Trends

The PR Adviser: Dear Lilian …

TrendsMar 29, 2016

The PR Adviser: Dear Lilian …

In a continuation of last month’s column, Lilian Raji gives a jewelry designer with new collections two hard-and-fast rules for connecting with editors.

2016_Lilian-Raji-new.jpg
Lilian Raji is a strategic marketing and public relations adviser who helps luxury lifestyle brands sell more products to luxury buyers.
In this month’s PR Adviser, Lilian Raji continues giving advice to a jewelry designer looking for editorial coverage on two new collections. Read Lilian’s initial response in the February edition of The PR Adviser.

Have a question for Lilian? Email her at nationaljeweler@lmrpr.com.

                                                                ---------

Hi Lilian,
I just read your article about finding a jewelry product photographer and I think it is one of the best and most entertaining articles! Thank you for your guidance. I have a question about PR and properly approaching magazine editors in general. Although I have been in the industry a long time, I am launching two collections--one is 18-karat gold/diamond and one is cause jewelry for bullying awareness. I have two separate websites but need exposure. I have no budget to hire a PR team. How would one “emerging” designer get help and, with a zero budget, be in touch with editors? Thank you for any resources or recommendations!
 
Best Regards,
Alison Nagasue


Dear Alison,
When we left off, you were getting some fabulous photography and figuring out what spectacular, intriguing, death-defying, miraculous story you have to tell press to make them take notice of your jewelry collection. How’s that coming, love?

Have you considered what inspires your jewelry-making? Have you examined your frame of mind when you sat down to make a particular piece?

Were you angry at your significant other and channeled that anger into a pair of spectrolite drop dagger earrings? Were you just falling in love with your future matrimonial mate and allowed Cupid to guide your hands into making a necklace with alternating ruby hearts and emerald-tipped arrows?

Did you finally stand up in your work cubicle, scream at the top of your lungs “I’m mad as hell and can’t take it anymore!,” storm out of your office building and walk into your design studio to create a ball-and-chain motif charm bracelet?

What passion went behind creating your jewelry?  

The pursuit of luxury is a passionate affair, and jewelry is one of the most luxurious things we own. If you haven’t yet found your story, return to your emotional motivation to build your line and find a way to talk about it so others can feel your joy, pain, anxiety and/or triumph.

I discovered the power of storytelling to help sell luxury products when I was working in retail back in 2003.

One story from my archives is that of my absolute
favorite watch brand, Jaeger-LeCoultre. They make a watch called The Reverso, a handsome timepiece with a watch case that literally flips around on your wrist. The Reverso was the solution for polo players in the 1930s who wanted to wear a watch while playing their sport but didn’t want to risk a cracked crystal. And, voila, the Reverso was born. Just flip the case around, hiding your crystal, and carry on fearlessly whacking that ball with your mallet.

I would tell this story to customers--with the requisite drama and flair, of course--and next thing you know, they were handing me their credit card. And then the next, next thing you know, they were coming back to me with their friends in tow so I could tell their friends the story of their new, magnificent toy. By purchasing The Reverso, these customers now saw themselves as part of this story, as part of the legend, and that made them very, very happy.

Communicating with editors isn’t that different from communicating with a prospective customer. You need to give editors a reason to “buy” your jewelry. Their currency is free editorial coverage for you.

Have I impressed enough the importance of a good story? Good! Let’s move on.

How should you connect with editors?

The first thing you must do is to figure out who will care about your collection--just because they work at a magazine doesn’t mean they have the remotest inclination to hear about your designs.  

This is the mistake many people make when trying to connect with editors. They don’t take the time to find out the exact person who would not only be willing to listen to you, but whose job it is to do stories on new jewelry lines.  

To be quite frank, not taking this step is sheer laziness that can lead to disastrous consequences.  

There are editors who will publicly shame the person who emailed them information that should have gone to someone else. Fortunately, I haven’t heard of any jewelry editors who do this, although their frustrations get shared amongst friends. And instead of publicly humiliating you, they’ll just block your emails.  

So, rule #1: make sure you’re contacting the right person.

I know what you’re thinking: how do I know it’s the right person?

