WE’RE A FEW DAYS into collecting results for this month’s Brain Squad survey, and one thing’s already clear: NOBODY’s bored out there.
INSTORE Brain Squad surveys are designed exclusively for jewelry store owners and top managers in the United States and Canada. If that’s you and you haven’t weighed in yet, there’s still time to add your voice to the conversation.
Go to the weblink to submit your responses.
This Month’s Survey So Far: A Few Findings
Potential Headline: Gold Rush Reality — Jewelers Split on Whether $5,000+ Gold is Coming, or Going
Survey shows deep division on future gold prices, with jewelers torn between “stable at current levels” and “over $5,000/oz”.
Quotable Comment: The Perfect Revenge
A Maryland jeweler, asked to recall the story of a toxic customer for our “True Tales” section, recounted: “Crazy woman! Year one, called to complain about staff but we couldn’t figure who worked that day. Year two, called about a second coworker. Year 3, complained face to face to coworker about coworker. Coworker said to customer ‘maybe stop being so bitchy.’ She left, cried to her adult son. Son wrote us a note of how upset his mom was and that she would not be returning. Best day ever! Coworker’s birthday cake read ‘Happy Birthday, Bitch’ that year.”
Potential Headline: The $4,000 Gold Dilemma — Jewelers Reveal Their Survival Strategies
From conservative markups to refusing to apologize for prices, retailers share how they’re navigating sky-high gold costs.
Quotable Comment: Collaboration Disaster
Asked about how collaboration has worked for his business, an Indiana jeweler told the following story: “Partnered with a local high-end restaurant. We gave $100 vouchers for meals, and they were supposed to give $100 gift certificates to their better patrons. What they did instead was to keep most for themselves and give the rest out as employee bonuses… When I thought I had an understanding with them, they did it again. I haven’t eaten there since.”
This month’s survey closes late next week, so be sure to get your responses in. Once you complete the survey, you can see how other jewelers responded. Remember, INSTORE’s Brain Squad surveys are designed to be taken by store owners and top managers ONLY.
Go to the weblink to submit your responses.
Brain Squadders: We Want Your Video Responses!
In 2026, we’re looking to add video submissions to a few key departments. We need video. You have a phone. C’mon, let’s make this happen.
We’re trying to add more video content to our website — which means we need you. Pull out your phone, hit record, say something smart (you always do), and upload it. Should take two minutes, max.
Here are the departments where we’re seeking video submissions:
True Tales: Got a True Tale of a toxic customer to tell? Shoot it and send here.
Manager’s To Do inspiration: What are your key goals and to-dos for your business this January? Shoot your video and send here.
Gold prices — or any other current issue? Where do you think gold prices are going in the year ahead? Send your video responses here.
Do any of these and you officially become our favorite person.
