WEEK 7
6 weeks passed | 46 weeks remain
Feb 16 – Monday
Today’s Quote: “If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.” — Actress Tallulah Bankhead, on taking action
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: The Weeknd (1990, singer), Elizabeth Olsen (1989, “Age of Ultron”), Mahershala Ali (1974, “Moonlight”), Ice-T (1958, “Law & Order: SVU”), John McEnroe (1959, tennis), LeVar Burton (1957, “Alex Haley’s Roots”), Ava Max (1994, singer), Lupe Fiasco (1982, rapper), Danielle Haim (1989, Haim), Sarah Clarke (1972, “24”), Andy Taylor (1961, Duran Duran, happy 65th!), Dave Lombardo (1965, Slayer)
FINANCES: If your fiscal year ends in December, you should have your financial statements finalized by the end of February. Make an appointment to see your CPA — and bring questions, not just paperwork.
MARKETING: If you don’t have birthday and anniversary data for your top 1,000 customers, start thinking of ways to get it. A simple “birthday club” with a small discount or gift goes a long way — and gives you 1,000 reasons to reach out throughout the year.
FEATURED DATE: Presidents’ Day. The store may (or may not) be closed, but it’s a great day to plan for the rest of the year. Pull out your calendar, block in your major events and buying trips, and set some revenue targets for Q2. Planning on a quiet day beats scrambling on a busy one.
MORE DATES: National Almond Day, World Whale Day
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Feb 17 – Tuesday
Today’s Quote: “There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most—happiness, freedom, and peace of mind—are always attained when we give them to others. Give it away to get it back.” — legendary basketball coach John Wooden
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Michael Jordan (1963, basketball), Ed Sheeran (1991, singer, happy 35th!), Billie Joe Armstrong (1972, Green Day), Chante Moore (1967, singer), Paris Hilton (1981, “The Simple Life,” happy 45th!), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (1981, “Inception”), Lou Diamond Phillips (1962, “La Bamba”), Dominic Purcell (1970, “Prison Break”), Michael Bay (1965, director “Transformers”)
FEATURED DATE: Chinese New Year — the Year of the Fire Horse! This is a rare and special combination that occurs only once every 60 years. The horse symbolizes strength, vitality, and adventure; fire adds passion and boldness. Put some coupons or gift cards of various values in red envelopes in a fish bowl and invite jewelry-buying customers to test their fortune. Red and gold displays are a natural fit. The lucky colors for the Fire Horse are red, gold, and green — if you carry any gold-and-gemstone pieces in those tones, build a small display.
FEATURED DATE: It’s Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)! Host a New Orleans-themed event with king cakes, muffulettas, and beads. Or keep it simple: hold a pancake tasting. Wonderful aromas and full bellies make for happy shoppers.
FEATURED DATE: Random Acts of Kindness Day — perform one for a customer and post about it on social media. Comp a battery change, throw in free gift wrapping, or hand-deliver a repair. The gesture matters more than the cost.
MORE DATES: National Café au Lait Day, World Human Spirit Day
Feb 18 – Wednesday
Today’s Quote: “Accept the truth from whatever source it comes.” — Rabbi, physician, and philosopher Moses Maimonides on thinking clearly
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Yoko Ono (1933, artist/musician), John Travolta (1954, “Pulp Fiction”), Cybill Shepherd (1950, “Moonlighting”), Vanna White (1957, “Wheel of Fortune”), Matt Dillon (1964, “The Outsiders”), Dr. Dre (1965, rapper/producer), Molly Ringwald (1968, “Sixteen Candles”), J-Hope (1994, BTS), Ike Barinholtz (1977, “The Mindy Project”), Regina Spektor (1980, musician)
OPERATIONS: Examine your in-store signage. Is it friendly? Is it memorable? If it’s not both, start the process of changing it. Great signage does the selling before your team even opens their mouths.
FEATURED DATE: It’s Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Be aware that some customers may be in a more reflective mood. Cross jewelry and religious pieces may see increased interest — make sure they’re easy to find in your showcases.
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Battery Day! If you follow columnist Jonathan Geller’s advice and offer three levels of watch-battery subscription prices — 1-year guarantee, 3-year, and lifetime (suggested prices: $37, $49, $87) — today’s a great day to offer a discount on those plans. Nine out of ten customers pick the 3-year, says Geller. Customers love options — especially when one feels like the smart middle choice.
MORE DATES: Pluto Day (discovered on this date in 1930 — still a planet in our hearts), National Drink Wine (great day for a wine-and-jewelry pairing), Thumb Appreciation Day (feature your thumb rings!)
