Jewelry Organizations and the Role They Play ft. RJO
Jewelry organizations are an important part of the jewelry ecosystem, providing a valuable mediation between vendors and retailers, and hosting annual trade shows where retailer members can experience valuable face time with the vendors they wish to carry in their store. Michael spoke with three board members of one of the biggest jewelry organizations in the world, RJO. RJO is unique in that it's member owned, and with the combined weight of 1200+ retailers and vendors, they feel they are only just getting started!

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

I Went to RJO San Antonio and All I Got Was This Podcast Episode
The first ever In the Loupe "audio-blog," Mike takes you, the listener, to RJO San Antonio with him to experience a jewelry show. Jewelry shows are a unique and interesting place, where business, socializing, good food, and a heck of a lot of jewelry mix to create an environment that can't exist elsewhere. We know not every listener was able to make it to this show, so we hope that this episode will help you feel like you were there right beside us!

Lets Talk With: Small Town Jewelers ft. Meigs Jewelry ft. Minor's North Jewelry
The strategy to sell online and in your brick-and-mortar is not a one size fits all practice. The population of your city, the average budget for a shopper in your area, and the distance your customers will travel all matter when creating your business strategy. This episode features two jewelry store owners, Jeff from Miner's North Jewelers & Todd from Meig's Jewelry, and we talk about their business strategies, ranging from adapting to their stores being shut down to in person visits, what social channels they advertise on (and how much) and clever ways they market to their past customers to potentially gain a repeat purchase.

What You Need To Know When Opening Your First Jewelry Store ft. The Hills Jewelry
Most jewelry stores have been around for ten, if not a hundred, years. Amy Baird is an outlier, having opened The Hills Jewelry, in Worthington, OH, in 2018 with her husband. With almost no prior jewelry experience, Amy has learned an immense amount about running a business and the world of jewelry. Michael spoke with Amy about the successes, pitfalls, key decisions, and strategy that has led to opening a successful jewelry business in the late 2010s!

Running a Jewelry Store ft. Stambaugh Jewelers
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.

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

Next Generation Jewelers & Nerd Jewelry ft. Arezzo Jewelers
It's no secret that retail jewelry owners tend to skew towards the older generations, which can feel intimidating for the few owners that are on the younger side. Vincent Spilotro, 2nd generation owner of Arezzo Jewelers is only 38 but has fast tracked his success by attending training sessions, finding mentors at jewelry shows, and continuing to ask questions and staying curious. Michael speaks with him to learn what he wished he had discovered earlier, what his holiday plans are, and how he stays abreast of current trends.

Let's Talk With: INOX Men's Jewelry
This week Mike interviews Sebastian Velasquez from INOX Men's Jewelry. INOX is best known as THE men's jewelry line, creating iconic bangles, bracelets, and rings for over fifteen years. Sebastian shared his view on men's fashion and where he thinks the industry is heading, information he is uniquely privy. Additionally, the pair discuss the unique trust and dynamic between vendors and retailers, something that is rarely spoken about but is extremely important for the continued success of the jewelry industry. You wont want to miss this one!

Upping Your Off-Season: Grads, Dads, and Groomsmen ft. INOX Men's Jewelry
One of our most popular guests of Season 2 is back! Sebastian Velasquez from INOX Men's Jewelry is here to explain how to capitalize on three major jewelry sales periods that are often overlooked: graduation celebrations, Father's Day, and groomsmen gifts. Learn how to prepare your store and your marketing for this upcoming year and give your offseason a boost.

Making the World a Better Place One Smile at a Time: an Interview with Smiling Rocks
Smiling Rocks are a new lab grown diamond & jewelry business with a focus on giving back. Their jewelry has been worn on the red carpet by celebrities and influencers, but the most beautiful part of their jewelry is the 3% of every purchase that goes to charity. CEO & Co-Founder Zulu Ghevriya created this business with environmental impact as a focus, and have made strides to minimize their footprint on the world, going so far as planting hundreds of thousands of trees and removing thousands of pounds of ocean trash. But their philanthropy doesn't end there, they also are donating to Animal Protection, Medical Support for children born with cleft palates, and kids scholarships. This is a feel good episode, so don't miss out!

