A background in retail jewelry is a great way to find out exactly what most irks a jeweler. One of those is ordering a specific piece for a customer, paying for shipping insurance, and building up the moment just for the customer to feel like it misses the mark and to having to send it back. Tanya Nisguretsky, CEO and Founder of Virtual Diamond Boutique, seeks to provide a solution and allow retailers to show customers the wide world of jewelry so that when a piece is delivered, it's EXACTLY what the customer had in mind.Learn more about Virtual Diamond Boutique: vdbapp.comLearn more about Smiling Rocks: smilingrocks.com

A background in retail jewelry is a great way to find out exactly what most irks a jeweler. One of those is ordering a specific piece for a customer, paying for shipping insurance, and building up the moment just for the customer to feel like it misses the mark and to having to send it back. Tanya Nisguretsky, CEO and Founder of Virtual Diamond Boutique, seeks to provide a solution and allow retailers to show customers the wide world of jewelry so that when a piece is delivered, it's EXACTLY what the customer had in mind. Learn more about Virtual Diamond Boutique: <a href="https://www.vdbapp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vdbapp.com</a> Learn more about Smiling Rocks: <a href="https://smilingrocks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">smilingrocks.com</a>

A World of Jewelry In Your Pocket, Meet Virtual Diamond Boutique ft. Tanya Nisguretsky

The fastest growing social media platform is made to feel authentic, unpolished, and fun. However, all of these adjectives contrast starkly with how many business owners try to portray themselves online. Most business owners want to be seen as professional, trust worthy, and intelligent, and it can be intimidating to let go and embrace the fun of making a TikTok! But don't worry, The Smithee Group team are here to give you some tips on how to start marketing in a different way!

The fastest growing social media platform is made to feel authentic, unpolished, and fun. However, all of these adjectives contrast starkly with how many business owners try to portray themselves online. Most business owners want to be seen as professional, trust worthy, and intelligent, and it can be intimidating to let go and embrace the fun of making a TikTok! But don't worry, The Smithee Group team are here to give you some tips on how to start marketing in a different way!

It's Time to Talk About TikTok Marketing

Sherry Smith

Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, "If it can't be measured, it doesn't matter"? Or maybe you've heard this one: "You can't fix what you can't measure." If either of these adages rings a bell, then you've probably also heard of the Edge Retail Academy and their tremendous work utilizing your POS data. We speak with Sherry Smith, Director of Business Development, about what KPIs should matter to every jeweler, and trends for the industry. This is not an episode you'll want to miss!Learn more about Edge Retail Academy: edgeretailacademy.com

Perhaps you are familiar with the phrase, "If it can't be measured, it doesn't matter"? Or maybe you've heard this one: "You can't fix what you can't measure." If either of these adages rings a bell, then you've probably also heard of the Edge Retail Academy and their tremendous work utilizing your POS data. We speak with Sherry Smith, Director of Business Development, about what KPIs should matter to every jeweler, and trends for the industry. This is not an episode you'll want to miss! Learn more about Edge Retail Academy: <a href="https://edgeretailacademy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">edgeretailacademy.com</a>

Meet Edge Retail Academy ft. Sherry Smith

In the Loupe originally began under the name The Jeweler's Survival Kit, a podcast dedicated to coverage of the Pandemic's impact on the Jewelry Industry and how to adapt to an increasingly online retail space. We made the pivot towards e-commerce techniques, strategies, and tools, so that we could better educate jewelers and pull the industry forward. 100 Episodes later... and we still have more we want to share, and it wouldn't be possible without listeners like you! So THANK YOU for being a part of our journey. We promise to keep producing the best podcast episodes we can!

In the Loupe originally began under the name The Jeweler's Survival Kit, a podcast dedicated to coverage of the Pandemic's impact on the Jewelry Industry and how to adapt to an increasingly online retail space. We made the pivot towards e-commerce techniques, strategies, and tools, so that we could better educate jewelers and pull the industry forward. 100 Episodes later... and we still have more we want to share, and it wouldn't be possible without listeners like you! So THANK YOU for being a part of our journey. We promise to keep producing the best podcast episodes we can!

