To strike a balance between traditional merchandise and trendy fashion pieces or designer lines, jewelers should consider these guidelines: Make smart choices in supplier/buyer contracts, understand your customers, and don’t be afraid to rely on your gut. A retailer’s sales history provides the best indication of the ideal balance of traditional and fashion jewelry, explains David Nygaard, of David Nygaard Fine Jewelers, Virginia Beach, Va. Traditional pieces make up the majority of most retailers’ annual sales, but, with the advent of Internet shopping, consumers expect more choices, not only from online shopping sites, but also from local retailers. Nygaard compares stock balancing of jewelry to that of today’s music industry. With unlimited digital resources, Internet companies like iTunes have greatly expanded consumer choice, whereas music stores and radio, limited by bo