The Plumb Club’s Podcast

Diamond Recycling - Your Guide to Repurposing Loose Diamonds

Jonathan Goodman Cohen highlights the potential value and invisible assets that many jewelry retailers have stored in their vault, much of it loose diamonds from "take-outs" or parcel leftovers. He takes the listener through how to recycle these assets into new, profitable and fast-selling merchandise, giving practical and straightforward insight that can yield a predictable return on investment. Jonathan is the president and third-generation owner of IB Goodman, an American jewelry manufacturing company, headquartered in Newport, KY. producing exceptional jewelry and providing reliable service to luxury retailers worldwide. 

Pearl Care & Maintenance

Fran Mastoloni highlights how "one size does not fit all" when it comes to caring for and storing pearls and pearl jewelry. He provides knowledge on how retailers can properly maintain their pearl inventory, and valuable, yet easy tips that sales associates can impart to consumers about the nature of pearls and how best to preserve their unique and incomparable beauty. Fran Mastoloni is a partner is Mastoloni Pearls, a third generation leading purveyor of the finest cultured pearls and pearl jewelry treasures in North America.   

Beyond Birthstones - Telling Stories with Gems

Cheryl Kremkow provides expert advice on how to connect with customers using the power of storytelling. She takes you through five different types of stories you can tell about any gem and gives you three actionable tips to help make your business more successful. Cheryl Kremkow helps companies create their own distinctive gem stories and is a consultant for Plumb Club Member Carl K. Gumpert, who creates diamond and gemstone jewelry and custom engagement rings. She is the former editor of Modern Jeweler Magazine and author of her own blog, Gem Obsessed.

5 Tips to Modern Marketing

Jiji Lee highlights how investing in your digital marketing is now “a must” for retailers – spotlighting evolving consumer shopping habits and discussing the audience migration to modern-day marketing channels from historically popular ones. She provides insight into “inspirational audiences” and “aspirational audiences” and how to target messaging and content to provide “the right message to the right audience at the right time.”  Further, she advises retailers to keep up with their digital marketing by monitoring what works and what does not.  Jiji Lee is the marketing director for Plumb Club Member, Jewelmark/Renaissance Jewelry New York, creators of the branded lines Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry and Hallmark Fine Jewelry, as well as suppliers of fine diamond and gemstone jewelry set into platinum, gold and silver.

Lab Grown Gems & Diamonds - Become Fearless in The Age of Progression and Change

Monica McDaniel takes you through the rich history of created gems from their origins in the early 1800's to today. She provides you an understanding of the technical differences between the various gem creation processes and the terminology used to describe them. Additionally, she gives you tips on language you can use in-store to "become fearless" and speak succinctly about the differences between lab-grown and earth-mined gems. Monica McDaniel is the Vice President and Marketing Director of Chatham Created Gems and Diamonds. 

Diamond Trends in Today's World

Jeffrey Cohen gives a insiders look at the current consumer diamond demand when it comes to engagement rings. He provides knowledge and insight. across the 3 major retail sectors of the market, into the most popular diamond shapes and the most commonly used qualities, as well as information on the desirability of "composite-heads” and single stones.  Additionally, he discusses the up-tick of lab-grown diamonds and the use of other precious and semi-precious colored gemstones in engagement rings.  Jeffrey Cohen is the Vice President of Sales for KGS Jewels, a DTC sight holder with one of the largest diamond cutting factories in the world. 

Focus On A New Clean: Tips to Clean, Engage and Grow Revenue

Kristie Nicolosi helps listeners understand the differences between cleaning and disinfecting. She provides great ideas on why and how stores should talk to customers about jewelry care and gives consumer insights on why a customer wants to buy jewelry care and cleaning products from their jewelry retailer. Krisitie Nicolosi is the CEO of The Kingswood Company, a Plumb Club member and the leading innovator of high-quality, private-label jewelry care products.

Responsible Practices As A Company Strategy

Marketing leader Mark Hanna showcases how companies who demonstrate responsible practices have a competitive advantage - specifically with Gen Z and Millennial consumers. He provides consumer research statistics that point out the importance of “purposeful and responsible” consumption, illustrating how this can be an effective company strategy. Mark Hanna is the Chief Marketing Officer of The Richline Group, A Berkshire Hathaway company, the foremost manufacturer and marketer of precious metals and materials.

 

10 Tips To Strengthen Your Social Media

Journalist, writer, and media personality Barbara Palumbo provides 10 Tips to help retailers strengthen their social media presence and gain traction! Barbara explains why Instagram is "The King" of social media and how a retailer's social media should be looked upon as having an additional sales person. From consistency, to engagement, to the art of the hashtag, these insights and tips will help retailers boost their social media presence across all platforms. Barbara Palumbo is a full time editor, writing about both jewelry and watches on her blogs adornmentality.com and whatsonherwrist.com, as well as for nationally recognized publications. Additionally, she is the host of InStore Magazine's "The Barb Wire" podcast and is a frequent speaker at industry events and trade fairs. 

Clicks & Mortar - Staying Relevant In Today's Marketplace

Author, retail consultant and sales-trainer Kate Peterson provides insights on how the evolution of consumer behavior has been drastically accelerated and how retailers must be innovative in order to stay relevant. She points out the shifting “information balance” between the consumer and retailer and provides tips and tools on both where and how to meet and work with this new customer in a way that will exceed their expectation and keep the retailer in the forefront of their market. Peterson is the President and CEO of Performance Concepts Inc., a company that provides innovative and effective consultation and training in the luxury industry.