The Plumb Club’s Podcast

Passing the Torch Without Blowing Up the Family Business

Succession planning is key to the long-term health of many businesses, especially for the family-owned independent jeweler. There are many delicate factors to consider including timing, method, as well as assuming leadership while maintaining a positive relationship with family and staff. In this podcast, Michael Burpoe on behalf of Ostbye, speaks to retailers, Monteca Confer Beisel (Confers Jewelers), Samantha Tupper (Wink’s Fine Jewelers) and Craig MacBean (Ostbye) about the process, pitfalls and positives of their succession into family businesses and how they are planning to pass the torch to the next generation.

Jewelry Trends & Innovations: Enhancing Retail Success

Understanding the newest trends and innovations that are shaping the industry can help propel a retailer’s success. In this podcast narrated by Ethan Akhavan of Ryan Gems provides key take aways such as insights into current trends, the importance of responsible sourcing, and leveraging technology in jewelry retail. He provides listeners with key tips on staying ahead and discusses the concept of jewelry curation, which is a strategic approach to creating cohesive and appealing collections that resonate with customers. 

Promoting Your Brand with Influencers & Celebrities

Many of today’s consumers get their jewelry buying advice from social media influencers and celebrities. How can retailers use influencers to promote their brand? To find out, Cheryl Kremkow talks to Jordan and Allison Peck of Brevani, a popular brand from Color Merchants. Brevani's jewelry is often seen on the red carpet and shows like The Bachelorette. Learn how a retailer can partner with influencers or celebrities and how to take advantage of the times when celebrities wear the brands you carry. Brevani is a brand offered by Color Merchants Inc., which has garnered a reputation for unmatched quality and customer service. The Brevani brand is often seen on television programs and red carpets.

Consumer Engagement Despite Fluctuating Costs

As product material costs fluctuate, retailers face numerous challenges to profitability and pricing stability. However, these challenges can also create retail opportunities for innovation and growth. In this podcast Aashish Javeri of Uni-Design outlines opportunities that are spurred by this environment and provides strategies that retailers can employ to navigate the shifting costs while fostering long-term loyalty to spur sales. Uni-Design USA caters to clients around the world with dedicated diamond manufacturing facilities. The company enjoys access to a consistent diamond supply at the most competitive prices and has the advantage of making jewelry for different markets within the shortest time frames.

Finding the Best Earrings for Every Face Shape

In this episode Cheryl Kremkow discusses how to take your earring styling advice to the next level by selecting the right earring silhouette for every individual customer. Listeners will learn how to analyze and determine each face shape so they can guide customers to the shapes and styles that will make them feel and look their best, encouraging repeat visits and sales This episode is sponsored by the earring specialists at Carla Corporation, who manufacture a wide range of earrings styles in the United States. Established in 1965, Carla Corporation serves both small and large retailers nationwide.

Timeless or Trendy? Navigating Trends and Classics in Jewelry

One of the most exciting and continuous debates among jewelry merchandisers is the age-old question of stocking the classics vs. more trendy styles. In this episode by jewelry manufacturer H.K. Designs and Craft Lab Grown Diamonds, Jeffrey Cohen, explains to listeners why some jewelry styles stand the test of time, while others come and go. He discusses what makes a piece a classic and why we are drawn to trends, and how a retailer can balance both when building a merchandise plan. H.K. Designs is part of the Hari Krishna Group, a vertically integrated company known for pioneering innovations and creating cutting-edge designs.

Custom Design and What The Next-Gen Consumer Expects

The jewelry purchase is not only about the glamor and exclusivity of the amazing gems and materials of a piece. The jewelry purchase is about being part of the most important parts and meaningful commemorations that a consumer will have in their lives. Joseph Sanger of Shah Luxury explains who the “next-gen” customer is and talks about their expectations of jewelers and the industry overall. He outlines what custom design means and why it can be a win/win/win for the customer, the retail jeweler and a retail vendor. He also provides insights and tips that can be used in-store during sales presentations and customer communications. The Shah Luxury Group is a leader in pushing boundaries of technology, innovation, and design. They strive to product world-class jewelry that appeals to clients in the US, Canada and other markets across the globe.

The Importance of Customized Orders in Shorter Lead Time

The digital age has reshaped customer expectations across every industry by serving up instantly gratifying experiences that seem as if they have been tailored to the individual. In this podcast by The Jasani Group, the listener will hear how this newfound customer expectation extends to the jewelry industry and what customers look for in both product and personalization. Listeners will learn about a number of tools that support digital customization and how customer and businesses can collaborate to create unique pieces and keep the customers engaged and informed throughout the entire process. The Jasani Group is a vertically integrated company with expertise in all facets of the diamond industry, from rough diamond trading, to state-of-the-art diamond manufacturing, global distribution, jewelry manufacturing and marketing of branded jewelry.

10 Pearl Myths Busted

Pearls are enjoying a renaissance of popularity, but there are still some preconceptions that need to be clarified to help a retailer take advantage of the increased awareness and boost their pearl sales. In this podcast, on behalf of Mastoloni, Cheryl Kremkow breaks down the top 10 pearl myths that many customers believe and demonstrates how, in fact, many of these beliefs are outdated and no longer true. She also provides great information on the numerous varieties of pearls that exist, as well as their origin and growth as well as the factors that go into the grading of pearls – “The 6 S’s”! Once a retailer understands the true pearl facts, they can dispel the myths and preconceptions and guide their customers to the perfect pearl strand or style that will suit them best. Mastoloni is one of the most trusted and respected pearl industry veterans known worldwide for its ability to supply virtually any cultured pearl desired.

The Disruption in the Diamond Market/Effect on the Colored Gemstone Space

The disruption in the diamond market is creating a growing space for the colored gemstone category. The team at Sandeep Diamonds talks about how the category is booming and a retailer’s advantages of being in the colored gemstone market. They take the listener through the positive changes in the mining of colored gemstones with more operations valuing transparency, responsible mining practices and corporate responsibility. They highlight the new opportunities the boom has provided for the more exotic varieties in the category, identifying it as one of the biggest opportunities that has happened in years. However, they also outline the potential challenges that a retailer needs to consider when entering this market. Founded in 1986, Sandeep Diamond Corporation caters to major retailers in the US and in Latin America.