Most PR people subscribe to this ridiculously expensive service called Cision. Cision tells us the who, what, when, where and why of an editor or writer. We enter some search times and with the snap of a finger we have an idea of whom to contact. (I say “we have an idea” because Cision lists still need to be vetted for reasons beyond the scope of this article.)

Before I was able to afford this ridiculously expensive service, when I was still a young grasshopper learning the ropes of this industry, I did things the old-fashioned way: I sat in a bookstore, pulled out every magazine in which I wanted to get placement for my clients, analyzed the masthead and copied down names.

The masthead is usually in the first few pages of a magazine, and occasionally, in the last few pages. It lists everyone who works for the magazine and their titles. What you want to do, Alison, is open up your favorite magazine, find the masthead, and copy down every name that has either “accessories” or “jewelry” in their title.   

Now, since it’s no longer 1999 and everyone has access to the Internet, you can stop packing that backpack and preparing food for a three-day expedition to find the Last American Bookstore. You can find most mastheads online. And if you’re so inclined, I highly recommend subscribing to the relatively inexpensive MediaBistro, which has a whole section devoted to mastheads and is updated on a regular basis.

Rule #2: Know your prey.

I first heard this phrase back in the early aughts when I attended a seminar on pitching to the press. The editor who uttered these words could not emphasize enough the importance of knowing whom you’re pitching, inside and out.

Just because an editor covers jewelry doesn’t mean they’ll be interested in your jewelry. There’s any number of reasons why an editor or a particular publication wants nothing to do with your new interpretation of the ear to nose ring that Janet Jackson wore in her “Runaway” video. The most common reason, however, is that your jewelry is too expensive or not expensive enough for that particular publication.

The jewelry editor at W Magazine was always ready to hear stories of any of the French high jewelry brands I represented, especially since not one of them had pieces less than $10,000. The editors at Cosmopolitan? Not so much.  

Cosmo readers aren’t thinking of how to spend $35,000 on a peridot, yellow sapphire and diamond frog ring; they want to know what belly necklace they should be wearing when they perform the Dance of the Seven Shimmying Doves for their lovers.

You can save yourself a lot of time and rejection by following your desired jewelry writers online: Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and, if they welcome you, Facebook. Also, make sure you actually read what they’ve written about in the past and what they’re writing about now.  

You can get a good sense of what an editor or writer likes by seeing what they’re often posting about. The editors whose tastes and interest are aligned with yours are the ones with whom you’ll have the most luck.

So now, Alison, you know whom to contact and you’ve cyber-stalked them so you know what they like, down to whether they consider themselves a Samantha, Miranda, Charlotte or Carrie. It’s time to introduce yourself.

Some editors have no problem being pitched on Twitter or Facebook but many do. You’ll be able to gauge which category your prey falls under by examining their social media feeds. If you don’t see them responding to pitches on social media, it’s safe to bet they probably won’t appreciate your contacting them there.

Personal Facebook accounts are often relegated to talking about everything but business affairs. For some, being pitched on a personal account is equivalent to stopping them while they’re grocery shopping to tell them about your collection.

You should, however, try to make sincere comments on some of their social media posts and retweet often any inspiration you find from them. You’d be amazed how doing this enough times will encourage the editor to come to you. How else are they going to know who this smart, intelligent person is who rightly shares their views?

In addition to social media, you should also contact them directly via email. Save phone calls for when expressly asked to do so.  

In this email, you’re going to tell the editor who you are and why she should want to know about you. You need to do this with no more than six sentences, less if you’re able. Insert one or two images from your collection into the body of the email.  

Do not, I repeat, do not send an attachment when you’re first introducing yourself. Until an editor knows who you are, your email with the attachment is potentially a virus-infested booby trap. She’ll let you know if and when she wants you to send an attached image.

In the meantime, wait for her to get back to you.  

I guarantee you she has 9,768 emails in her inbox right now, and she was probably on email 478 when yours popped up. So give her time--five to seven business days before you follow up should do.

If you still don’t hear back after following up, and you’re absolutely certain you have the right person and your jewelry fits the profile of what she’s known to feature, then this may not be the right time to connect with her. You may be, for example, reinterpreting stud earrings when she’s really looking for new concepts in chandeliers.  

It’s not you--it’s her.  

So give her some time, and check back in with her every six to eight weeks. Make sure you’re always checking back with something new. Sending the exact same information over and over again will definitely land you on the blocked list.