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Feb 19 – Thursday
Today’s Quote: “The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.” — Entrepreneur, author, and photographer Kevin Kelly on staying young
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Millie Bobby Brown (2004, “Stranger Things”), Victoria Justice (1993, “Victorious”), Benicio del Toro (1967, “Sicario”), Smokey Robinson (1940, singer), Jeff Daniels (1955, “Dumb and Dumber”), Seal (1963, singer), Tony Iommi (1948, Black Sabbath)
INVENTORY: Buying season is on the way: it’s time to take a hard look at your inventory. Drill down into your data — GPM, brand performance, price points, markdowns — to weed out underperformers and identify any new category trends. Set targets and support plans for your emerging inventory stars.
MERCHANDISING: Schedule a meeting with staff to discuss merchandising based on what you discovered with your data mining. Brainstorm buying strategies that will enable you to achieve your 2026 goals. Do you want to attract more female self-purchasers? Expand bridal offerings? Push custom design? Get your team’s input now, before show season.
DISPLAY: Write a “designer profile” for each designer you carry. Put them on cue cards left near the appropriate line of merchandise. Customers love the backstory — and it gives your team a ready-made talking point.
MORE DATES: National Chocolate Mint Day, Iwo Jima Day
Feb 20 – Friday
Today’s Quote: “I have a friend who makes high six figures as an engineer. I once asked him his secret and he was like, “Honestly man, I just read one engineering textbook every year, which is one more book than everyone else I know reads.” — Business professor and writer Charlie Becker on the value of reading one good book per year
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Rihanna (1988, singer), Olivia Rodrigo (2003, singer), Trevor Noah (1984, comedian), Cindy Crawford (1966, model, happy 60th!), Miles Teller (1987, “Top Gun: Maverick”), Sidney Poitier (1927, “In the Heat of the Night”), Brian Littrell (1975, Backstreet Boys)
MARKETING: Work on a referral system to reward clients who refer friends. A $50 in-store credit for every client who refers someone who makes a purchase is simple, trackable, and cheaper than most advertising.
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Love Your Pet Day! Encourage all of your clients to share photos of their pets to win a prize. “77 percent of US households own a pet,” says Megan Crabtree. “Capitalize on this and you should have a volume of participants” on your social media channels. Feature pet-themed jewelry — paw prints, silhouettes, birthstone collars. This one’s a social media layup.
FEATURED DATE: National Caregivers Day (third Friday of February) — honor those who care for others. Feature meaningful jewelry or personalized pieces that say “thank you” to someone who gives so much.
MORE DATES: National Cherry Pie Day, World Day of Social Justice, National Leadership Day
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Feb 21 – Saturday
Today’s Quote: “Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” — Martial artist and actor Bruce Lee on pushing yourself
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Sophie Turner (1997, “Game of Thrones”), Ashley Greene (1988, “Twilight”), Kelsey Grammer (1955, “Frasier”), Jennifer Love Hewitt (1980, actress), Jordan Peele (1980, “Get Out”)
NETWORKING: Build your social reach. Look into joining the local country club or sponsoring a local Little League team. Community visibility translates into store traffic — especially for a trust-based business like yours.
SALES: Energize staff with a Saturday sales contest: Pay commissions on the spot. Nothing motivates like cash in hand at the end of the day.
INVENTORY: Begin preparations for Mother’s Day and graduation season. Start researching hot sellers now — you don’t want to be scrambling in April when suppliers are already picked over.
MORE DATES: National Sticky Bun Day, Card Reading Day (bring in a local astrologer!)
Feb 22 – Sunday
Today’s Quote: “20 years from now, the only people who will remember that you worked late are your kids.” — Software engineer David Clarke on priorities
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS: Drew Barrymore (1975, “The Drew Barrymore Show”), Kyle MacLachlan (1959, “Twin Peaks”), James Blunt (1974, singer), Julie Walters (1950, “Harry Potter”), Lea Salonga (1971, Broadway actress “Miss Saigon”, happy 55th!)
BRIDAL JEWELRY: Engagement ring sales pick up in February, but wedding bands don’t automatically follow. Offer a 10% discount on bands when purchased within 60 days of the ring — it gives spring-wedding couples a reason to come back. And while they’re in, show them attendant gifts.
FEATURED DATE: It’s Single Tasking Day! The Chinese have a phrase: ‘A hasty man drinks his tea with a fork.’ Try it today: one conversation, one task, one thing at a time. The research says you’ll get more done, not less.
FEATURED DATE: National Margarita Day — after-hours staff celebration? You’ve earned it after Valentine’s season.
MORE DATES: George Washington’s Birthday, National Walk Your Dog Day, World Thinking Day
