Jewelry Business Guru by Cindy Edelstein: April 2010

Scott Mikolay Shows off his Gorgeous Debut Collection - Definitely a Winner!

Scott is the newest deigner to join http://www.JewelryDesignerFinder.com and he gave us a quick overview of his new collection. The work is gorgeous, well priced and comes backed with a team that knows how to sell. Scott and his wife Tara have their own gallery in Westchester, NY so these designs come fully vetted by their upscale clientele.

Posted via web from JewelryBizGuru's posterous

Posted at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

AJDC presented a panel at Smart Jewelry Show on Selling Designer Jewelry Effectively

>>> Adam and Nicole Gorman at I. Gorman (Cool Store) and Babs Noelle of Alara (Cool Store) with Sarah Graham and Todd Reed sharing what works in selling designer jewelry.
>> Mutual respect helps designers and retailers work well together - when you like the work and the designer you can over come whatever hurdles come up. Worried about territories.
>> Talk it out. Work for each others best interests.
>> Should you carry more from a few or less from many designers? Adam says we should sit down and open a line broad enough to be true to the collection and agree on an opening order. If you order too small based on fear or what if's you are not doing justice to your customer and ultimately won't find success with that designer. You have to be fair to the designer and your customer and make the right investment for that line.
>> Sarah says it's not about a specific formula but the right formula for that store.
>> Everyone mentioned open communication and mutual respect as key to success. Adam said we have to work together to make it work and it could take a while.
>> How to get the store team to effectively deliver the message? Having a connection between sales staff and designer works best for all size stores.
>

>>>

Posted via email from JewelryBizGuru's posterous

Posted at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Luxury brands snatch away online bargains - Times Online

TIME is running out for bargain hunters seeking discount designer labels on the internet.

Online shoppers face higher prices for luxury clothing, perfumes and handbags because high-end brands have won new powers to block discount websites from selling their products.

New rules approved in Brussels mean brands such as Burberry, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton will be able to stop online retailers from selling their products if they do not have “bricks and mortar” high street stores.

The rules are a victory for luxury manufacturers, which have been lobbying Brussels to protect their profits against erosion from cut-price website retailers.

Related Links

Manufacturers complain that these websites freeload on the back of the carefully crafted “brand identities” honed by the spending of millions on advertising and persuading celebrities to wear their clothes and accessories.

The new rules, which come into force this summer, lay down the conditions under which manufacturers with large market shares are allowed to regulate the sale of their products. In the case of luxury goods, companies can legally prevent sales of products through websites that have no high-street outlets.

The rules are unlikely to affect websites such as Amazon and eBay, which companies are happy to authorise. However, shoppers who hunt around the internet for luxury bargains from smaller websites are likely to face higher prices.

Currently, shoppers can gain discounts of up to 70% on luxury goods by shopping online. For example, the website Fashionindulgence.com offers a Louis Vuitton monogram Reporter handbag for £339, a 45% discount on the recommended retail price (RRP). It also sells a Gucci leather shoulder bag for £130, a 67% discount on the RRP.

The online perfume shop Cheapsmells.com sells a 100ml bottle of Issey Miyake’s A Scent for £46.30, a saving of 28% on the RRP of £64. A spokesman for Cheapsmells.com said it was now seeking legal advice on the new rules.