The Plumb Club’s Podcast

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breaks down the top 10 pearl myths that many customers believe and demonstrates how, in fact, many of these beliefs are outdated and no longer true.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.

Bridal & Anniversary: Your Gateway to a Customer for Life

Clienteling during the engagement ring sale is the key to ensuring repeat business. In this podcast, on behalf of Goldstar, the listener will receive helpful tips on how to create engagement ring customer experiences that lay the groundwork for the wedding band sale. Then, with the wedding date in hand, an anniversary ring, or other anniversary gifts are the pathway to creating a loyal customer

Selling The Magic of Birthstones

For millennia, gemstones were valued as much for their power as for their beauty. In this podcast, on behalf of LALI Jewels, we explore the long and illustrious tradition of birthstones, their lore and significance, their popularity and how customers are wearing birthstones today. Helping customers make a meaningful connection to their birthstone can set a retailer up for a lifetime of gifting and collecting opportunities, thereby building repeat business with that customer.

The Future of Sustainable Jewelry Manufacturing

Embracing sustainable practices isn’t just about “doing good” or a marketing buzzword. It’s about staying competitive, meeting customer expectations and positioning your business for the future. Alex Morgan, Director of Sustainability and Innovation at MJJ Brilliant discusses the current state of sustainable practices in jewelry manufacturing, strategies a retailer can implement to embrace sustainability, and future trends and innovations that are shaping the sustainable jewelry movement. MJJ Brilliant is widely recognized as the leading manufacturer of fine fashion jewelry in the US.

Digitizing Trust: How Diamond Traceability Benefits Retailers

In today’s world, consumer expectations are evolving, placing more emphasis on being assured of the traceable origin of their diamonds. In this podcast, Wesley Tucker, CEO of Tracr, speaks with Josh Helmich, CEO of Helmich Luxury Group, about how Tracr is leveraging blockchain and digital innovation to bring transparency, accountability and trust to the diamond industry, and why this matters now, more than ever, for jewelry retailers. Tracr is the world’s leading digital platform to tracing natural diamonds from source to scale, bringing the ability to explore the provenance, authenticity and unique journey a diamond has taken along the value chain. 

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.