Remember the old Kool & The Gang song, “Celebration”? Da da da da, dum dum dum dum … YA-HOO! That’s how I feel about this issue.
Why? Because we’ve got (by my count) 93 pieces of new and exciting jewelry in the following pages!
Start with our Vegas trends story, where you’ll see our picks for the hottest styles, emerging trends and expansion categories you should keep in mind when planning for the 2017 holidays. Then move on to this year’s INDESIGN Awards winners, recognizing artistry and innovation in eight categories of jewelry. And don’t forget to check out Hot Sellers (what your fellow retailers are reordering this month), Customer Types, Designing Lives, and the latest product releases in Opening Lines.
Some of you may say, “We don’t follow trends” or “we custom design most/all of our jewelry”. But here’s the thing: trends affect what you sell and make in your store, whether you know it or not. For instance, hoop earrings are a staple — but which type of hoops are hottest? What necklace styles are turning customers’ heads? Which gemstone is now a year-round staple rather than a seasonal fling? All of these questions and more are answered in our trends story.
And who can’t get inspired by jaw-dropping jewelry design? That’s what you’ll discover from our INDESIGN Awards winners. These are the creators pushing design forward on a national level, and that’s something we should all be excited about.
These are tough times for some, but I hope none of us ever lose sight of how blessed we are to work in a creative, innovative industry whose sole purpose is the celebration of life and love. YA-HOO!
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Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
