Independents

What Will Become of Retail Jewelry Stores? Part II

IndependentsApr 19, 2016

What Will Become of Retail Jewelry Stores? Part II

In the second part of a two-part column, Peter Smith shares 3 pieces of advice for jewelers along with a list of recommended reading.

2016-Peter_Smith_copy.jpg
Peter Smith has more than 30 years of experience building wholesale and retail sales teams. He currently is president of Vibhor Gems.

In the first installment of What Will Become of Retail Jewelry Stores?, published last week, Peter Smith challenged jewelers to examine the strengths and weakness of their business in a number of key areas, including staffing, inventory and retail environment.

 
In Part II of his two-part series, Smith advises them to fine-tune their marketing strategy, find a mentor and never stop learning.

He also shares a not-unlucky list of 13 books, blogs and website that might be of interest to retailers.

Market to fewer people
A marketing “strategy” that is designed to maximize the accumulated dollars that you can collect from your various brand partners is not a strategy. It is leveraging dollars for its own sake, and it might be the worst way to market your business. If you cannot communicate your relevance in a consistent and clear manner, then customers will not have to tune you out because you will never have been relevant to them in the first place.

If you want to be the bridal player in your market, than make sure you are telling that story over and over across all your mediums, including your website, your social media and digital efforts, and in your more traditional advertising vehicles such as TV, radio, billboards and your brick-and-mortar store, inside and out.

If you commit to being the bridal player and you spread your advertising resources across a variety of brands, categories and messages, you will not be successful in reaching the ears and eyeballs of the most important customers for you. This does not mean that you cannot have more than one message, but they should be completely consistent with your stated aspiration and crystal clear to your target customer. In short, if you try to say too much, you are saying nothing.  

A reasonable person (not in the industry and not in media) ought to be able to look at your store and all of your marketing and PR efforts and know what you are about: “That’s the price store,” “You’ve got to check those guys out for the best engagement ring brands,” “That’s a great watch store,”  “They’ve got the coolest jewelry,” etc.

There are far more capable people than me when it comes to advising you on the best marketing plans but I will say this as strongly as I can: If your website is not, first and
foremost, mobile-friendly, you are in trouble. Hand-held devices are the first screen that prospective customers consult when checking out websites. A site that is not completely mobile-friendly may as well not exist for millennials. If you haven’t updated your website in a few years, it is probably long past its expiration date.

Educate yourself
Whether you have a post-graduate degree or whether you are a high-school dropout, you must be committed to continuously learning about retail, about consumer behavior, about your market, about what’s going on in the industry and in retail in general. You don’t have to be a voracious reader of books to keep yourself up to date (although it would help) but you have to make time to continue to learn.

There are so many great resources available to us from LinkedIn, to Twitter (it’s not about the characters, it’s about the links that take you to great articles) to Facebook (you don’t have to be consumed in the “who ate what, when and where” to reap the benefits). You can take a few minutes to search great sources of information from organizations like Gallup and Forrester Research and Retail Dive and, of course, the industry blogs and articles.

There are also great educational opportunities throughout our industry and in local universities and even community colleges. You have to stay current with what is happening in retail (not just our industry) and constantly assess your business against what you are learning ongoing.

If you are one of those people who claims not to have any time for reading, to paraphrase Jeff Foxworthy, you just might be in trouble.

Find a mentor
One of the most important things you can do for your business is to find a mentor. There are some very qualified people in our industry and there are, no doubt, very qualified and capable people in your community.

We all have aspects of the business that we feel pretty confident about and other aspects that we are just not that good at, quite frankly.

If, for instance, finances are your Achilles heel, find a mentor who can hold your hand and guide you through the process. Likewise, if the people side of the business is a struggle for you, engage someone who can help you with that process. No matter how talented you are, you will benefit from being able to talk through your challenges and opportunities with a trusted advisor.

I’ll close with a paragraph from The Retail Revival by Doug Stephens, as well as a reminder to read it if you really care about what is happening in retail.
 