102 Years of Excellence, Meet Ostbye ft. Craig MacBean
A business doesn't stick around for over 100 years if they aren't doing things the right way. Craig MacBean is the 4th generation President of Ostbye, and shares some of the key differentiating factors when it comes to standing out in the crowd of bridal vendors, his views on lab-grown diamonds, and teases some new products that are going to be coming to a jewelry retailer near you!

A Retailer's Guide to Pinterest ft. D. Geller & Son ft. Graziella Fine Jewellery
Pinterest is seeing a huge surge in use for retail businesses, with tools that are on par or better than other social media platforms. It inhabits the "dreamer" or "planning" stage of a project, which can allow retailers to build a unique bond with potential shoppers. Mike spoke with Sara from D Geller in Georgia, Deeb from Graziella Fine Jewellery in Ontario, two Punchmark clients with a strong understanding of e-commerce, about how they are marketing through the platform, if they will lean into Pinterest more in 2022, and what you can expect as a budget.

It's Time to Talk About TikTok Marketing
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!

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

How You Should be Marketing Through Facebook in 2023
A lot has changed since In the Loupe covered Facebook marketing in S1E10. Facebook became Meta, which we still refuse to refer to it as, and are focused more than ever on shopping for their platform. That should be good news for both retailers and shoppers, but it also mean the rules are more complex and important than ever before.

The Keys to Good Copy ft. Stephanie Momot
Good copywriting doesn't stand out: it blends in. The copy on your website should act as a brand ambassador and point of connection with your customers. In this episode, we talk with professional writer Stephanie Momot Rhodes. She shares her perspective on the value of good copy and how it functions on your site to encourage specific user behavior. She also gives her top tips for those tasked with writing web copy, and some insights on the In the Loupe brand voice that she crafted.

5 Things That Are Working Right Now In E-Commerce
We spend a lot of time measuring results of a wide variety of different digital marketing techniques, and it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that not everything is effective. Not only that, but digital marketing changes yearly, if not monthly, based on the small algorithm tweaks enacted on the various platforms available to retailers. Stuart Blessman, Director of Digital Marketing, outlines 5 things that are working (and 5 things that are NOT) in the digital marketing space.

Let's Talk With: Michael O'Connor, Director of Marketing at The Plumb Club
Michael O'Connor has been there, done that, in the jewelry industry. He's worked as a designer, conceptualizing jewelry prior to the popularization of CAD software, he's started his own marketing firm, Style & Substance Inc, and worked at prestigious organizations like Frederick Goldman, Platinum Guild International, Couture, JCK, DeBeers. In addition to staring in his own TV show and covering numerous awards show red carpets, he has appeared repeatedly on a variety of shows such as The Today Show, ET, Access Hollywood and QVC. He has also styled numerous celebrities for red carpet appearances. He now oversees marketing efforts for the prestigious vendor coalition, The Plumb Club, as their Marketing Director.

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

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

Clienteling in 2022 ft. Clientbook
The future of clienteling looks a lot different than it has in the past, and expectations have changed. The difference between a customer and a client relies on the follow up skills of the business owner. That's why we decided to speak with Ryan from Clientbook about clienteling in 2022 and how you can convert one-time customers into long term clients.

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

Meet Edge Retail Academy ft. 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!

Fraud Protection Around the Holidays ft. ClearSale
A majority of retailers make upwards of 70% of their online sales in November and December, which means the probability to encounter fraud around the holidays is the highest. It's not all faulty cards, or shady orders too! Some fraudsters have put as much time into attempting to scam you as you have trying to prevent them. Mike speaks with Faye from ClearSale to discuss how you can prevent your business this holiday season.

The 2023 TSG Marketing Guide
The yearly guidebook written and released by The Smithee Group at the start of each year is your ultimate strategy guide for making 2023 your best year ever. They cover how to elevate your existing marketing with new styles, marketing channels you should be opening to find new customers, and industry trends they believe will be the next big thing.