What's new?

We've been helping a lot of jewelers lately think the right way about how to build their website, what it means to their business, and how to justify the expense.   What has been resonating and making sense to these jewelers is thinking about what it takes to "be online" not in the context of a new budget, but rather in as a reallocation of their overall marketing and advertising budget, which in the past has been spent 100% on traditional print media.  We live in a brave new world, and there is no going backwards. 

The answer is that it is easier to understand the process of being online if you think about dedicating 15%-20% of your overall marketing budget (in 2011 and in each and every year hereafter), to building your online communication program.   First you need a new website, then SEO, then a Facebook page, BLOG, e-mail marketing, etc.... If you plan
with a budget then in just a couple of years you will have all the tools you need and you will be comfortable growing into them... It's a proven fact that online marketing dollars can be tracked down to the click and therefore down to the penny (impossible to say with traditional print dollars), so there is no better way to understand ROI on the investment. 

Our educated guess is that 80% of all jewelers need a new website simply to meet Web 2.0 technical standards and/or so as not be an embarrassment.  82% of today's bridal shoppers go online before coming into your store - and even if they have a respectable looking website, 95% of all jewelers do not have online tools like Diamond Search, Ring Builder, and virtual inventories which are proven ways to drive consumer traffic and business.

GemFind makes it easy and turn-key to get you in the game, and to give you the tools you need to grow your business... Using them will be up to you, but we're here to help you understand the ins and outs...  Give us a call today for a free 30 minute demo and consultation  (800)-373-4373.   

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78-Carat Diamond Being Auctioned Today in Belgium 

The Israeli Diamond Industry                                   Feb. 14, 2011 

Thanks to the assiduous efforts of the diamond industry, Valentine's Day has come to be associated with diamond jewelry. But today in Anterp, a special rough diamond from Canada's Ekati Mine in Yellowknife is up for auction. The 78-carat rough diamond is considered the most significant stone yielded by the mine - owned by mining conglomerate BHP Billiton - in the past 13 years. >>>

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   For more information please click here    or call us at 800-373-4373    

Study: New Consumers Lack Brand Loyalty

By Rob Bates                             JCK                            Feb 14, 2011      

Only 3 percent of consumers aged 25-49 say they have loyalty to a particular brand, according to a study from Boston-based digital marketing agency AMP. Meanwhile, a whopping 97 percent of consumers reported they are willing to switch brands. "New consumer behavior is redefining what we view as 'loyalty,'" said Allison Marsh, vice president of Consumer Insights at AMP Agency, in a statement. >>>

Jewelry at the Grammys

By Carly Wickell,                            About.com Guide 

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Social media, mobile could steer marketing trends 

National Jeweler                                 Feb. 14, 2011 

Social networking sites are gaining popularity over e-mail, according to comScore's 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review, which could mean changes for businesses who utilize digital marketing. "2010 was a very positive year for the digital media industry, highlighted by a strong rebound in e-commerce spending, significant innovation and increased demand for online advertising, >>>

Listen to the Sounds of Diamonds 

By Stonechicky             The Israeli Diamond Industry                    Feb. 10, 2011                         

Diamond-encrusted musical instruments are nothing new (at last summer's World Cup, a Russian businessman paid a pretty penny to have a gold vuvuzela set with high-quality diamon
ds as a gift for a football fan colleague), but we've never seen a diamond-studded guitar covered in alligator hide.>>>

Ways to Boost Bridal 

By JCK  Staff                         February 2011 issue of JCK Magazine.                                       

1. Follow Up: "It's called top of mind," says the Gemological Institute of America's ­Russell Shor, who advocates doing ­something as simple as sending an ­anniversary card. 2. Don't Undersell: "Unfortunately, often in this industry we sell down. We don't sell up," says Platinum Guild International's Huw Daniel. "We are almost apologetic about the cost of our goods. >>>

Jewelry styles downsize in 2011 

By Debra D. Bass            TheSunNews.com               February 13, 2011                               

Maybe it's just the natural yin and yang of fashion, but in response to years of big, bigger and gloriously outlandish layered necklace configurations, there's finally a definitive movement of tiny and simple edging into the cluttered world of accessories.Retail Jeweller magazine listed tiny charms among the big trends for 2011, saying that it's probably a sign of consumers scaling back.

 >>>

Six Steps to Marketing Success

By Tony Argyle                  February 2011 issue of JCK Magazine.

Many jewelry retailers lack a coordinated and focused marketing program-often because they don't know what to do or where they should start. Every store, however, can benefit from an effective marketing campaign. Just be sure to follow these six steps: >>>

Online spending hit a new high in Q4

National Jeweler                                    Feb, 10, 2011

U.S. consumers spent a record-breaking $43.4 billion shopping online in the fourth quarter of 2010, comScore Inc.'s latest retail e-commerce sales estimates show. That figure represents an 11 percent increase compared to what consumers spent in the fourth quarter 2009, with 84 percent of U.S. Internet users conducting an online transaction, up from 78 percent last year. >>>

Internet Marketing Strategies: Get your Groupon!

By BRAD SIMON                                  Southern Jewelry News                         

If you follow Business News or Internet Marketing News you know that in December Groupon, Inc. (Groupon.com) turned down an acquisition offer from Google and is staying independent. Google reportedly had offered between $5 billion and $6 billion for the daily coupon deal Internet company. Most people are left wondering: Who is Groupon? And, why would they turn down so much money for their company? >>>

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