Brainstorms

Sow Seeds of Disharmony In Your Customer’s Jewelry Box

A shiny, bright new thing can make everything else look dull and in need of replacement.

Published

4 years ago

June 26, 2019

INSTORE Staff Instore June 2019 Issue

Sow Seeds of Disharmony In Your Customer’s Jewelry Box

The diderot effect refers to the way a newly purchased product fails to deliver on the happiness it promised, and instead causes our other possessions to suddenly look timeworn and in need of replacement. It takes its inspiration from an essay by the enlightenment philosopher Denis Diderot, in which he laments how a new dressing gown has made his other clothes look like rags and he suddenly feels “discordant.” How to put this psychological weakness into play? In much the same way Ikea or any home goods retailer does: through suggested add-ons. (“Now that you’re ordering that new dining table, shouldn’t you consider those glasses and plates, too?) Is it manipulative? We’d argue not. It’s not your fault that stylish new fashion ring is making her 20-year old engagement ring look a little dated and in need of an upgrade.

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”