Alison, love, we’ve covered a lot today, and oh my, there’s so much more. But this will give you a good start. Good luck with your new collection, and I’m always here to answer any additional questions.

I’m off to go enjoy this delightful weather and another cup of Iron Goddess of Mercy oolong tea. Until next time …

Lilian Raji is a strategic marketing and public relations adviser who helps luxury lifestyle brands sell more products to luxury buyers. Send questions for The PR Adviser to nationaljeweler@lmrpr.com or contact her at lilian@lmrpr.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Lilian Rajiis a strategic communications and PR adviser who helps companies understand their marketing problems, then designs and executes strategies to solve them.

The Latest

Stock image of a polished diamonds being held by tweezers
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.

Lindsey Scoggins Studio convertible flower earrings
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award Winners

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

Matthew Tratner, new president of Continental Buying Group
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President

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

rio-article photo-diamond.jpg
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine Jewelry

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

Stock image of rough diamonds from the Kimberley mine
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says

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

Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Pomellato Mini London blue topaz and diamond bracelet
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%

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

Zadok Rolex Austin
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in Austin

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

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

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

Crowd of people in a shopping mall
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in July

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

Making a Killing in Diamonds by Rob Bates
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series

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

Tacori bezel-set diamond bands
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LA

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

Mighty Fierce Audacious Necklace, Sandy Rubin Aziza Necklace, Koulianos Designs Illuminations Shield Pendant
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2025
Melee The Show Welcomes 15 New Designers

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

Auctim emerald auction
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough Emeralds

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

AGS Board President for 2025-2026 Alexis Padis
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President

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

Stock image of shipping containers
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs

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

Nanis Ipanema Collection Campaign
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’

A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.

Kevin O’ Leary and George Mayer of The 1916 Company
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance Platform

The retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.

Sissy’s new Little Rock store
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas

The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.

Jemma Wynne Forme Toggle Necklace
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ Necklace

Anne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

September Hong Kong jewelry show
Events & AwardsJul 25, 2025
Pre-Registration Open for September Hong Kong Show

Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong is scheduled for Sept. 15 to 21, and buyer pre-registration will be available until Sept. 7.

Bulgari Celestial Mosaic spinel necklace
FinancialsJul 25, 2025
LVMH Sales Slip in H1 Amid ‘Prevailing Uncertainties’

Renovations at Tiffany & Co. stores ate into profits in the company’s watch and jewelry division.

Mark and Candy Udell
Events & AwardsJul 24, 2025
2 Retailers to Receive 2026 Gem Award for Lifetime Achievement

Mark and Candy Udell of London Jewelers will receive the honor at the 24th annual Gem Awards next March.

De Beers marine mining vessel the SS Nujoma
SourcingJul 24, 2025
De Beers Sees Diamond Production Sink 36% in Q2

While struggles continue at the mining and trading end of the pipeline, consumer demand for diamond jewelry is holding steady.

Francesca Villa Fantasia Collection The Crab Pendant, The Mermaid Pendant, Keep Dancing Seahorse Pendant, Keep Dancing Ladybug Pendant, Secret Dreams Pendant, The Puffer Fish Takes Flight Pendant
CollectionsJul 24, 2025
Francesca Villa Adds Dimension to Her Intaglio Characters

The “Fantasia” jewelry collection turns the intaglio animals from her “Close Encounters” collection into 3D characters.

Breitling’s special Eagles Super Bowl watch on gold bracelet
WatchesJul 24, 2025
Breitling Drops Super Bowl Watch Honoring the Philadelphia Eagles

The special Classic Avi Chronograph 42 with an Eagles-green dial is limited to 59 pieces, a nod to the Super Bowl Philadelphia just won.

Stock image of crime scene tape
CrimeJul 23, 2025
JSA Warns of Violent String of Smash-and-Grabs in California

JSA has received reports of mobs swarming jewelry stores, driving cars into the storefront or smashing through the windows.

Silvia Furmanovich Kasmir Collection Carnelian Bracelet and Sketch
CollectionsJul 23, 2025
Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Kashmir’ Collection Is a Tribute to Northern India

The “Kashmir” collection features centuries-old craft techniques made in collaboration with the region’s master papier-mâché artisans.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy