FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
EditorsMay 21, 2013
A social media nightmare
By now, I am sure many of you have seen the episode of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares featuring Arizona restaurant Amy’s Baking Company Bakery Boutique & Bistro.
I won’t recap the entire hour-long extravaganza (though it truly is something to see) or every he-said, she-said twist and turn in the social-media saga. Basically, though, the owners were criticized publicly, both on the show and later online, for their food and how they run their business. And they, perhaps, did not respond as graciously as they could have.
But in every failing lies a lesson and I think there are some great ones retailers can learn about handling “haters,” as one of the owners of Amy’s Baking Company termed her online critics.
After seeing the Amy’s Baking Company episode on Hulu last Thursday, I ran across a great article by Forbes that outlined six things one should never do on social media.
The column’s tips included waiting to cool down before writing a response (which is fine advice in almost all acrimonious situations), avoiding insults or derogatory language, and knowing, like Kenny Rogers at a card table, when to walk away from an online argument.
The article also mentioned two other tips that I thought might need some more explanation. The writer mentions not to respond to “trolls,” and I didn’t know exactly what a troll was. My first thought, after ruling out short people that live under a bridge, was that the author was referencing spambots.
But social media-savvy jeweler Dan Gordon, of Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City, set me straight. An online troll refers to a person that visits different web site expressly for the purpose of picking fights.
Gordon says trolls usually post using a pseudonym and a random avatar and are recognizable because they generally do not have civil debates and their arguments are without substance, basis or actual purpose. They also may pop up multiple times baiting you on the same subject; Gordon says he had one guy who kept contacting him online arguing that diamonds are not rare. He eventually blocked this person from being able to contact him.
After talking with Dan, I suddenly became aware that I had my very own troll on Twitter, whom I eventually blocked as well. I wasn’t
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
aware at the time, however, that I was being trolled or even that such a thing as trolling existed.
But, back to the Forbes article … in the story, the writer also mentions a website called Reddit, warning that it is “not for the weak” and that it may not be worth people’s time to respond to threads on the website “unless you have thick skin.”
Reddit is a site comprised entirely of user-generated content that allows very liberal speech and can take on a mob type of mentality. In other words, if one person doesn’t like what you’ve posted, chances are many other people are going to jump on the bandwagon. What happens on Reddit is compared to what happens in large crowds, with people losing an sense of individual responsibility and doing things they would never dream of doing if they were just by themselves.
“If you do something dumb on there,” Gordon advises, “you are definitely going to get called out and it may be by many (people).”
Consider yourself warned.
But, back to the Forbes article … in the story, the writer also mentions a website called Reddit, warning that it is “not for the weak” and that it may not be worth people’s time to respond to threads on the website “unless you have thick skin.”
Reddit is a site comprised entirely of user-generated content that allows very liberal speech and can take on a mob type of mentality. In other words, if one person doesn’t like what you’ve posted, chances are many other people are going to jump on the bandwagon. What happens on Reddit is compared to what happens in large crowds, with people losing an sense of individual responsibility and doing things they would never dream of doing if they were just by themselves.
“If you do something dumb on there,” Gordon advises, “you are definitely going to get called out and it may be by many (people).”
Consider yourself warned.
More on Editors
The Latest
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
TrendsAug 08, 2025
Piece of the Week: Rahaminov Diamonds’ Bezel BangleThe brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Weekly QuizAug 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
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 & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ CollectionDesigner Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.
TrendsAug 06, 2025
Paola De Luca to Release Trendbook 2027+She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami JewelerOmar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane KatrinaThe New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of CoverageLilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2025
JA Announces Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship WinnersThe organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet JewelersThe addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ NecklaceThe necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award WinnersJewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.
