Do You Or Don’t You: Ever Participated In a Bridal Show?

Published

10 years ago

September 5, 2015

YES, I HAVE

➤ We attend a local bridal fair to show goods and invite brides to a special show, with discounts, at our store two weeks later. It is tiring and a lot of work but often has paid dividends. Most of our bridal clients become clients for life. — Steven B. Goldfarb, Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler, Bellevue, WA

➤ I actually host a bridal show. We usually take a selection of rings for the brides’ friends to look at and try on. We also take men’s rings and gift ideas for the bridal party — toasting glasses for us to engrave. It usually goes well. — Eric Olsen, Chisholm’s Jewelry, Lander, WY

➤ We displayed gents’ wedding bands. Went over real well. — Lyle Fields, Marquirette’s Exquisite Jewelry, Montgomery, AL

➤ No bride comes to the show alone. She has her bridesmaids and mother, etc. Everyone is fair game. Even if she has her diamond, there is still opportunity for a band or trade-ups. We like doing the shows; we love brides coming up to us and showing off her ring from us. — Mike Doland, Doland Jewelers, Dubuque, IA

➤

5 We built a portable cleaning station so we could polish engagement rings. Our approach was twofold: First, while the rings were being made pretty again, the staff would have about five minutes to show them other rings and bands; second, we got to see what size and shape of diamond is popular and what metal they choose. It was very valuable information for us. We were not trying to make sales; we wanted them to come back to our store, so we incentivized them with $50 off their purchase of a wedding ring. We had about a $2,000 investment and to date have gotten over $10,000 in sales. Not too bad for an afternoon of fun. — Doug Meadows, David Douglas Diamonds & Jewelry, Marietta, GA

NO, I HAVEN’T

That’s chasing the horse after it is out of the barn. — Chuck Kuba, Iowa Diamond, Des Moines, IA

➤ Bridal shows are for all the “fluff.” If they are there, they have a ring and are looking for wedding stuff — caterer, florist, photographer, etc. etc. etc. — Joan Charlene Little, Genesis Jewelry, Muscle Shoals, AL

➤ Did it for a decade. The biggest attraction was our steamer when we cleaned attendees’ rings. We got almost no sales from one of the largest bridal shows in the country. — Rex Solomon, Houston Jewelry, Houston, TX

➤ Have done a couple in past years and every one was a bust. The girls come to you and ask you to appraise their half-carat diamond they purchased on QVC. — Robert M. Katz, Goldbar Jewelers, Virginia Beach, VA

➤ Talked a lot, sold not a thing. — Kimberley Beasley, Kimberley’s Exquisite Jewelry, Des Moines, WA

This article originally appeared in the September 2015 edition of INSTORE.

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.