In the Loupe Episode 100

Malyia McNaughton

Malyia McNaughton found her jewelry and lifestyle brand in 2014 to fill a gap in the market that she identified when she was searching out the perfect body chain for a music festival and came up empty. Rather than end her search there, she decided to try her hand at creating her own jewelry, which has grown from a small Etsy to eventually being worn by superstar Lizzo while hosting SNL! Malyia has grown with her business as well, and now serves on the board of directors of Black in Jewelry Coalition, the first international non-profit membership association dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of Black professionals within the gem, jewelry, and watch industry.Learn more and Shop Made by Malyia: madebymalyia.com

Malyia McNaughton found her jewelry and lifestyle brand in 2014 to fill a gap in the market that she identified when she was searching out the perfect body chain for a music festival and came up empty. Rather than end her search there, she decided to try her hand at creating her own jewelry, which has grown from a small Etsy to eventually being worn by superstar Lizzo while hosting SNL! Malyia has grown with her business as well, and now serves on the board of directors of Black in Jewelry Coalition, the first international non-profit membership association dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of Black professionals within the gem, jewelry, and watch industry. Learn more and Shop Made by Malyia: <a href="http://madebymalyia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">madebymalyia.com</a>

Made by Malyia ft. Malyia McNaughton 

Alex Schlindwein is the Marketing Director and former General Manager of Kiefer Jewelers, but you might know her as @_diamond_diaries, her Instagram influencer alias she creates engaging and eye-catching content under. Mike spoke with Alex about what drove her to create content, what her goals are with the platform, and what easy content ideas she believes are winners. Follow Alex on Instagram: instagram.com/_diamond_diaries_/

Alex Schlindwein is the Marketing Director and former General Manager of Kiefer Jewelers, but you might know her as @_diamond_diaries, her Instagram influencer alias she creates engaging and eye-catching content under. Mike spoke with Alex about what drove her to create content, what her goals are with the platform, and what easy content ideas she believes are winners. Follow Alex on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_diamond_diaries_/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">instagram.com/_diamond_diaries_/</a>

Diamond Diaries, Becoming a Jewelry Retail Influencer ft. Alex Schlindwein

The misfit of the social media sphere, LinkedIn has long served as the primary place for humble brags about promotions. However, Megan Crabtree believes there more to the platform than Help Wanted ads and Bragging. LinkedIn allows users to have an authentic professional voice, something rare when compared to other social platforms, and Megan explains exactly how to amplify what you have to say. B2B or B2C, your voice deserves to be heard. Learn more about Crabtree Consulting: crabtreeadvisory.com

The misfit of the social media sphere, LinkedIn has long served as the primary place for humble brags about promotions. However, Megan Crabtree believes there more to the platform than Help Wanted ads and Bragging. LinkedIn allows users to have an authentic professional voice, something rare when compared to other social platforms, and Megan explains exactly how to amplify what you have to say. B2B or B2C, your voice deserves to be heard. Learn more about Crabtree Consulting: <a href="https://crabtreeadvisory.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">crabtreeadvisory.com</a>

Why Everyone Needs to Be a LinkedIn Expert ft. Megan Crabtree

Jennifer Markas

Jennifer Markas, the Executive Director of the Women's Jewelry Association joins us this week to talk about the impact WJA is making in the industry and the exciting initiatives the organization has coming up. Jenn shares in detail the difference that the community of WJA has on one another, the future of sustainability in the industry, and how we can all get involved to make a tangible impact. 

Jennifer Markas, the Executive Director of the Women's Jewelry Association joins us this week to talk about the impact WJA is making in the industry and the exciting initiatives the organization has coming up. Jenn shares in detail the difference that the community of WJA has on one another, the future of sustainability in the industry, and how we can all get involved to make a tangible impact.

