Here’s How Jewelry Store Owners Saved Money in 2025

THE MOST POPULAR answer to this question had to do with inventory, whether reducing old stock, sticking with a strict open-to-buy budget or aggressively reordering top-selling pieces. Since inventory is generally the highest recurring expense for jewelry retailers, it makes sense that the most potential cost savings can be found there. However, the second most popular answer might be more surprising: energy savings. Some cited LED lighting as a big cost saver, while others mentioned solar panels or motion-sensing lights. Recycling metals and gemstones, reducing store hours and embracing new technologies were also popular answers. Here were some more useful suggestions:

• Cameras for repairs — no more “it wasn’t like that when we brought it in.”
• Ordering what sells geographically, not personally.
• Using high-rate short-term CDs and asking my bank to match APYs.
• Avoiding and retiring debt—becoming more liquid.
• Switched credit card processing to Integrity Merchant Solutions — saved thousands.
• Two-day shipping instead of overnight — saved $10K a year.
• Trade scrap for 24K grain; alloy what we need.
• Moved to sample rings instead of live models — huge savings.
• Took over the books — found years of overpayments.
• Charge for cleaning and polishing — no more freebies.
• Negotiate everything — rent, bank rates, boxes, insurance.
• We save all packing material for reuse.