CollectionsJul 08, 2025
Mikimoto’s High Jewelry Collection Turns Pearls into PetalsThe “Les Pétales” collection imagines roses caught mid-bloom as a tribute to nature’s beauty.
IndependentsAug 15, 2016
Jeweler moves $57K in inventory with special sale
Steven and Tricia LaBiche, owners of LaBiche Jewelers in Mississippi, gave customers one hour to line up and reserve a chance to shop for inventory with a 60 percent discount.
Meridian, Miss.--One jeweler down south recently moved tens of thousands of dollars in old inventory using a clever sales event combined with a reopening, of sorts.
On June 13, LaBiche Jewelers in Meridian, Miss. invited residents to attend a “60% off in 60 Minutes” sale, a sale event of Porte Marketing, which specializes in marketing for jewelry retailers.
Customers who lined up in front of the jewelry store between 11 a.m. and noon were given a wristband and invited to shop the discounted items for as long as they liked.
“Over time, you accumulate older inventory and I said, we’ve got to find a way to get this in the hands of our customers,” LaBiche Jewelers co-owner Tricia LaBiche told National Jeweler. “My husband has not ever been a fan of jewelry sales and having people always thinking that every time you turn around its 50 percent off, like it is at the mall, so he wanted a reason for the sale.”
LaBiche’s solution? Wrap it into a “renovation celebration”--the store recently had been repainted and adorned with new awnings, so LaBiche proposed a small ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick off the inventory sale.
“We did the ribbon cutting, opened the doors and let (wrist-banded) customers shop for long as they needed,” she said, a total of about 141 people. “We stayed open as long as it took to take care of everyone, until about 3:30 p.m. or so.”
LaBiche, who co-owns the store with her husband Steven, said they did a lot of advertising prior to the sale--postcards, a billboard, radio, television and print ads, and a lot of promoting on Facebook, where the store has more than 13,000 likes.
Prior to the event, the LaBiches also personally called some of their best customers on the phone and invited them to shop the inventory sale on Friday, ahead of the general crowd. Around 80 of these VIPs showed up at the store.
“It was a showcase sale,” LaBiche said. “We pulled our newer inventory out of the showcases and put the on-sale, older inventory in to make it easy for our customers. We followed up with a 40 percent off sale
on Monday and Tuesday as well.”
All told across the four days of sales--Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday--LaBiche Jewelers sold about $57,000 worth of inventory at cost.
Broken down, about 770 items sold that had an average age of 564 days, a little more than a year-and-a-half.
“It was a lot of fun,” LaBiche said. “I want to make it an annual event.”
More on Independents
The Latest
ColumnistsJul 08, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Jewelers Struggle With Premium PricingLuxury brands charge thousands for their shoes and handbags. Jewelers pricing diamond products should take note, Peter Smith writes.
TechnologyJul 08, 2025
‘Diamond Divas’ Brings the Showroom to Social Media Reality SeriesIt follows New York-based brand Shahla Karimi Jewelry’s all-women team in “Say Yes to the Dress” meets “The Office”-style episodes.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
Policies & IssuesJul 08, 2025
SMO Gold Launches New FoundationIn its inaugural year, the SMO Foundation will focus on supporting two organizations in West Africa and one in South America.
Weekly QuizJul 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesJul 07, 2025
Higher Tariffs Set to Take Effect Aug. 1, Officials SayThe announcement comes just as the 90-day freeze on the “reciprocal” tariffs nears its end, giving countries more time to negotiate.
MajorsJul 07, 2025
Natural Diamond Council CEO David Kellie To Step DownKellie, who joined the organization in 2019, will remain in his role through the end of 2025.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.
CrimeJul 07, 2025
7 Suspects Charged in California Jewelry Store BurglaryPolice officers apprehended the suspects as they were allegedly attempting to gain entry into another jewelry store.
Events & AwardsJul 07, 2025
Applications Open for Ella Klein Internship The program, a collaboration between Julius Klein Diamonds and the Women’s Jewelry Association, is in its second year.
Supplier BulletinJul 03, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Brilliant Earth Names Tennis Star Madison Keys as Its New AmbassadorThe 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Muse Sets Up Shop in Nordstrom’s New Jewelry HallThe West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.
SourcingJul 03, 2025
SRK Announces Its Natural Diamonds Are Now Carbon-NegativeThis past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.
CollectionsJul 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Firework of Diamonds From YepremThe brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.
CrimeJul 03, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in BurglariesJSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Boucheron Looks to LA for First West Coast FlagshipLocated on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Marco Bicego Opens Milan FlagshipThe new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.
WatchesJul 02, 2025
Chrono24 Revamps Brand, Launches New CampaignThe online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.
SourcingJul 02, 2025
Bernadette Mack Joins Gem Legacy as Executive DirectorShe will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.
CrimeJul 02, 2025
Pandora, Amazon Partner to Uncover Counterfeit Jewelry NetworkWorking with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit and law enforcement, Pandora helped to shut down a large-scale counterfeit network in China.
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Cast Closes Business, Plans for RelaunchThe jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.
Events & AwardsJul 01, 2025
William Goldberg Diamonds, FIT Partner for Apprenticeship ProgramThe company is providing the opportunity for an FIT student to work alongside master diamond cutter Willie Lopez in its workshop.
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Claire’s Is Looking for a Buyer, Report SaysThe jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.
TrendsJul 01, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Red Hot RubiesWelcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.
CollectionsJun 30, 2025
State Property’s New Jewelry Tells ‘The Story of Everything’Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.
ColumnistsJun 30, 2025
The Smart Lab: Why Q3 Is the Secret Weapon For Holiday Jewelry SalesThe best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.
