Articles tagged: management,
Here's Your Manager To-Do List to Prepare for the Holidays
Oct 1-7 SALES “We cured the bad habit of saying ‘no problem,’” says Scott Chalmers of Chalmers Jewelers, Middleton, WI. “If you’re caught saying ‘no problem,’ you put $1 into the...
Video: Gene the Jeweler Thought He'd Heard It All ... Until This Tardy Employee Told His Story
This tale probably should've gone untold. In this episode of the satirical Gene the Jeweler series created by Jimmy DeGroot, Gene deals with an employee who is about six-and-a-half hours late for...
Learning Google Docs, Holding a Leo Party and More Manager's To-Do Items for August
Jul. 30 — Aug. 5 MARKETING A girl’s first day of high school might just be the occasion for Dad to get her a “grown-up” piece of fashion jewelry. Do you know what the must-have items are...
Sandwich Board Surprise, Making Time for Others and More Tips for July
Get Time By Giving It Here’s a novel suggestion for those who feel they are in a constant race against the clock to get things done: Make some time for others. “While it might seem...
How to Manage Stress, Deal With a Perpetually Late Employee, And More of Your Questions Answered
How can I make my professional life less stressful? But don’t tell me to work less; that’s not going to happen. OK, but maybe you can work smarter — and take a more benevolent view of...
Cash Flow Ideas, Staff Brainstorm Topics and More Manager's To-Do Items for July
July 2-8 MERCHANDISING Move your birthstone display to a more prominent spot to remind your clients of this fun tradition. This should become a periodic exercise and July is a great time to start,...
Sales Incentives, Website Tips and More Manager's To-Do Items for June
June 3-9 LEARNING If you’re in Vegas for the JCK shows, take in as many educational shows as you can with a goal to kick some life into big-ticket diamond sales. The wedding and anniversary...
You Might Be Pre-Judging Customers Even Though You Don't Mean To
Every jewelry salesperson knows you shouldn't prejudge a customer. But lots of people, well-intentioned as they may be, do so without realizing it. In the video below, marketing specialist...
Gene Creates Lots of 'Custom' Jewelry ... But Does He Really?
What exactly does he mean by 'custom,' anyway? Like many jewelers, Gene the Jeweler does custom work. If you can call it that. In this episode, the fictional Gene takes on a tour of his...
The Happiest Jewelers Do These 10 Things
It's not enough just to make a living — you want to have fun while running your jewelry business, right? In the video below, marketing specialist Jimmy DeGroot counts down the top 10 things...
Gene the Jeweler's Rule: Never Buy the Same Piece Twice
Why impose an outside definition of success? When Gene the Jeweler is choosing merchandise to carry in his store, has a rule: Never buy the same thing twice. He makes this promise to his customers:...
Yes You CAN Create Word-of-Mouth with This Easy Trick – and More Tips from March
Making More Headspace A favorite app of our Smartwork Media editors is Headspace, which will guide you through a very modern approach to meditation. One of the points founder Andy Puddicombe makes...
Gene the Jeweler's 'Free Range' Employees Set Their Own Sales Goals
Why impose an outside definition of success? Employees need something to shoot for — a guideline to let them know whether they're succeeding. In a jewelry store, that's often a sales...
Use the Right Marketing Mix to Stay Relevant in Today's Marketplace
Digital marketing is hot — but it can't be the only thing you do. In the video below, marketing specialist Jimmy DeGroot explains that to stay relevant in today's marketplace, you need a...
This Piece of Jewelry Grew 12X in Value — or So Gene the Jeweler Thinks
Jewelers and consultants often say you shouldn't keep inventory around longer than a year. If it isn't selling, it's time to clear it out and make space for something else. But Gene the...
To Really Understand the Jewelry Business, Ask These Questions of the People You Meet
If you're looking for fresh new ways to grow your jewelry business, you should probably check with some outside sources. Why not ask the people you meet while going about your everyday routine? By...
When a Client Asked to Swap Her Diamond for a CZ, Did This Retailer Do The Right Thing?
When a jeweler acts according to her conscience, she is sued for breach of confidentiality. Tina Keller opened her studio more than 20 years ago. Over a relatively short period of time, the right...
Gene the Jeweler Takes Lots of Vacations — One Each Day, in Fact
But does he understand what 'vacation' means? To stay sharp and motivated, it's important to take some time off work every now and then. A nice vacation can be just the thing to re-energize a weary...
Pledge to Be a Better Boss ... and More To-Do's for January
Jan. 1-6 MARKETING Here it is, your second bite at the Christmas cake, a.k.a. gift-card-redemption season. Ensure you’re stocked with fast sellers and good coffee, and that your add-on strategy...
What to Do When a Last-Minute Holiday Shopper Still Needs to 'Think About It'
Jimmy DeGroot explains how to deal with this frustrating statement. It's a few days before Christmas, and a customer tells you, "I want to think about it." What could there possibly be to think...
Competition Is Absolutely Everywhere Now — and I Refuse to Be a Casualty
[Editor's note: This is one of four honorable mention winners in INSTORE’s essay contest. Nearly two dozen jewelry professionals submitted essays in response to the prompt, “What do you see...
Gene Explains How to Close a Sale
Wait a minute ... does he ever actually close any sales? In today's video, Gene the Jeweler is kind enough to divulge his techniques for closing a sale. Unfortunately, the only thing you'll...
The Case of the Gold (and Diamond) Digger — We Want Your Thoughts
Here's what readers are saying so far. In our latest Real Deal scenario, Tina Keller of TK Creations has created an engagement ring for a young couple, Derrick and Nicole. It's beautiful, albeit...
