WEEK 1
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Jan 5 – Monday
MANAGEMENT: Block two hours to calculate your real hourly wage. Divide profit by hours worked — prepare tissues for the result.
STAFF: It’s possible the holiday season laid bare performance issues on your staff. Today’s the day to have “tough” conversations with any team members exhibiting performance issues to help get them back on the right track.
FEATURED DATE: It’s Divorce Day, marking the first recorded legal divorce in North America (1643). Some women cry at the thought of selling their wedding rings; others want to blow them up. Smart jewelers listen to their stories and pitch a redesign as a gift to themselves—a celebration of surviving a tough chapter or newfound freedom.
MORE DATES: National Whipped Cream Day, National Keto Day, National Bird Day, National Screenwriters Day, Twelfth Night.
Jan 6 – Tuesday
DISPLAY: Create a front window design calendar for the year.
STAFF: Review holiday temps. Many industry superstars started as casual Christmas help.
FEATURED DATE: Three Kings’ Day marks the official end of the Christmas season — and in Hispanic culture, it’s when kids get gifts. If your market has a strong Hispanic community, get your gold charms and children’s jewelry ready. Market the date.
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Smith Day. Email all the Smiths in your database and invite them to celebrate their Smithness with another smith—your local goldsmith or silversmith. Nearly 3 million Americans share the name. Give them a reason to come in.
MORE DATES: National Cuddle Up Day, National Shortbread Day, National Bean Day, Apple Tree Day, National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day, National Technology Day.
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Jan 7 – Wednesday
MARKETING: List your top 50 customers from last year. These VIPs generate 20% of sales — make a plan to treat them like absolute ROYALTY.
STRATEGY: Hold a post-holiday strategy session with staff. Review what worked, what didn’t, what competitors did, and what the numbers say about margins and returns. Get specific with targets: expand bridal? attract more self-purchasers? appeal to younger demographics?
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Bobblehead Day. Get bobbleheads made of each of your team memebers — costs under $100. Put them in your front window for fun. Extra credit project: Got a fan-favorite salesperson? Steal from the sports playbook: give them their very own Bobblehead Night. Free bobblehead with every purchase. Their favorite customers will eat it up.
MORE DATES: National Tempura Day, National Bobblehead Day, Distaff Day, I Am A Mentor Day, “I’m Not Going To Take It Anymore” Day, Old Rock Day.
Jan 8 – Thursday
COMMUNICATION: If you don’t have one, create a birthday and anniversary tracking system today. File customer purchases by date for follow-up calls.
DISPLAY: Banish winter decorations the day after Christmas. Order fresh flowers — customers should think spring inside even when it’s freezing outside.
FEATURED DATE: It’s Show and Tell Day at Work. Ask each staffer to pick their favorite piece and present why it excites them at the next meeting. Bonus demo: place a poorly cut diamond next to your best ones in low light—customers fixated on carat weight will see the difference when the cheap stone goes dark.
MORE DATES: Elvis Presley’s Birthday (he was born in 1935), National Bubble Bath Day, National English Toffee Day, Earth’s Rotation Day, Argyle Day, National Career Coach Day, National Winter Skin Relief Day, Typing Day, War on Poverty Day.
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Jan 9 – Friday
ADVERTISING: Set aside advertising money for late January/early February — it captures guys who want to propose soon but not on a cliché holiday.
FINANCES: File co-op advertising claims for holiday ads now before you forget.
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Invite local officers in for coffee and donuts, offer a one-day coupon, or add an extra 5% to your standard law enforcement discount.
MORE DATES: National Apricot Day, National Cassoulet Day, National Faith Day, International Choreographers Day, Static Electricity Day, Quitters Day.
Jan 10 – Saturday
STAFF: Evaluate staff performance — your best and weakest performers are most visible right after the holidays. Make changes now.
INVENTORY: Restock bread-and-butter pieces immediately. Valentine’s Day is coming.
FEATURED DATE: It’s National Cut Your Energy Costs Day and a good time to do an “energy audit” of your business.
MORE DATES: National Save the Eagles Day, Houseplant Appreciation Day, National Bittersweet Chocolate Day, National Shareholders Day, Peculiar People Day.
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Jan 11 – Sunday
STRATEGY: Commit to running at least one big experiment this year: change operating hours, amend test-drive policies, give staff more discount authority, eliminate an underperforming category.
STRATEGY: Write out three core values. If a decision doesn’t fit them, don’t do it.
FEATURED DATE: Awards season begins with the 2026 Golden Globes. Join the jewelry crowd on X, then blog about the standout pieces on your website blog. Style watcher Michael O’Connor suggests grouping trending looks together in your showcase with a celebrity photo or look book to show customers what’s hot. (You can also get some trend hints from Golden Globes coverage on INSTOREMAG.COM.)
MORE DATES: National Milk Day, National Hot Toddy Day, International Parity at Work Day, Heritage Treasures Day, Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day, No Longer New Year’s Day, Secret Pal Day, Thank You Day, Cigarettes Are Hazardous To Your Health Day.
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