The Plumb Club’s Podcast

Evaluating Current Vendors and Considering New

To stay current in today’s competitive market, a retailer must be open to new vendors. They must also be able to make critical decisions about existing vendors to ensure they are meeting customer desires and their business needs. In this podcast, Russ Whitehouse of Wilkerson makes the case for evaluating existing vendors, as well as discovering and engaging with new vendors, and how/where to find them when needed.  Wilkerson is a professional jewelry consultant firm with industry experts who help with transitions. Wilkerson Express is the jewelry division of Wilkerson, offering a delivery jewelry line of exciting designs that help retailers maximize margins.

Maximizing Vendor/Retailer Partnerships

What makes a great vendor/retailer relationship? These days a great vendor must be able to offer more than just products for sale. They must support the retailer across a variety of business categories. Sushil Chocksey, Julian Purifoy and Adam Freed of IDD discuss key expectations that a retailer should have of a vendor and why it is important to move beyond just product and quality when considering a supplier. IDD is a trusted supplier to thousands of retailers nationwide for jewelry programs and best-selling bridal, as well as a curator of the industry’s best consumer finance program, all sully supported by marketing assets prepared by experts.

How To Optimize Your After-Care Category

There are a variety of ways that a retailer can stand out from competition, grow customer loyalty and increase add-on sales. An easy and often underestimated category that can provide all three is the addition of “jewelry care”, a need that every customer has as soon as they make any jewelry purchase. Kristie Nicolosi and Pam Waclawski of The Kingswood Company discuss the consumer desire for jewelry cleaner, what customer are looking for and the many ways a retailer may not realize that the category can benefit their business, add to sales, and halo their store’s perception.

Sweating The Small Stuff

These days, customers are bombarded with numerous so called “brands” competing for their attention – and for their shopping dollars. However, although many brands will grab a customer’s attention, not all brands will deliver on their own marketing promise. Even fewer brands will be able to provide a compelling and comforting customer experience. Darrell King of Gunther Mele packaging explains how everything that a customer experiences in your store is an opportunity to tell a unique brand story that can set a store apart and instill trust in the mind of a customer who needs to know that they are making the correct purchase decision. He provides numerous insights on how to buff up a brands perception.

Boost your Gemstone Sales with Color Psychology

Color can help boost a sale! How? Color is a key element in creating emotion. This podcast by Monica McDaniel of Chatham will help inform listeners on how certain gemstones can evoke specific emotions or symbolize different aspects of life. This understanding creates opportunities and provides direction on how to guide customers to gemstone choices relevant to them. Chatham is the world leader in lab-grown gemstones set into unique jewelry designs that are always stylish. Chatham has developed programs intended to generate sales and ensure retail partner success.

Color Trends With Pantone

What color trends will drive consumer demand for jewelry in the year ahead? To find out, Cheryl Kremkow speaks to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. In this podcast sponsored by the Samuel B. Collection, Pantone's new 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is discussed, as well as the colorful gems consumers will be looking for in 2025 and beyond. The Samuel B. Collection blends traditional Balinese and Thai craftsmanship with contemporary style so that every jewel represents and innovation in jewelry design.

A Jewelers Guide to Vermeil

Ever since 18th century, France, vermeil has been popular for providing consumers and retailers with a variety of benefits. Of course, the high perceived value in the look of solid gold in only one of the many features, which include attainable price points, heightened durability, hypoallergenic properties and resistance to both wear and tarnish. Victor Weinman of Original Designs (ODI Jewelry) provides retailers with a complete understanding of this product category, its best manufacturing practices and low maintenance care. ODI is a member firm of the Tache Alliance, a group of leading diamonds and fine jewelry companies operating in 20 countries on five continents.

Pearls are Poised for Retailer Success

Pearls are not only on-trend, they are an excellent and saleable product category that allows retailers to reach desired price points, attract new emerging market customers and grow traditional market share with a continuous supply of bridal customers. Kathy Grenier and Lauren Basler of Imperial Pearl help listeners identify new pearl trends, new potential customers and new ways to reach out to the traditional market segment. Imperial Pearl is the pre-eminent global source, not only for the finest pearls crafted by nature’s hand, but also for the most beautiful classic and contemporary pearl jewelry crafted by the hand of man.  

Gifting Opportunities Beyond Bridal

Although many retailers focus on the bridal category, the year holds a variety of opportunities for jewelry gifting that can be taken advantage of grow profits and long-term clients. Amish Shah of ALTR takes the listener through the many gifting opportunities and how these interactions can improve the lifetime of a customer. He demonstrates how to create value and how to express it. Additionally, he provides insights into the importance of personalization and consumer experiences, both online and in store. ALTR is a vertically aligned company with a global presence spanning 250 retail stores across 35 countries.

Navigating Today's Gold Market

Gold!! One of the industry’s core products, the object of legend and myth has been rising in price for some time. How can a retailer successfully navigate this core product during changing times? Phillip Maroof, vice president of Royal Chain discusses the gold market, gold’s incredible history, as well as the gold situation today. He speaks about consumer perception and trends in gold product and provides retailers with ideas on “buying smarter”. Royal Chain is a third-generation, family-owned company located in the heart of NYC. The company is committed to the success of the jewelry industry and it’s family of retailers.