The Plumb Club’s Podcast

President of The Plumb Club, Michael Lerche Talks About The Industry Future

Michael Lerche, president of The Plumb Club, speaks to Rappaport's Joshua Freeman on the future of the jewelry industry and some of the exciting and new initiatives of The Plumb Club that will help shape that future. 

Maximizing The Experience

Brian Howard illustrates the importance of augmenting the customer experience by integrating technology into a presentation. He discusses how hologram technology and virtual “Try It On” features help alleviate consumer concerns and ease purchase decisions by building confidence and demonstrating what pieces look like from various perspectives and how they will look when being worn. Howard is the vice president of sales and marketing for Shah Luxury, a company that strives to produce world-class jewelry that not only appeals to the most discerning clients in the US and Canada, but to those in markets across the globe.

The Digital Transformation

Today, “Digital” is a MUST for business. A company’s digital footprint impacts how it is perceived by potential customers. Derek Kristopher helps retailers understand their company’s digital footprint. He goes through the various touchpoints that can impact perception and provides excellent tips on how to review it, manage it, develop and improve it. Further he provides an omni-channel perspective and ideas on how to augment perception by providing a virtual customer experience. Derek Kristopher is the associate director of marketing for S.D.C Designs one of the largest manufacturers and distributers in the American market.  

Understanding The Benefits of Extruded Tubing and Machine Setting

Steven Lerche helps the listener understand the processes of extruded tubing and machine setting and how these methods differ from casting and hand setting. He highlights the features and benefits of both techniques, discusses the precision and uniformity of machine setting and helps correct some commonly held misconceptions about the process.  Steven Lerche is the vice president of sales and operations for Goldstar Jewellery, a premier manufacturing company that has firmly etched itself a leading position as a preferred supplier to most major national and multi-national retail jewelry brands.

Content Is King

Ellen Seckler and Sam King break down the elements of Content Marketing and how to get the most out of this effective tactic that helps give life to a brand story. Additionally, they go through the creation of a yearly plan, the balance of storytelling vs product knowledge, how to evaluate the quality of content vs the brand quality standards and the importance of starting with a complete creative brief that outlines the objective and use of content being created. Further, they discuss finding the best content providers. Ellen Seckler and Sam King are the marketing and creative forces behind Plumb Club Member, Citizen Watches.  

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.