Jewelry Business Guru by Cindy Edelstein

See you in Philly at globalDESIGN - the showcase of exceptional jewelers

globalDESIGN, our international showcase of exceptional jewelers, returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center this week, Friday February 15th through Sunday February 17th from 9am to 7pm.

We're just steps away from Buyer's Market of American Craft in room 202 of the Convention Center. And have been for two years. Before then we were in the attached Marriott hotel. Our bigger room in the Convention Center is much better -- more room for schmoozing and socializing and sitting down to view the collections.

Our show is very unique; it looks more like a trunk show than a trade show. We offer the fine jewelry buyers an intimate setting to peruse the collections of 20 exceptional jewelry artisans. We serve breakfast and snacks and wine in the evenings. It's a very civilized way to work!

Joining us this year are:

Aaron Henry  ~  Alex Sepkus   ~  Alishan   ~  Daphna Simon   ~  Deborrah Daher   ~   Didi Suydam   ~  Emily Armenta   ~  Gellner  ~  Gurhan   ~  Jane Bohan   ~  Janis Kerman   ~  Jerry Spaulding  ~  Mauri Pioppo   ~  Monica Rich Kosann    ~  Pamela Froman   ~ Sevan Bicakci   ~  Stephanie Albertson   ~  Sugarman ~ Frantz    ~  Vicente Agor ~ ViewPoint

All fine jewelry retailers are invited to attend -- and press is more than welcome, too! Designers are welcome to stop by, too, just to say hello and to meet our team. We might even blog onsite -- you never know who'll you meet there!

 

Jewelry Designer Business e-course -- Tips from the Trenches

I've launched a free e-course (that's a class that comes via email!) to help you start the year off on the right foot.

Visit our website at www.jewelersresource.com and you should see a floating box where you can sign up to receive our free lessons.

If you don't see it just send a blank email to:  [email protected]. That will hook you up, too.

You'll get all 10 lessons in your inbox -- one every other day.

Topics include:
Lesson 1 -- Marketing is a never-ending process
Lesson 2 -- Actions in line with goals
Lesson 3 -- Tell them what to think
Lesson 4 -- There's no such thing as buzz kill
Lesson 5 -- Don't make it hard to find you
Lesson 6 -- Sales trumps design every time
Lesson 7 -- Follow instructions
Lesson 8 -- Manners Matter
Lesson 9 -- Experimentation is good and staying true to your brand is better
Lesson 10 -- Prince Charming doesn't exist - and lastly, it's not personal

I've worked with hundreds of designers in my career and I've seen them come and unfortunately, I've seen them go. What helped make the difference? Sign up for my free e-course and find out.

Handmade at NYGift Show - designer report

Traffic at the Handmade section of the NY Gift Show was slower than last year, said many, but the popular designer lines still had a good show.

And we had fun visiting with so many great friends.

Trends spotted at the show:

GREEN Jewelry is gaining a real toehold in our industry (see early post on Fair Jewelry Summit) and the latest to take the concept and run with it was Cynthia Gale of GeoArt. Her new Go Green campaign was attracting a lot of attention.
That's Cynthia on the right.                         

Another great green initiative is Julie Bergstein's (on the left) new locket collection for her eponymous line Just Jules. She combines vintage lockets, watch fobs and other trinkets with pearls and beads and chain to create contemporary keepsakes. She told us that she sold out by the second day -- she's on the hunt for more vintage lockets so if you see any/have any to sell -- email her from her website at www.justjules.com.

Stephen Estelle saw a great interest in his vermeil collection. His rationale? "They're simultaneously selling down with the economy (from the karat gold line) while feeling like you're keeping up because it's gold and not silver," said Stephen. Great understanding of the marketplace.

 

 

here's Suzanne Vaughan of Ann Sportun looking as cool and graceful as the jewels!

Can you see the size of those baroque pearls in front of her! To die for!

Over at Somer's Jewelry owner at Hilary Randolph told us that her gold WAS selling better than expected -- considering she's predominently a silver line this was surprising news indeed.

While at the Ann Sportun/Experimetal booth they were getting some traction for their diamond designs. These reports gave us hope that the year won't be as bad as we keep fearing it could be!