Hawaii’s Michael Han, owner of The Wedding Ring Shop, has seen it all when it comes to bridal. Here’s why he’s bullish on Noam Carver, a hands-on designer who personalizes the customer experience with trunk shows, training and fresh, new bridal designs.
Hawaii, with its temperate climate, idyllic beaches and Aloha spirit, is the perfect place for love. Each year, about 20,000 destination weddings take place in the state, along with another 10,000 local nuptials. It’s just part of the reason why owner Michael Han of The Wedding Ring Shop in Honolulu has made such a success of specializing in bridal jewelry. In business since 1987, The Wedding Ring Shop sells the best in branded bridal. Over the past 10 years, since moving from the Ala Moana Shopping Center to a new stand-alone store on Kapiolani Boulevard in downtown Honolulu, Han says his sales have doubled. It’s a store with a simple enough name and a convincing reason for going: If you’re getting married, The Wedding Ring Shop probably has what you want.
Rebecca and Michael Han, owners of The Wedding Ring Shop. With such a targeted market, the store’s success is dependent upon stocking a wide selection of engagement rings and wedding bands. Han says he and his staff are always on the lookout for collections that are fresh, focused and well made. One of its newest and most successful discoveries to date—Noam Carver—was a home run almost from the start. “My buyers and I saw it at the Luxury show in 2015 and knew immediately that we needed to stock it,” says Han. “It was fresh and compelling.” Just the sort of line that would sell well on its own merits.
But one of the greatest assets of the brand is Noam Carver himself, says Han. At the store at least two times a year for three day-long trunk shows, Carver works the sales floor for the duration, answering customer questions and giving staff invaluable information on what makes the brand so special. “What other designers do you know who interact with your sales team and your customers for that length of time?” Han asks. “He’s one of the most helpful suppliers I’ve ever met. It’s a huge feature for us. He’s the real deal.”
Another feature of the line is its elegant simplicity—something Han refers to as “timeless, with a designer look.” Han stocks 300 SKUs (about 200 semi-mounts and 150 wedding bands) from Noam Carver, which has become one of the store’s fastest growing lines. MSRP’s range from $400 to $7,000.
As with any jewelry line, it’s the customer, in the end, who determines whether the best-intentioned jewelry collection stays in a store—or not. According to Michael Han, Noam Carver is definitely here to stay. “Customers are looking for bridal jewelry with enough design but not too much,” he says. “The Noam Carver collection is current and timeless. There’s just enough detail and embellishment for the customer to say, ‘wow…I think I want that.’”
For more information about the Noam Carver line of engagement rings, wedding bands and stackables, visit the website at: noamcarver.com