FOR BIG SURVEY 2017, we asked this question: “What do you think has been the biggest change in the way jewelry is sold inside a store environment in the past 10 years?”
Nearly 40 percent of readers said that the biggest change in the way jewelry is sold inside a store environment in the past 10 years is the premium that customers place on receiving an “experience.” If you were to look at photos and features from INSTORE’s “America’s Coolest Stores” over the same time frame, you would see that notion
It’s not surprising to see an increase in custom demand voted as second-biggest change, followed by an increased use of technology and more informed customers (which seem to go hand-in-hand).
Below are the full results. Look out for all the results of the 2017 Big Survey in the October edition of INSTORE.
Increased importance of creating a customer “experience”
More customization
More informed consumers
Increased use of technology like iPads
Increased price transparency
More self-directed buying (play and try on)
Side-by- side selling
More event-based selling (trunk shows, etc.)
Other
This article originally appeared in the October 2017 edition of INSTORE.
After 139 Years, A Family Legacy Finds Its Perfect Exit With Wilkerson.
When third-generation jeweler Sam Sipe and his wife Laura decided to close Indianapolis’ historic J.C. Sipe Jewelers, they turned to Wilkerson to handle their retirement sale. “The conditions were right,” Sam explains of their decision to close the 139-year-old business. Wilkerson managed the entire going-out-of-business sale process, from marketing strategy to sales floor operations. “Our goal was to convert our paid inventory into retirement funds,” notes Sam. “The results exceeded expectations.” The Sipes’ advice for jewelers considering retirement? “Contact Wilkerson,” Laura says. “They’ll help you transition into retirement with confidence and financial security.”