An Interview with the Women’s Jewelry Association ft. Jennifer Markas

You know them as brilliant minds behind one of the most transformative pieces of technology in jewelry e-commerce, the GemLightbox, but do you know their story? Their team is full of talented individuals, brilliant minds, and a 30 under 30 member. Michael sat down with Kevin Saw, Director of Finance and Operations at Picup Media, about their impact on the industry, making a splash with the GemLightbox, and what their next product will be.Learn more about Picup Media: picupmedia.com

You know them as brilliant minds behind one of the most transformative pieces of technology in jewelry e-commerce, the GemLightbox, but do you know their story? Their team is full of talented individuals, brilliant minds, and a 30 under 30 member. Michael sat down with Kevin Saw, Director of Finance and Operations at Picup Media, about their impact on the industry, making a splash with the GemLightbox, and what their next product will be. Learn more about Picup Media: <a href="https://picupmedia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">picupmedia.com</a>

The Starting of Picup Media's Empire ft. Picup Media

Preparation is the key to success, and also the key to a successful in-store event. Megan Crabtree has helped a number of jewelers take their in-store events from the $300,000 range to the $1m+ realm. Targeted advertising with big payoffs, arming your sales representatives with data and incentives, and most importantly, learning from what goes well and what doesn't. It's all part of Megan's playbook that continues to payoff for jewelers. Listen in and start your preparations today!Learn more about Crabtree Consulting: crabtreeadvisory.com

Preparation is the key to success, and also the key to a successful in-store event. Megan Crabtree has helped a number of jewelers take their in-store events from the $300,000 range to the $1m+ realm. Targeted advertising with big payoffs, arming your sales representatives with data and incentives, and most importantly, learning from what goes well and what doesn't. It's all part of Megan's playbook that continues to payoff for jewelers. Listen in and start your preparations today! Learn more about Crabtree Consulting: <a href="https://crabtreeadvisory.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">crabtreeadvisory.com</a>

How to Host Million-dollar In-store Events ft. Megan Crabtree

In the Loupe is a weekly podcast hosted by Punchmark &amp; The Smithee Group, two leaders in the online jewelry industry. Each week's episode is focused around the explanation and advocacy of important E-Commerce topics and why every jeweler needs to be focused on their online presence now more than ever.

If you're listening to this, chances are you already know that there's a lot more to running a jewelry store than just buying jewelry to sell to customers. The B2B2C model holds an incredible amount of nuance and space for exploration and trend-setting. In this episode, we interview Scott Stambaugh from Stambaugh Jewelers in Defiance, OH, about hiring a bench jeweler, upgrading your in-store branding, hiring employees, where e-commerce fits into the equation, and how the space has changed over the years.Visit Stambaugh Jewelers Website: https://www.stambaughjewelers.com/

If you're listening to this, chances are you already know that there's a lot more to running a jewelry store than just buying jewelry to sell to customers. The B2B2C model holds an incredible amount of nuance and space for exploration and trend-setting. In this episode, we interview Scott Stambaugh from Stambaugh Jewelers in Defiance, OH, about hiring a bench jeweler, upgrading your in-store branding, hiring employees, where e-commerce fits into the equation, and how the space has changed over the years. Visit Stambaugh Jewelers Website: <a href="https://www.stambaughjewelers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.stambaughjewelers.com/</a>

Running a Jewelry Store ft. Stambaugh Jewelers

Earlier on In the Loupe, we made some predictions (you might call them "educated guesses") about what was going to happen in 2022. So, were we right? Or did we lead you astray with some perhaps aspirational-but-not-realistic foresight? We are super excited to dive back in to some of those predictions and see if a career in fortune telling is in our future, or if we should stick to digital marketing and call it a day.Thank you to our sponsor: INOX Men's Jewelry

Earlier on In the Loupe, we made some predictions (you might call them "educated guesses") about what was going to happen in 2022. So, were we right? Or did we lead you astray with some perhaps aspirational-but-not-realistic foresight? We are super excited to dive back in to some of those predictions and see if a career in fortune telling is in our future, or if we should stick to digital marketing and call it a day. Thank you to our sponsor: <a href="https://www.inox-us.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INOX Men's Jewelry</a>

Our 2021 Predictions, and Speculating About Our Futures

JCK, the biggest jewelry show in the Wester Hemisphere just ended last week, and Michael wanted to hear how it was so he invited Stuart Blessman, Director of Digital Marketing at Punchmark, to recap how the show was, what the buzz was about, and which parties he thought were best! If you didn't get to attend this year, you'll get a full recap here!

