2019 WAS A BIG YEAR for podcasts at INSTORE, with a steady stream of episodes featuring jewelry-industry advice, interviews and inspiration.

Below we feature the top five episodes of the year based on number of listens. And you can click here to check all of our podcasts, including The Barb Wire, JimmyCast and Over the Counter.

1. Ben Smithee Isn’t Just Another Social Media ‘Influencer’

The Barb Wire celebrates its 10th episode with a visit from Ben Smithee, CEO at The Smithee Group (thesmitheegroup.com), a digital consultancy whose mission is “helping big brands think small and small brands think bigger.”

2. A Jeweler Learns the Internet’s Weaknesses, and His Own Strengths

In this episode of Over the Counter, Kyle Bullock, who typically shares stories of other jewelers’ most memorable sales, tells the story of one of his own memorable recent sales. In this transaction, Kyle faces off against the Internet … and wins.

3. How to Find Good People and Avoid Employee Nightmares

Finding and hiring people who can become high-quality employees is the topic under discussion in the third episode of INSTORE’s JimmyCast podcast series from jewelry-store trainer Jimmy DeGroot along with co-host Doug Meadows of David Douglas Diamonds in Marietta, GA.

4. Holiday Sales These Jewelers Will Never Forget

In this special holiday wrap-up episode of Over the Counter, fourth-generation jeweler Kyle Bullock of Bullock’s Jewelry in Roswell, NM, shares some of his favorite stories from the just-concluded holiday season.

5. Get Your Employees to Act Like They Own the Damn Place

How can a jewelry-store owner get the members of his or her team to think and act like they are store-owners? That’s the big question covered in the second episode of JimmyCast.

IN THIS EXCERPT from the latest episode of JimmyCast, Aleah Arundale, the founder of Jewelers Helping Jewelers, shares one of her pet peeves about jewelers — why so few put visible prices in their showcases.

This episode is brought to you by INSTORE Bulletins.

Arundale wonders why some jewelers are so slow at moving away from traditional sales habits. “This is insanity to me,” Aleah rants. “We’re making our customers feel embarrassed, we’re making them feel uncomfortable. Guys are already uncomfortable going into a jewelry store! You want to empower them. Even if you put a price range, I get it … you don’t want to just smack a sticker on it. But first of all, Tiffany’s is doing this, by the way … And if they can do it, you certainly can find a classy way to do it.”

Want to hear the full podcast? Catch it below.

JIMMYCAST EPISODE 14: ALEAH ARUNDALE (21:57 MINUTES)

IN THIS EXCERPT from our special holiday edition of Over the Counter, you’ll hear podcast host (and singer and guitarist) Kyle Bullock offer a quick sample of his own, jeweler-specific version of a song you’ll likely hear a “bajillion” times this holiday season, the classic “The 12 Days of Christmas”.

Want to hear the entire song in all its glory? Catch the full podcast below:

OVER THE COUNTER EPISODE 17: THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (9:47 MINUTES)