Manager's To Do

Identify Pieces That Generate Special Orders, Analyze Your Memo Inventory, and More Manager’s To-Do Items for September

There’s also a game that can help your staff become more familiar with your merchandise ahead of the holidays.

Published

3 months ago

August 26, 2025

INSTORE Staff Instore August 2025 Issue

Identify Pieces That Generate Special Orders, Analyze Your Memo Inventory, and More Manager’s To-Do Items for September

Aug. 31-Sep. 6

OPERATIONS Give your staff the “keys” to bridal selling success. Literally. Eliminate time-wasting scrambles during sales by creating a master sheet listing all vendor login credentials.

MERCHANDISING Create curated collections that showcase different ring and band styles together. This demonstrates how each piece complements the other, inspiring customers to find their perfect set.

Sep. 7-13

MANAGEMENT Mystery-shop local competitors. Evaluate their product offerings, pricing, and overall customer experience during the engagement ring buying journey. Identify their strengths and weaknesses to ensure you can provide an even more memorable experience in your store.

Sep. 14-20

MARKETING Send a targeted direct mail to all customers who bought an engagement ring or mounting from your store in the last six months but have yet to return for the wedding bands. Personalize the message, highlighting the specific product details and how your store can help, such as with an offer to inspect the prongs. This also creates a targeted list for your sales team to follow up on.

INVENTORY Special order analysis: Always remember when running aged inventory reports to identify styles on that report that are generating special orders. Consider variations or modifications such as a different center shape or metal color that is being ordered off of this so called “aged” piece. Discuss this with the vendor to refresh this inventory based on ordering trends.

Sep. 21-27

TRAINING Salespeople get instant credibility when they can quote prices and price differentials without looking at the tags. Use this game to encourage them to know your prices: Staff stand in a line and the manager shows items and asks them the price. Get the price wrong and they have to sit down. Announce the game one week ahead of time to encourage your associates to put in some study time.

TRAINING Partner with Platinum Guild to train your team on the benefits of platinum. Educate them on pricing and incorporate it into white gold tag displays for easy reference during sales conversations.

Sep. 28-Oct. 4

INVENTORY Analyze memo inventory with the same sharp eye you use for owned inventory; it occupies valuable case space. Evaluate memo performance and adjust stock levels and SKUs as needed. If the memo isn’t selling, it doesn’t do you or the vendor any good to have it in your store.

TRAINING Schedule times to train your staff on any new products you’re bringing into the store for the peak end-of-year period.

INSTORE Staff

Since launching in 2002, INSTORE has won 89 international journalism awards for its publication and website. Contact INSTORE's editors at [email protected].

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