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Please friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter If you missed our last few newsletters they can be found here: The Centurion Newsletter 5-26-10 The Centurion Newsletter Live from Vegas 6-2-10 The Centurion Newsletter 6-5-10 Live from Las Vegas II
Volume 9, No. 7 June 10, 2010
Today's Headlines: 10 New HD Videos of Designer Introductions in Las Vegas Definite Uptick for Higher-End Business At JCK and Couture Couture Show Reports Return of Key Brands GIA Mini-Career Fair Buzzing With Activity, Excitement Uneek Wins Best in Entry Platinum Fashion Under $2,500 Patrick Murphy on Smart Cars, Big Billboards, and Ugly Ties
10 New HD Videos of Designer Introductions in Las Vegas Las Vegas--The Centurion has been really busy visiting with more than 100 great designers and manufacturers at the June Las Vegas shows gathering HD Video of their latest introductions. This effort if meant to put the many better retail jewelers who are our readers "in the buyer's seat" where they can easily learn what's new from those lines in which they have an interest but were unable to meet with during the shows. In each of the next several editions, we will offer roughly 10 great HD videos to watch on introductions from top-level designers and manufacturers from the Vegas shows. In this edition, we cover the following: Finesse Diamonds New 88 Program
Gregg Ruth New Aztec Collection
Hellmuth's New Croco Collection
John Buechner New Natural Gemstone Designs
Martin Flyer New FlyerFit Designs and Program
Mattioli New Versatile Collection
Oscar Heyman New Rare Opal Necklace
Paramount Gems New Collections
Definite Uptick for Higher-End Business At JCK and Couture Las Vegas--Following Las Vegas shows one year ago that many vendors reported were off as much as 50-70% versus 2008, the 2010 editions of Luxury By JCK, the JCK Show, the Prestige Promenade within JCK (collectively reporting a 20% increase in buyer attendance) and the Couture Show were consistently reported to have exceeded expectations by many exhibitors. Following a strong Centurion 2010 Show in early February, the success of these June shows for exhibitors serves as strong reinforcement that a resurgence of the higher-end fine jeweler is underway, leaving strengthening feelings of optimism in its wake. There was also consensus that while high-end jewelers and vendors are not out of the woods yet that they are definitely heading in the right direction. There was further agreement that a solid 2010 Holiday Season was expected.
Couture Show Reports Return of Key Brands Las Vegas--In a show of strength for the Couture Show, established in 1995, the organizers reported on the final day of the 2010 show that they had secured a three-year exhibiting commitment from 12 key brands who have long supported the show. These include Charriol, David Yurman, Damiani, Gurhan, Hearts On Fire, Judith Ripka, Kwiat, Marco Bicego, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin, Scott Kay and Viewpoint. Word from exhibitors on the Collection Floor as Couture was concluding was that many other exhibitors were already following suit and signing up for Couture 2011. The announcement concluded a dramatic period of uncertaintly for the show's exhibitors and attendees on a very positive note. Click here to read the full article, published by National Jeweler Network on-line yesterday.
Las Vegas--The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) held its Mini Career Fair at the Venetian Hotel on Sunday, June 6 during JCK Las Vegas. Please click here for an on-the-scene video report from GIA's vice president of marketing, Kathryn Kimmel.
Uneek Wins Best in Entry Platinum Fashion Under $2,500
Las Vegas--Uneek Jewelry, based in Los Angeles, was one of five winners of Platinum Guild International USA's Platinum Innovation Challenge at JCK Las Vegas. The winning piece from Uneek was a Platinum “snowflake” pendant with round diamonds (.30 ct. tw) on a platinum chain, $1,995 (suggested retail price). Click here for a video showing the piece and the winning plaque. Also watch this newsletter for a piece on all of the winners of this exciting new competition.
Patrick Murphy on Smart Cars, Big Billboards, and Ugly Ties
Patrick Murphy of Murphy's Jewelers, Hamburg, PA spoke with Paul Holewa:
We purchased a Smart Car three years ago. Today there are more Smart Cars on the road, but people still point and look. It has become a strong branding component—people associate the blue Smart Car and the MURPHS vanity plates with our store.
We have our new logo on the car, as well as logos from three strategic
brand partners: TAG Heuer, Tacori, and Hearts On Fire. It’s
essentially a moving billboard, which saves us marketing dollars.
We’re saving a lot of gas, and customers love it.
Which of
your advertisements has elicited the most response? When we opened our Hamburg store, it was directly across
the street from the future site of one of the nation’s largest
Cabela’s. This mega sporting goods store is one of Pennsylvania’s
biggest tourist attractions, with 6 million to 7 million visitors a
year. To attract some of their customers, we put up a billboard near the
store that read A Hunting Store for Women. Since 2005, we’ve
kept the message the same, but changed the backgrounds. People still
make comments and take pictures of it. What’s
your most memorable sale? After a long day at the Vegas show in 2003, I was having a
drink with a friend when two women commented on the Rolex watches we
were wearing. I told them we were retail jewelers and that I was based
in Pottsville. One woman, from nearby York, mentioned that her boyfriend
should contact me for some jewelry and asked for a business card. The
boyfriend called two weeks later and purchased a Hearts On Fire
engagement ring. Since then, they’ve purchased many diamond jewelry
pieces. What
advice have you received from a fellow retail jeweler that changed the
way you run your store? Years ago, a jeweler friend advised me to buy diamonds
direct from dealers in Belgium. Since then, I’ve been making two trips
a year for 10 years to buy diamonds. The radio station I advertise with
has partnered with me to do live call-ins from Belgium. The radio
personalities call me “The Diamond Guy,” and the name has stuck. We
do a lot of preselling, and I give customers progress reports on their
diamond purchases. An engagement customer wants me to document the
purchase of his diamond during my next trip as part of the couple’s
engagement and wedding story. What’s
the best idea you’ve come up with for your store? For years I’ve been doing the Ugly Tie Father’s Day
event, charging people a dollar to vote. To take the contest to another
level, I sent letters to many celebrities and sports figures. I’ve
received ugly ties from Bob Hope, Henry Winkler, Jay Leno, Bob Barker,
Larry King, and football coaching legend Lou Holtz. The annual event is
well-received, it’s raised a lot of money for charities, and we have a
great display of ugly celebrity ties that customers enjoy.
Hope you enjoyed this edition of The Centurion ans have a great day!
The Centurion
If you missed our last few newsletters they can be found here: The Centurion Newsletter 5-26-10 The Centurion Newsletter Live from Vegas 6-2-10 The Centurion Newsletter 6-5-10 Live from Las Vegas II
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