What’s New Business Services

Spectral Gems Inc. has released the ColorGrid, a single-page laminated color coordination chart. The nontechnical sales aid does not require training to use. It contains 544 separate rectangles of color that can be used to describe gemstones. Spectral Gems Inc., 999 Haynes, Suite 360, Birmingham, MI 48009; (800) 637-4367, fax (888) 637-4367, e-mail: GemDigital@cs.com.

ASC (Applications Systems Corp.) has introduced a computerized gift registry system. The Gift Registry is integrated with sales and inventory systems and supports operations such as special ordering, point-of-sale functions, comprehensive customer history, and full-color product imaging. The registry can be used for any gift-giving occasion, including weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. It enables gifts to be bought and tracked from any location if a retailer has more than one store. The system provides an updated list of open items for the giver, tracks purchases by the recipient, and offers givers the option of notifying the recipient by mail rather than giving the gift themselves, enabling the recipient to pick up the gift, choose another item, or receive store credit. The registry can also serve as a “wish list,” enabling one spouse to register desired items to give gift ideas to the other spouse. ASC, 30 Winter St., Boston, MA 02108; (800) 253-9272, www.ascsoft.com.

The Guide has added five new pricing grids beginning with its spring/summer issue. The new grids provide reference data and pricing information for the trademarked Grape Garnet, Mandarin Garnet, Kashmirine Garnet, and Oregon Sunstone, as well as jadeite from Guatemala. The Guide, Gemworld International, 650 Dundee Rd., Suite 465, Northbrook, IL 60062; (888) GEMGUIDE or (847) 564-0555, fax (847) 564-0557, www.gem-guide.com.

Topcoat Software Inc. has introduced Topcoat for Jewelers, a Windows-based software package. The program is designed to help jewelers manage inventory, track repair jobs, sell and market more effectively, and manage sales reporting and accounting functions.

Topcoat also enables jewelers to rapidly scan items into the program’s inventory function. The program is designed to run on Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 (or higher).

Topcoat Software was founded in 1997 by Greg Taylor, who has a background in software design; Charles Brown, general manager of Jolly’s Inc. (a jeweler in Raleigh); and Michael Sledge, who has a background in retail financial management. The firm launched the software in late ’98 and currently has five single-store clients.

Topcoat Software Inc., 3618 Corbin St., Raleigh, NC 26712; (800) 600-5657, fax (919) 787-1665, www.topcoatsoftware.com.

HP Creations, a manufacturer of fine jewelry and supplier of diamonds and colored gemstones, has introduced a software program called Imaging and Pricing System (IPS) to help jewelers manage their custom-design function. The program was developed over the past 12 years by Jewelry Manufacturing Software LLC of Southlake, Texas.

The PC-based program incorporates an imaging package and is designed to help jewelers in sales presentations for custom-designed jewelry as well as in the back shop. On the sales floor, the program can be used to create price estimates for custom work. It also prints cost estimates that include a picture.

In the back office, jewelers can use the software to project and compare costs for castings, findings, and settings as well as for diamonds and colored stones. The program can also be used to develop labor projections based on four levels of profit margin for components, as determined by the jeweler. In addition, it can be used to organize models and molds, to track prices from an unlimited number of findings and castings vendors, and as an electronic catalog on the road.

HP Creations plans to modify the program by the end of this year to generate customized CD-ROM catalogs for customers.

HP Creations, 3 Village Circle, Suite 102, P.O. Box 1380, Roanoke, TX 76262; (800) 233-3459, fax (817) 491-9241.