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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Honoring a Legacy: How Smith & Son Jewelers Exceeded Every Goal With Wilkerson
When Andrew Smith decided to close the Springfield, Massachusetts location of Smith & Son Jewelers, the decision came down to family. His father was retiring after 72 years in the business, and Andrew wanted to spend more time with his children and soon-to-arrive grandchildren.
For this fourth-generation jeweler whose great-grandfather founded the company in 1918, closing the 107-year-old Springfield location required the right partner. Smith chose Wilkerson, and the experience exceeded expectations from start to finish.
"Everything they told me was 100% true," Smith says. "The ease and use of all their tools was wonderful."
The consultants' knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. Smith and his father set their own financial goal, but Wilkerson proposed three more ambitious targets. "We thought we would never make it," Smith explains. "We were dead wrong. We hit our first goal, second goal and third goal. It was amazing."
Smith's recommendation is emphatic: "I would never be able to do what they did by myself."
