EDITOR’S NOTE
A new perspective on social media could yield holiday magic.
BY TRACE SHELTON
Published in the September 2014 issue
It’s a touchy subject — one you may have described with phrases like “necessary evil” … “pain in the neck” … “can’t live with, can’t live without.” No, I’m not talking about Congress, or even your ex; I’m talking about social media. But before you walk away from these confounding communication channels for good, hear me out.
It’s true that most retailers have a Facebook page (and/or Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram accounts), but beyond occasional posts about their stores or photos of new jewelry, many have no idea how to use social media to drive traffic. If that’s you, then our lead story is your rainbow bridge to a whole new world of possibilities.
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Contrary to popular belief, social platforms can be used as the free marketing vehicles that they were purported to be when they first came on the scene, and we’ve got the success stories to prove it. Ten success stories, to be exact, and just in time for the holidays. From innovative contests to daily gift guides to targeted videos, these promotions are simple yet remarkably effective for the retailers who used them in 2013. Choose one or two, adapt them for your market, and see if you can’t boost your holiday traffic at very little cost to your ad budget. And if that weren’t enough, we’ve got a dozen more social media strategies to keep clients engaged and business rolling all year long.
If you’ve been considering a breakup with social media, now is the perfect time to rekindle your relationship. You may find that the marketing love of your life was right in front of you the whole time.
TRACE SHELTON
trace@smartworkmedia.com
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.
