Sherry Smith shares tips for fostering successful vendor-retailer partnerships, from marketing investment to fast-seller replenishment.
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![Sherry Smith is the director of business development at Edge Retail Academy, the leading jewelry business consulting and data aggregation firm. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/b800e106d7a4af0867459d8e375b4b03.jpg)
Sherry Smith dishes on the month’s highs and lows and the two categories consumers were loving ahead of Valentine’s Day.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4df353ab37e9c2cb2d3cea95ce11c7ae.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the final results for the month of December as well as for the full year.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/64c880bfec1dcb2c534e6bdbb224d07e.jpg)
The first 21 days of the month revealed surprising shifts in consumer behavior, Sherry Smith says.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/68421ad7aefd08b4485179541beba725.jpg)
Independent jewelers’ sales increased 1 percent from Dec. 7-14 and some interesting trends emerged, Sherry Smith writes.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/ef4b40241906151850c621facf903384.jpg)
Sherry Smith dishes on bridal versus fashion diamond jewelry sales and the “unexpected heroes” of the first week of the month.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/e54b41b2f018430d165bb865b467cbe7.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the numbers on jewelry sales in November and reveals the category that “emerged as a standout.”
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/d270210a958dba484a33278260a212ab.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the results so far this year, including which categories are the sales standouts and which are struggling.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6cb58dbb9e7e87bd10b040a5880694a5.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down retailers’ performance last year, including how natural diamonds fared vs. lab-grown.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/63f73512ea207e11b0e3b16dc1e7d9c0.jpg)
Current jewelry sales trends portend tougher days ahead. Sherry Smith shares six things retailers can do to make sure they are ready.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/7c3ab89f860c6bfb14fb7ea6e9438551.jpg)
Sherry Smith digs into year-to-date data on lab-grown vs. natural diamonds, the performance of colored gemstone jewelry, and more.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8c0b8f2b44a27b66e6e13356d22c043d.jpg)
Last year was great and 2022 has started out strong, but, Sherry Smith notes, myriad factors could impact sales going forward.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4621cb21f3684d0c63bcb09bb8b812ec.jpg)
Sherry Smith shares independent jewelers’ sales figures for the third week of the month.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/18776565143309d3d41ef79330fd50f4.jpg)
Sherry Smith shares the numbers on independent jewelers’ sales from Dec. 8 to 14.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/29174140561886448cf5a6539f9d1306.jpg)
Sherry Smith shares data on independent jewelers’ sales for the first week of the month.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/868801f3e4360d1790f93292b5162b77.jpg)
All categories showed strength, but diamonds led the way, Sherry Smith writes in her latest column.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/59d93614f2581d67a4e162f71a9ce63f.jpg)
So why not make it one filled with happy, productive employees, Sherry Smith asks in her latest column.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. In her role, Smith works with wholesalers, brands, and retail stores on business mentoring, and data analysis and aggregation. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. 2021_Sherry Smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c8cbbc8ffabee53735663d38709ce723.jpg)
In her latest column, Sherry Smith weighs March 2021 against March 2019 to give a more accurate picture of how jewelry is performing.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/c4bc6ad7db6a4a4b57e2f61fba39b475.jpg)
V-Day was sweet for jewelers this year, and it has independent jewelers off to a strong start in 2021.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/f6a5ac9229280dee90d2e40fb1280e19.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down gross sales, average retail sale and more for independent jewelers in the first 21 days of the month.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/28c789bfb827d518e8506f57c80b14bb.jpg)
It’s not too late to call your best customers and find out who they still need to shop for this holiday season, Sherry Smith writes.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/e899625048266dd8ea3ff06ae68a1f2a.jpg)
Sherry Smith says things are looking up for independent jewelers, but waiting to replenish top sellers could be a costly misstep this holiday season.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/de27278db6251b0d7aad0890fec097e2.jpg)
Following a “dismal” April and a “bleak” May, Sherry Smith notes that independent jewelers’ sales have warmed up recently, particularly in this one category.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/e3427d9ddfd5c62d7cf14a5d532c8231.jpg)
Jewelers need to re-evaluate their sales forecasts, their inventory and their employees, writes Sherry Smith in this special edition of On Data.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. sherry-smith.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/38b57776ba9db2d2a85eab58fd91a4c0.jpg)
In another special edition of On Data, Sherry Smith says jewelers need to consult their team of experts about the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.