JCK, the biggest jewelry show in the Wester Hemisphere just ended last week, and Michael wanted to hear how it was so he invited Stuart Blessman, Director of Digital Marketing at Punchmark, to recap how the show was, what the buzz was about, and which parties he thought were best! If you didn't get to attend this year, you'll get a full recap here!

What We Learned at the Biggest Jewelry Trade Show In the Western Hemisphere

Say, do you remember that Christmas ad Apple made a few years back that made everyone cry? Here's a secret: it doesn't matter which one you remember -- they come out with a new one every year, and they're mostly all tear-jerkers. These emotion-inducing ads are forms of impact-based advertisements. Impact-based ads do more than sell a product. They sell a company, its ideas, and its values, sometimes without ever mentioning a product. And if you're selling jewelry, a product that runs almost entirely on emotions... well, welcome to your new marketing strategy.

Say, do you remember that Christmas ad Apple made a few years back that made everyone cry? Here's a secret: it doesn't matter which one you remember -- they come out with a new one every year, and they're mostly all tear-jerkers. These emotion-inducing ads are forms of impact-based advertisements. Impact-based ads do more than sell a product. They sell a company, its ideas, and its values, sometimes without ever mentioning a product. And if you're selling jewelry, a product that runs almost entirely on emotions... well, welcome to your new marketing strategy.

Make a Big Impact with Your Advertising (with Impact-Based Ads)

Selling jewelry to men isn't the exact same process as selling jewelry to women. There's a different cadence to the sales transaction, with a focus on detailed specifics. Many jewelry stores are hesitant to jump in and start carrying men's jewelry in earnest, so we decided to speak with a jeweler who has cracked the code when it comes to selling jewelry to gents. Amanda from Nelson's Jewelry in Iowa talks about why she started selling to men, how the harvest season can impact the end of year sales volume, and what you can do to capitalize on the forgotten 50% of buyers.Visit their website: nelsonjewelry.com Thank you to our sponsor: INOX Men's Jewelry

Selling jewelry to men isn't the exact same process as selling jewelry to women. There's a different cadence to the sales transaction, with a focus on detailed specifics. Many jewelry stores are hesitant to jump in and start carrying men's jewelry in earnest, so we decided to speak with a jeweler who has cracked the code when it comes to selling jewelry to gents. Amanda from Nelson's Jewelry in Iowa talks about why she started selling to men, how the harvest season can impact the end of year sales volume, and what you can do to capitalize on the forgotten 50% of buyers. Visit their website: <a href="https://www.nelsonjewelry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nelsonjewelry.com</a> Thank you to our sponsor: <a href="https://www.inox-us.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INOX Men's Jewelry</a>

How to Sell to Gents ft. Nelson's Jewelry

What's in a business name? It can mean everything to you, a banner that you and your employees rally around, and gives purpose and value to your business. For others, it can be as simple as appearing having a business name that appears in the front of the phone book so that more people call. And yet again, it could be as simple as the name of the owner(s). Mike interviewed a few business owners at the inaugural Punchmark Client Workshop about where their names originated. We hope you enjoy!

What's in a business name? It can mean everything to you, a banner that you and your employees rally around, and gives purpose and value to your business. For others, it can be as simple as appearing having a business name that appears in the front of the phone book so that more people call. And yet again, it could be as simple as the name of the owner(s). Mike interviewed a few business owners at the inaugural Punchmark Client Workshop about where their names originated. We hope you enjoy!

How Did You Get Your Name? ft. Various Jewelers

Imagine trying to convince your grandma to buy a nice pair of diamond earrings online - chances are she'll be skeptical at best, and potentially horrified at the thought. But the data shows that even if Grandma might not be hopping on the bandwagon, many consumers are. Luxury e-commerce has grown significantly over the past few years, aided by pandemic shut-downs and consumers who see a well-designed website as equal to a showroom floor. This episode, we're diving into the stats, data, and stories about luxury e-commerce with a special guest from ClearSale, a leading e-commerce fraud protection company.Learn About ClearSale: punchmark.com/clearsaleEnter the GemLoupe Giveaway: punchmark.com/loupe

