OUT WITH THE OLD, in with the new!
It’s not just the theme of the season; it’s the theme of this issue. What’s slowing down your store this spring — old inventory, old showroom décor, old ideas? We tackle all of those and more.
In our big story, managing editor Eileen McClelland shares 13 sale concepts for clearing the dogs from your showcases, moving estate jewelry or even simply priming the sales pump (with five additional ideas available online at instoremag.com). Then, in our second lead story, “Lean and Mean,” we dive into specific ways that jewelers can make their operations healthier by cutting costs in a variety of areas.
Elsewhere, contributing writer Becky Stone reveals 19 of the most fabulous looks in affordable fashion jewelry — a category that could lift your self-purchase sales and set the stage for future sales in fine jewelry. David Brown writes about more effectively managing debt, David Geller shares five fun sales contests to incentivize your staff, and new guest columnist Michelle Bailey discloses tips for building a millennial-friendly selling environment.
Much is made in our industry about the ongoing contraction of independent jewelry retailers — and yet specialty retail jewelry sales have remained static for the past decade. That means there’s a bigger piece of the pie out there for you if you’re willing to put in the work.
So unload some dead weight and put a spring in your step! The future looks bright!