Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
The Smart Lab: Now Is the Time to Begin Online Advertising
Jewelers shouldn’t wait until Dec. 1 to start getting their names and products out there for the holiday season, says Emmanuel Raheb.

The holiday season is characterized by a flurry of gift-giving, goal-reaching and, if you’re a jeweler, sales.
Advertising is how you make sure your brand and product offerings stay in the minds of potential customers. If you wait too long to begin your online advertising, you could be hurting your Q4 results.
While most consumers might make their purchases in December, they begin shopping around more than a month in advance. According to a Google survey, 59 percent of U.S. consumers planned to begin holiday shopping in November.
This is a crucial statistic to be privy to because it means that November is when you want to begin delivering your brand messages to consumers. The goal is for consumers to remember your marketing when December rolls around and they are ready to buy (your products hopefully).
According to Cardlytics, there are four types of shoppers, as characterized by the time they shop during the holiday season:
—Steady shoppers: those who shop throughout the season;
—Early-bird shoppers: those who begin in October and early November;
—Black Friday shoppers: those who shop mostly over Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday; and
—Last-minute shoppers: those who wait for the last few weeks of December.
And here’s what the numbers say about these shoppers across 10 product categories:
—46.4 percent are steady shoppers;
—26 percent are last-minute shoppers;
—19 percent are Black Friday shoppers; and
—8.6 percent are early-bird shoppers.
Additionally, the Cardlytics report says that Black Friday is losing its significance.
Despite this, most retailers continue to target most of their advertising spend toward Black Friday shoppers. With only 19 percent of consumers spending their money during that time, an informed retailer knows that it’s far better to target a strategic mix of all the segments.
When jewelers begin advertising in November, they are reaching the nearly 9 percent early-bird segment and the 46.4 percent steady shopper segment.
When jewelers continue to spend their advertising budget consistently throughout the holiday season, they also reach the Black Friday and last-minute shoppers.
When companies begin their holiday advertising in November, they are laying the groundwork for the rest of their holiday marketing. Customers are more receptive to companies they have heard from before.
If you begin advertising in December, you will lose sales to companies that began in November because customers will be more likely to purchase from the companies they saw earlier.
The best way to target customers is through digital marketing
Additionally, Statista reports that retail e-commerce is predicted to grow 40 percent between 2018 and 2022.
And according to Criteo, Dec. 23, 2017, was the biggest day ever in the history of mobile commerce in the United States, with 48 percent of all purchases being made on smartphones.
The time to invest in digital marketing is now.
The web has become an important marketing tool for companies in every industry; there is no method more efficient for targeting the right consumers at the right time.
Emmanuel Raheb is the CEO of Smart Age Solutions, a digital ad agency and coveted Premier Google Partner. Raheb is passionate about helping and strategically growing national jewelry brands and local retailers alike. Contact him at eraheb@smartagesolutions.com.
The Latest

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.

Lilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

The organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.


The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.

As summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Moshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.

Xavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.

The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.

The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.

Jewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.

Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.

The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.

The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.

Its opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.

Respondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.

The first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.

The online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.

She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.

Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.