The Plumb Club’s Podcast

Lighting is Essential to a Successful Jewelry Store

Great lighting is crucial for a successful jewelry store. In this podcast, Leslie McGwire helps listeners understand the goal of lighting and how the proper intensity of light impacts the merchandise and customer perception. She gives tips on best in-case lighting as well as the lighting in aisleways between the showcases. Further, she details how decorative lighting captures the customers attention and adds to the store’s perception. Leslie McGwire, ASID (American Association of Interior Designers) Allied, is an award-winning interior designer and author, with 35 years of experience in retail design and a specialization in jewelry store design. She is the owner of Leslie McGwire & Associates, Inc.

Programed For Success - Making Vendor Programs Work for You

Efficiency and effectiveness at the sales counter is a “must” for retailers. By simplifying the visual product and value presentation, a retailer can not only help a consumer understand the various options available to them within a category, it can help guide and expedite the consumers decision making process.  In this presentation, on behalf of Plumb Club Member Shefi, Kate Peterson of Performance Concepts illustrates how vendor programs allow the consumer to eliminate the need to search further, help them “self-qualify” on quality and budget options and assist the salesperson in closing a sale. Shefi was established in 1975 and is a top source for programs such as: Anniversary Bands, Clusters, Stackables, Diamond Hoops, Diamond Bracelets and Bangles, plus a variety of new Bridal Collections.

Top 5 Ways to Get More ROI From Your Internet Marketing

Today, internet marketing is a crucial part of the marketing mix. Unlike many historical marketing methods, internet marketing allows a retailer to track the performance of the initiative. In this podcast, Suereea Mathews discusses several elements of internet marketing that can help a retailer get more ROI from their initiatives and ensure success. Suereea Mathews is the Co-CEO of Luxury Brand Marketing and has specialized in the jewelry industry for over 18 years. She has beta-tested technology, apps, communities and other online tools for Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

What Do They Want? The Evolving Consumer

Today’s consumer is younger, better educated and have a different set of experiences. Therefore, they have different expectations of a shopping experience. In a talk with Paco Underhill, author and environmental psychologist, listeners will gain insights into how their customer has changed. Tips are provided on what clues to watch for, how their desires can be met and what a retailer can do to lower purchase barriers. Paco Underhill and his company Envirosell have a global perspective on consumer shopping habits that has underpinned their work with over 1/3 of the Fortune 500 list. Additionally, Paco Underhill has written a number of best-selling business books such as "How We Eat", "Call of The Mall", "What Women Want” and “Why We Buy”, dedicated to the science of shopping.

Russian Sanctions Update - August 2022

As a result of the February 2022 invasion of the Ukraine by Russia the US government issued sanctions against Russia and Russian owned companies. For the jewelry industry, this put an end to the supply of Russian diamonds being able to be sold in the country. Subsequently, as the Russian war on the Ukraine continues the US government has been expanding sanctions to include other Russian produced goods, including gold. In this podcast from August 2022, Sara Yood of JVC provides the listener with the sanctions timeline, expanded updates to those sanctions and information on how a retailer should handle sourcing concerns. Sara Yood, Esq. is the Deputy General Counsel at JVC with extensive experience in legal compliance. Sara’s responsibilities at JVC include anti-money laundering compliance, FTC Guides compliance, trademark litigation, copyright, advertising monitoring and review, creating legal compliance tools and publications, and advanced legal strategy.

Store Design - Your Crucial First Impression

Just as the saying goes, “you only have one chance to make a good impression”, so does your store. Your store’s entrance needs to fix a customer’s attention and give them the right sensory information in order to turn them from a mere “passer-by” into a customer. Your stores interior needs to convey what your brand stands for and inspire a customer to trust you to help them make a purchase decision. Leslie McGwire discusses maximizing income from a store via the layout and space planning. She takes the listener through impactful lighting, effective case design and cost-effective coverings for flooring and walls.  Finally, she wraps up with advice on how to keep a store looking up-to-date and current. Leslie McGwire, ASID (American Association of Interior Designers) Allied, is an award winning interior designer and author, with 35 years of experience in retail design and a specialization in jewelry store design. She is the owner of Leslie McGwire & Associates, Inc.

Silver Streak - Why Sales of Silver Jewelry are Growing

Silver has been enjoying a growing percentage in sales and a more predominant place in the product mix at retail. On behalf of Plumb Club Member Samuel B, Cheryl Kremkow talks about the factors that have helped this bright, white metal become a rising star for retailers. She touches on silver’s historic jewelry heritage and on its designer affiliations and provides statistics on how the category is expected to grow in the coming years. Additionally, she paints a picture of the silver customer, illustrating how important they can be for a retailer’s business and gives practical tips on how to get and grow that relationship. The Samuel B. Collection, as with award-winning designer Samuel Benham brings more than 30 years of art and jewelry experience to their collections that focuses on quality, craftsmanship and innovation.

Your Brand as Archetype

A question foremost in the minds of many retailers is, “How can I capture the eyes and hearts of today’s younger, savvy shopper?” Creating a brand that resonates with a specific target market and effectively communicating that brand’s promise can augment awareness and recall, help differentiate from competition, inspire consumer conversation and drive desire. Alex Williams, on behalf of Plumb Club Member IDD New York shares the theory of anchoring a brand in archetype and discusses how those associations are important in defining memorable brands. He takes the listener through 12 core archetypes, how they can be applied to foundational brand making and discusses how they can set a business apart from competition. IDD is a trusted supplier to thousands of retailers nationwide for jewelry programs, best-selling bridal, diamond basics and consumer finance programs, all fully supported by marketing assets.

Personalization & Customization of Engagement Rings

Today’s consumers want to be able to personalize experiences and purchases. Retailers and manufacturers are now catering to this new generation of shoppers by allowing them to modify and visualize their unique versions of what they are purchasing - from clothing to sunglasses to furniture and wall treatments.  Narrated by Jeff Levitt, VP of Merchandise at Cynergy Trading Corp, this podcast discusses how engagement ring shoppers’ expectations have evolved and what new tools are available to the jewelry industry to meet these new expectations.  Cynergy Trading Corp is the source for private label bridal and fashion diamond jewelry. They also have one of the largest just-in-time bridal manufacturing units in the industry.

Is Doing Good - Good For Business?

The concept of companies being environmentally and socially responsible is not new, but it’s becoming even more important to consumers. Michael West, director of sales and brand development for Rosy Blue, New York outlines the benefits and the challenges of producing “responsible” jewelry. He begins with the basic steps of ethical production, explains commonly-heard acronyms, discusses supply chain traceability and transparency, as well as environmental and social concerns. He talks about why these things are important to a consumer and what the jewelry industry is doing to ensure that sustainable and ethical concerns are met. Rosy Blue is one of the world’s largest diamond manufacturers due to their integrity and the exceptional quality of their product. They add value throughout the supply chain, enrich communities in which they work, and act as responsible stewards of society and environment.