The year 2019 is officially in, and with it comes a slew of resolutions from people the world over. While the most common seem to be related to fitness and health (guilty), there’s no wrong way to make a resolution. You can even choose not to make one! But in the spirit of starting fresh and making this year your best one yet, promising to try something new is a relatively easy one to accomplish. With that, here are three suggestions for bringing the new into your store this year. May 2019 be a fun, successful, and memorable one for all!
Up Your Man-gagement Selection
I know, I know—the man-gagement ring has arguably fallen flat, and despite best efforts, it looks like maybe it just isn’t gonna happen. But what if it does happen? There’s been big buzz surrounding the reverse and dual proposal concept this year—with much thanks to Engagement 101’s Propose Too initiative—and I just think that there’s a place for a richer stock of men’s wedding bands, including those decorated with gemstones and patterns and so on. The same goes for same-sex couples shopping for a ring to get engaged or married with and even those shoppers just wanting a cool band to wear for the sake of wearing it—the bigger unisex selection, the better.
Put a Face to Your Jewels
There was a time when the term indie may have implied something far outside of the mainstream, meant for a particular niche—not so the case for 2019 or beyond. Independent designers create outside the box, it’s true—you won’t see their perspectives coming and going just anywhere—and that’s exactly what shoppers are looking for. What’s more, millennial buyers and the generations that follow want to know where—and who—their products are coming from, and who better to tell the story of the jewels in your store than the ones who designed them? Look into getting to know a handful of new designers this year, and test out their products in your market (you can start by meeting some on the list at JCK Tucson this year).
Explore a New Gemstone
While the average jewelry retailer will have far more knowledge of rare (and rare-ish) gemstones than their shoppers, introducing a new—or rarely stocked in your store—stone to your market is cause for excitement. Whether you’ve never dabbled in bicolor gems before, want to try out the lapis lazuli that’s been quietly dominating these last couple of years, or go for broke on a completely new gemstone, find a place for a vibrant newcomer among your stock of reliable ruby, satisfying sapphire, and ever-pleasing emerald.
Top: Brooch in 18k yellow gold and oxidized silver with ruby and powder coating, price on request; So Young Park
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