Fairs and Events
Posted September 01, 2018 |
Retailers have long been spilling the beans on important industry topics. Here, Jeweller rounds up a collection of Vox Pop responses from the last few years.
What first attracted you to working in the jewellery industry?
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Is customer loyalty a thing of the past?
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Does your store have any special traditions?
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What’s the best industry-related advice you’ve been given?
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What do you love about working in the jewellery industry?
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How can suppliers better work with retailers?
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Are staff allowed to wear the store’s jewellery while working?
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What’s the strangest design request you’ve received?
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What will the industry look like in 10 years?
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Who was your best customer?
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“I fell into it through somebody I know but instantly fell in love with it. Making jewellery is fun for guys, because it is engineering on a small scale, but you also end up making something quite beautiful.”
“My love of sapphires was my first attraction to the jewellery industry, and when this business became available the timing was right for me to purchase.”
“No, not by any means. Treating people with respect and honesty goes a long way. I think a lot of people still hold those as core values.”
“Yes. Well, there are some who are still loyal but generally they’re going for the new and what’s overseas. Hopefully, they come back again.”
“We literally have a cup of concrete. If you take a sick day or have a grumble, a glass of hardened concrete appears in your area. It always lightens the mood.”
“I like all my staff to design their own collection. This allows them to really be a part of the store and to feel the rewards of selling something they’ve designed.”
“As a young jeweller I was told to never sell your tools because you don’t know when you might need them.”
“It’s actually advice that I have given to myself; don’t succumb to the mass manufactured jewellery that is out there.”
“Designing beautiful pieces for people and making them happy. It’s an artistic field, which I love.”
“You get to see the fun side of people’s lives, like if someone’s proposing to their girlfriend or the birth of a child. Lots of happy moments.”
“Even in a digital age, printed catalogues are paramount. If we don’t have an item in stock, we can at least show a print photo to the customer to close the sale.”
“Have someone available on Saturday and Sunday to give quotes and follow up on orders.”
“They are always welcome to. Often the quality and style reflects their personal tastes, but sometimes we gift pieces to staff to promote a new collection or brand as well.”
“We do from time to time, as it allows our customers to see the jewellery when worn by someone else rather than just under lights and glass.”
“No. We find that some people won’t purchase jewellery if they think someone else has tried it on. We do encourage staff to wear good jewellery though by offering store discounts.”
“I was asked to make a palladium engagement ring of two angry-looking dragons facing each other with a star sapphire between their mouths. They looked amazing.”
“A customer requested for a ring to be made from a mould of a real McDonalds french fry, as they were a big potato fan.”
“A 9-carat gold, cat shaped urn pendant for a cat’s ashes. It had a screw off top where the customer could put the ashes in.”
“Mass produced jewellery will continue to be made cheaper – not better. This provides opportunities for jewellers to make jewellery that will last – or repair it when it goes wrong!”’
“Jewellers will be putting together computer generated components, rather than hand making, from the beginning to end. Jewellers will suffer, unable to charge for their time on a job.”
“My best customer came into the store in 2004. He came in abruptly, all 6 foot, 5 inches of him and said: ‘If you talk straight with me and give me a good deal I’ll come to you for every occasion.’ I sold him a gold bracelet that day and I’ve seen him at least once a month for the past 13 years. He kept his word and was loyal. Can’t put a price on that.”
“We did a silver bracelets calendar in 2013 and gave an expat visitor from Singapore a copy. She emailed to say she kept it by her bed and looked at it when she couldn’t sleep – they were all pretty elaborate and significant pieces. She eventually bought one of each of the bangles from the calendar (and quite a lot more) and continues to be a wonderful customer.”
Thursday, 27 September, 2018 01:32pm
Frank
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