education. It’s how we can bring the shows to you, since none of us are going to Las Vegas anytime soon. Check out instoremag.com/ojw for the video replays.

Huh … it seems we’re talking about jewelry after all! Let’s keep it up!

Trace Shelton

Editor-in-Chief, INSTORE
trace@smartworkmedia.com

Five Smart Tips You’ll Find in This Issue

1. Do a sensory audit of your store. Clean carpets, change the air filter and service your AC if needed. (Manager’s To-Do, p. 32)

2. Ask holiday customers to bring in their jewelry for a free six-month checkup. (Manager’s To-Do, p. 32)

3. If a client reaches to shake hands, tell them, “I’m so glad you came in. We’ll shake hands when we can. Let’s pretend we did.” (Ask INSTORE, p. 76)

4. When coming into a team-sale opportunity, arrive on the same side of the case as the client and always on their right. (Shane Decker, p. 79)

5. Fill the bottom of showcases with coffee or cocoa beans, candy, aquarium rocks or thin marble tiles to add contrast for jewelry. (Denise Oros, p. 74)

Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success

After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone. Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently. The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.