“There are two things to keep in mind,” Stephens wrote. “First, at its core, shopping is a social activity. We shop not only to gather and acquire things we need, but also to commune in public places, to be with people. I’ll be the first to argue that online stores will get better and better at fulfilling the distribution aspect of shopping, but I will also hold that nothing will entirely replace the social experience of visiting the market. Second, although the list of things we as consumers are comfortable buying online grows each year, there are still things that are simply more confidently purchased in a physical store setting.”

I have also included below a few suggestions for other books, blogs and websites that might also be of interest to you.

Good luck!

Suggested Reading
-- The Retail Revival, Doug Stephens
-- Hiring Squirrels, Peter Smith
-- Buy-Ology, Martin Lindstrom
-- First, Break All The Rules, Marcus Buckingham
-- Good To Great, Jim Collins
-- Y-Size Your Business, Jason Ryan Dorsey
-- Drive, Daniel Pink
-- The New Rules of Retail, Robin Lewis and Michael Dart  
-- Conversion, Mark Ryski

Blogs/Newsletters/Twitter
-- Retail Dive (e-mail newsletter)
-- Retail Wire (e-mail newsletter)
-- Inc.
-- Doug@Retail Prophet (Doug Stephens)  

Peter Smith, author of Hiring Squirrels: 12 Essential Interview Questions to Uncover Great Retail Sales Talent, has spent more than 30 years building sales teams at retail and at wholesale. He currently is president of Vibhor Gems. Email him at peter-at-vibhorgems.com, dublinsmith-at-yahoo.com or reach him on LinkedIn.
Peter Smithis an industry consultant, speaker, and sales trainer, and author of 3 books on sales. Reach him at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com.

The Latest

Boucheron Quatre Sand Collection
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed Sand

Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Stock image of crime scene tape
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

Neil Lane and Boucheron bow tie brooch
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.

gia-edu main image.png
Brought to you by
A Brilliant Future Is Here

Online education from GIA experts.

Just Jules opal necklace
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful Show

The month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.

Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Peter Smith National Jeweler columnist
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-Reflection

Smith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.

Plah Black Swan Earrings
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From Vicenzaoro

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.

reDollar-fine-jewelry-department.jpg
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment Program

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

People shopping in a mall
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September

Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.

Gemfields rough emeralds
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%

Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.

Pandora executives Alexander Lacik and Berta de Pablos-Barbier
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO

Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.

Gavel near stacks of books
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store Scam

Two men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell John Hardy Lovestruck Collection
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John Hardy

The “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.

Kwait White and Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear Focus

Move over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.

Mark Henry Leandra Medine Cohen
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in Canada

The New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.

Overnight volume 7 bridal catalog
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal Catalog

The “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.

Hand holding holiday shopping bags
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard Says

Holiday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.

Austin Shines Jewelry Award
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced

Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.

Kwit Square Signet Pinky Ring in Red and Azure
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky Ring

The red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.

Jewelers of America Fly In
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-In

A trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.

Entrance to Jwaneng diamond mine in Botswana
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers

Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.

Kira Jewels Growing Rowing Machines
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond Production

The manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.

Alex Moss SoHo store
IndependentsSep 25, 2025
Alex Moss’ New Flagship Brings Bold Jewels to SoHo

The jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.

Matthew Wilson, Kavin Kulamavalava, and a Elmasolvex VA
WatchesSep 25, 2025
Wilson & Son Jewelers Donates to the Horological Society of New York

The Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.

Representatives of India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and Indian government leaders
Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
Tariffs Throw Diamond Trade Into Disarray

The 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.

Father’s Day diamond advertisement that ran in India
SourcingSep 24, 2025
De Beers Adopts New Strategies to Drive Natural Diamond Demand in India

De Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.

Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
For Jewelry Manufacturers, Higher Tariffs Create Long-Term Worries

They are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.

×

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