Diamond jewelry 75 percent, and special unique color jewelry 25 percent. Karin Volz, Kloiber Jewelers, Milwaukee, WI
- Best investment of all would be about four stainless steel Submariner gents watches … right away. — Teddie Gause, Gause and Son Jewelers, Ocala, FL
- Gorgeous colored gems for a few super pieces I’d make. Best investment ever. — Klaus Kutter, A Jour Inc, Bristol, RI
- Ohhhhhhhh! One nice big diamond ring (complete). — Natasha Henderson, Saxon’s Fine Jewelers, Bend, OR
- I’d consider adding in lab-grown diamonds. I’m not quite on the bandwagon yet. (Yes, I’m just dragging my feet … that’s the way I roll.) — Erika Godfrey, Hawthorne Jewelry. Kearney, NE
- Jewelry items with low- to mid-range price points like Shy Creation produces. Gold and diamond layered necklaces and fun rings that the younger groups tend to purchase. — Scott Kelly, Jems Jewels & Gold, North Wales, PA
- I would increase our diamond fashion and our loose diamond inventory. I love the feeling of having more options to show customers, and these are areas I always feel that we never have enough of! — Erica Lorenz, Michael & Sons, Reno, NV
- Two statement diamond necklaces with half, and bread-and-butter engagement rings that retail under $1,999 with half. — Shahraz Kassam, Shamin Jewellers, Burnaby, BC
- I would buy each of my staff something personal for them to wear and show off, and then have a display of items that can be ordered. — Kristin Cornwell, Cornwell Jewelers, Athens, OH
- William Henry knives and jewelry. I think men’s jewelry is a category that will grow this year. — Rick Sanders, Sanders Jewelers, Gainesville, FL
- Simple diamond rings. I just impulse bought a $10,000 1-carat OEC diamond and ruby ring and sold it in a week. It was estate. — Calla Gold, Calla Gold Jewelry, Santa Barbara, CA
- We would purchase a few more large oval cut diamonds. Unfortunately, the $20,000 wouldn’t go too far in this category! — Shari Altman, B&E Jewelers & Gemologists, Southampton, PA
- Dainty yellow gold and rose gold jewelry, unique rough-cut diamond jewelry, loose gemstones. — Cathy Miller, Caleesi Designs Jewelers, Austin, TX
- Diamond anniversary rings: someone out there is always having an anniversary, they can go up against a lot of engagement rings, and with stackables being so hot, you can wear them with anything and anytime! — Paul Krueger, Krueger Jeweler, Fort Atkinson, WI
- Investment in inventory would mean paying off bills for inventory. — Bob Goodman, Robert Goodman Jewelers, Zionsville, IN
- I would spend half on something trendy that I wouldn’t normally carry. The other half would be for basics or save it for new displays, etc. — Sue Parker, Nyman Jewelers, Excanaba, MI
- As an online seller who specializes in made to order moissanite engagement rings, I’d stock up on loose stones, elongated cushions, crushed ice ovals and the like. — Jen Hollywood, J Hollywood Designs, Chester Springs, PA
- Chain, earrings, bracelets and necklaces in gold. With the lower labor factor involved and plenty of styles to choose from, they are always good sellers with not much risk. — Alex Weil, Martin’s Jewelry, Torrance, CA
- The lab-grown diamond engagement rings and earrings set up in a separate display would fill the need to attract the younger clients. — Ed Menk, E. L. Menk Jewelers, Brainerd, MN
- I would order materials to make some very cool designs, maybe enter some design competitions. — Mark Thomas Ruby, SunSpirit Designs, Loveland, CO
- Loose diamonds 100 percent. Specifically 0.85-1.20 carat diamonds. All round! — Mark Snyder, Snyder Jewelers, Weymouth, MA
This article originally appeared in the October 2018 edition of INSTORE.