Brainstorms

To Spur Creativity, Think of Your Store as a Warehouse

Doing so will give you different ideas of how to address customer wants.

Published

4 years ago

June 23, 2021

INSTORE Staff Instore July 2021 Issue

To Spur Creativity, Think of Your Store as a Warehouse

You probably hope your customers view your store as something like an atelier in Milan or maybe a palace of luxury goods. But in 2021, it might be better to think of it as a warehouse. That change in mindset can lead to exploring fresh ways of doing business or new lines or caategories of jewelry that you may not want to sell in your store, but which would do well in an alternate marketplace, Nicole Leinbach Reyhle, founder of RetailMinded.com, told a recent American Gem Society Confluence event. “Try an online marketplace or a pop-up experience at a festival or in a store you’d like to collaborate with. Consider an app for selling directly on social media, or explore curbside pickups, delivery or subscription services,” she said.

Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless

When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time. "We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them. Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."