Imagine trying to convince your grandma to buy a nice pair of diamond earrings online - chances are she'll be skeptical at best, and potentially horrified at the thought. But the data shows that even if Grandma might not be hopping on the bandwagon, many consumers are. Luxury e-commerce has grown significantly over the past few years, aided by pandemic shut-downs and consumers who see a well-designed website as equal to a showroom floor. This episode, we're diving into the stats, data, and stories about luxury e-commerce with a special guest from ClearSale, a leading e-commerce fraud protection company. Learn About ClearSale: <a href="https://www.punchmark.com/clearsale" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">punchmark.com/clearsale</a> Enter the GemLoupe Giveaway: <a href="https://www.punchmark.com/loupe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">punchmark.com/loupe</a>

Inside the Data and Growth of Selling High-End Goods Online ft. ClearSale

At some point in the year, you will probably be tasked with creating a marketing campaign. Regardless of whether it's for Black Friday, Christmas, or Valentine's Day, your goal should be the same: drive traffic to your brick and mortar showroom, and your digital showroom (aka, your website). Instead of starting from scratch for the hundredth time, listen to this episode for tips on how to follow a tried and true recipe for a successful digital marketing campaign that you just might find yourself replicating with every holiday season...Enter the Giveawaypunchmark.com/loupe

At some point in the year, you will probably be tasked with creating a marketing campaign. Regardless of whether it's for Black Friday, Christmas, or Valentine's Day, your goal should be the same: drive traffic to your brick and mortar showroom, and your digital showroom (aka, your website). Instead of starting from scratch for the hundredth time, listen to this episode for tips on how to follow a tried and true recipe for a successful digital marketing campaign that you just might find yourself replicating with every holiday season... Enter the Giveaway <a href="https://www.punchmark.com/loupe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">punchmark.com/loupe</a>

How to Make a Successful Digital Marketing Campaign

You can't fix what you can't measure, so you need to be measuring everything! The state of play for online marketing is constantly shifting and adapting to the will of the Google Algorithm, and it is a full time job staying on top of what is working and is not. Mike speaks with Stuart and Hope about where things stand, how they've changed in just last few months, and what they do for our digital marketing clients to get them more e-commerce sales.Enter the Giveaway for a Picup Media GemLoupe!punchmark.com/loupe

You can't fix what you can't measure, so you need to be measuring everything! The state of play for online marketing is constantly shifting and adapting to the will of the Google Algorithm, and it is a full time job staying on top of what is working and is not. Mike speaks with Stuart and Hope about where things stand, how they've changed in just last few months, and what they do for our digital marketing clients to get them more e-commerce sales. Enter the Giveaway for a Picup Media GemLoupe! <a href="https://www.punchmark.com/loupe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">punchmark.com/loupe</a>

This Is How We Do It! Fix Your Marketing Today

Robert Irwin

2021 was one of the best years ever to be a jeweler. After the relative loss of 2020, most stores had record years last year and are continuing to see that success grow. Is this you? If you're considering expanding to a second or third location in the near future, there are some things you'll want to know about how to keep your business unique and thriving throughout multiple locations. This episode we are speaking with Howie from Robert Irwin Jewelers who has opened FIVE locations to uncover everything that goes into expanding a business without losing that familiarity that your long-time clients know and love.Visit their website: rijewelers.comThank you to our sponsor: INOX Men's Jewelry

2021 was one of the best years ever to be a jeweler. After the relative loss of 2020, most stores had record years last year and are continuing to see that success grow. Is this you? If you're considering expanding to a second or third location in the near future, there are some things you'll want to know about how to keep your business unique and thriving throughout multiple locations. This episode we are speaking with Howie from Robert Irwin Jewelers who has opened FIVE locations to uncover everything that goes into expanding a business without losing that familiarity that your long-time clients know and love. Visit their website: <a href="https://www.rijewelers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rijewelers.com</a> Thank you to our sponsor: <a href="https://www.inox-us.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">INOX Men's Jewelry</a>

Branching Out with Your Business: Opening 2nd or 3rd Locations ft. Robert Irwin Jewelers

In the Loupe

The best podcasts on investing. For anyone interested in the stories in the investing industry, whether it's an interview with Ray Dalio or Ed Thorp to the writer of The Big Short. This topic includes the most fascinating stories from all the best investors. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Investing Podcasts

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!