Take These Steps to Let Holiday Shoppers Know They've Come to the Right Place
Jimmy DeGroot talks about getting ready for the season. For jewelers, the next few weeks present an opportunity to put your best foot forward and create long-lasting friendships, says marketing...
Only 1/3 of Jewelers Follow This Key Rule for Training Salespeople
Have a structured training program for new staff? Yes: 32% Along with our customer service commandments, our training program requires six weeks of full-time shadowing before hands-on customer...
Start Preparing Early for the Day You (Might) Eventually Sell Your Business
At some point, you’ll likely sell your business. Whether it’s to a family member, a staffer or someone else on the open market, your business needs to be prepared when the day arrives. So,...
Gene Reveals a Key Selling Secret ... And It's Truly Awful
This guy just doesn't get it. They say you can't judge a book by its cover. But Gene the Jeweler tries to do it anyway. In the video below, the fictional Gene Kadlin explains that "profiling" is a...
Keep Your Customers Coming Back With 'Store Absolutes'
Jimmy DeGroot talks about making your business memorable. There's a surefire way to make your jewelry store memorable — the kind of place customers want to visit again and again, says marketing...
There's Something Missing From Gene the Jeweler's Business ... Several Somethings, Actually
He isn't taking an organized tack at all. Gene the Jeweler always seems to find the least effective approach possible for handling a given area of his business. And in many cases, the issue is not...
Encourage 'Radical Honesty' in Your Jewelry Store ... And Watch How Quickly Things Improve
Jimmy DeGroot discusses learning from your team. It's impossible to be great at every aspect of running a business, from sales to accounting to human resources to marketing. But that doesn't mean...
Bring in Those Larger Diamonds for the Holidays ... and More Business To-Dos for November
Oct 30-Nov 4 VIP SERVICES Fancy your fashion chops? Offer a personal styling service to clients. Simply invite your best customers to come in with the outfits they intend to wear and promise to...
Gene the Jeweler Finds Himself in Deep 'Stuff' — Literally
You could say this situation stinks. A jeweler like Gene Kadlin, who doesn't know how to manage or delegate, will often find himself in deep ... stuff. And that's exactly what happens in the latest...
Here's How Brain Squad Jewelers Are Generating Word of Mouth
Do you do anything specific to drive word of mouth? Yes: 54% We encourage young customers to like us on Facebook, give us a review. Older folks to take an extra business card to pass around. —...
The Two Most Essential Pieces of Advice These Jewelers Would Share
Imagine you were at a party and someone asked you, What are the two things I should know about jewelry retail? You’d reply … Make it right/Keep it beautiful. — Frank Salinardi, Linardi’s...
Know These 6 Signs of Financial Distress and How to End Them
A man owned a small jewelry store. The State Workforce Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him. “I need a list of your employees and...
This Big Watch Sale Was Lost in the Final Moment ... How Could It Have Been Saved?
When another client suddenly weighs in on a customer’s purchase decision, the sale is lost. Wilson Matthews & Co. is a well-established and highly regarded full-service jewelry store in a...
Outdated Inventory Hurts You More Than You Think!
Jimmy DeGroot discusses getting rid of the dogs. If you want to put that spring back into your cashflow step, get rid of your stale inventory ASAP, says marketing specialist Jimmy DeGroot. He...
Gene the Jeweler Wants to Help Others — But at What Cost?
He runs a gold-buying service, sort of. By now, you probably know that Gene the Jeweler's watch-battery replacement service is not exactly profitable. You know what else isn't profitable? His...
Make These Simple Changes — and Watch Life As a Jeweler Become a Lot More Fun
Try these 3 steps. Are you sick of looking at your office yet? Chances are if you aren’t, you will be. Studies say over half of working Americans experience burnout in their career, and it’s...
The Case of the Opposing Opinion — We Want Your Thoughts
Here's what readers are saying so far. In our latest Real Deal scenario, Jack Matthews of Wilson Matthews & Co. is working with Anne Cahill, the new CEO of a growing tech company...
Fill Those Candy Jars Right ... and More Tips for October
Get Ready for Halloween Are your candy jars fully stocked and ready for Halloween (or just about any time of year there might be kids in the store)? Check out the jars at M. Flynn Boston to see...
3 Ways to Instantly Increase Your Store Profits
These three small changes can yield big results to your bottom line. If you’ve been the owner of a retail fine jewelry store over the past few years, you may feel like you have a target on your...
When a Manager Starts Hiring Family Members, and Those Family Members Start Misbehaving, What's an Owner to Do?
When an empowered manager hires family members and the owner objects, conflict ensues. Alders Jewelers is a third-generation institution in the Southwestern town in which Chuck Alders grew up. As...
This Jeweler Deals With a Disgusting Problem Every Day — and It Just Doesn't Seem Worth It
The fictional Gene once again shows us what not to do. You may recall that Gene the Jeweler's jewelry story changes a lot of watch batteries. And at $5 a pop, it's hardly the world's most profitable...
Your Jewelry Store Doesn't Need a 'Profit Center' Like This
Gene explains the 'circle of jewelry life.' In a sense, watch-battery replacement is a thriving business for Gene the Jeweler's store. He has an employee dedicated to the task, and she does about 50...
The Case of the Reluctant Heir — We Want Your Thoughts
Here's what readers are saying so far. In our latest Real Deal scenario, Chuck Alders, owner of Alders Jewelers, has a dilemma. His longtime general manager, Mike Wolfe, has hired his wife, Cindy,...
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JIM ACKERMAN
Forget Postcards ... This Jeweler's 2-Page Letter Brought $80K in Business
Jim Ackerman explains how it worked.
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A GEM A DAY
Les Georgettes by Altesse
Gold-plated metal cuff bracelet with leather strap insert. $99.
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New Mineral Discovered 10/13/18 -
