On the show this week Vanessa Burkitt is joined by Richard Haruni, Gem dealer and Director at The Gem Bank. Also on the show is this weeks Jewellery and Fashion Highlights and a competition to give you the chance to get your hands on tickets to go to an extraordinary event that Catherine Jones is hosting showcasing platinum jewellery. Download “Star Radio’s Jewellery & Fashion Show – May 7th 2012″ (26.54 MB, 19:19) …
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It’s a tough old business world out there, especially in light of recent news that we could be about to hit a double dip recession. So you might be asking yourself what you can do to make your business stand out in these difficult times where everybody is clamouring for business in an ever decreasing market. As you already know Vision and Goal setting is crucial to a successful business and this month I have been talking predominantly about Unique Selling Propositions – USP. When anybody starts their own venture they have a vision that their business is going to be unique and the service or product that they are offering is going to be far superior than what is being offered by the competition. And that may be true, …
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When you’re a star studded celebrity walking down the red carpet on your way into the Oscars, you are already aware that the world is watching. As the press surrounds you screaming “what are you wearing?” you already know that the actual winning of an Oscar is only part the fun. 2012 was no different. And as every girl knows, even the most stunning gown would never be complete without accessorising with the latest jewellery designs …
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Every business needs goals. Jewellery and creative businesses also need goals, but for some reason we don’t understand that. Our businesses are not the same as everyone else’s, so why should we run them like businesses. Because they’ll fail otherwise. Set some goals and move your business forward. …
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Many businesses right now are breathing a sigh of relief that the big Christmas dash is out of the way and most are already starting to look forward and plan for next Christmas, and who could blame them, after all the Yule season is where alot of businesses make the bulk of their money. But does this have to be the case? For example Valentines Day is almost upon us, and even though we are currently living through an economic decline, Valentines sales still remain high. Statistics over the past few years say demand in the U.K for products this season is getting higher and higher especially for diamonds, with coloured diamonds also becoming more and more in vogue. In fact according to the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker …
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As you were stuffing yourself with mulled wine and mince pies many of you were probably thinking about the coming year and what you could do to achieve your business goals. Or so we like to think. With the economic climate still looking uncertain at best, this makes that process even harder. What’s worse, is that our inability to set out our priorities for the coming year (other than survive) creates anxiety as we go through the year. So that come the end of the year, we’re so frazzled and drained, that all we can do is eat more mince pies, drink more mulled wine and start all over. I used to go through this cycle, year after year and as the financial crisis hit in 2008, would regularly find …
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Vision and Goal setting is a much tried and tested successful method for me. I have found that setting goals gives you a long term vision with short term motivation. It minimises distractions and focus’s the mind, in fact goal setting is one of the strongest keys to a successful business. Clarity and Vision ensure that your efforts are focused on achieving a clearly defined outcome. …
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Luxury by definition is very hard to pin down, as luxury means different things to different people. In this industry however, luxury is the highest measure of quality. So, how are you going to convince your customer that when they buy from you they are not just getting another piece of jewellery? That when they buy from you, what they get is a piece of luxury, that their purchase is a quality piece of jewellery that can last a lifetime. Whether you are a modern, contemporary or traditional jeweller, the rules for proving that your jewellery is luxury are the same. Ask yourself, do you strive to meet every individual customers needs? Are you prepared to tailor the service to meet their requirements? Is every piece of jewellery you produce …
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Reviewing Your Goals – 6 months on… Time flies when you are working hard on your own business! It’s hard to believe we are already at the half way mark in 2011. At this point in the year it is a good time to look back and take stock of what goals have been achieved over the last six months. We need to remind ourselves of the goals we set, and we need review them, to see what did and did not go well for us. So, have you achieved the things that you set out to do in 2011? And be honest, did you have a clear idea of what it was that you wanted to achieve in the first place? What Kinds of Goals are you Setting? Goal …
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In today’s tough economic times retailers and jewellery manufacturers are looking for an edge. What is needed is innovation and an injection of something creative into the business. However, tell many retailers to get creative, to freshen things up, and you will watch a look of dread creep over their faces. Often we find ourselves wanting and looking for change, but that change eludes us. One source of change can come from a section of the industry that is often viewed as ‘alternative’, an area many out of town jewellers struggle to fully understand. The designer maker, I believe, holds a key to great innovation in any local jewellery market. If retailers have taken on designer jewellers, they have often remained at the fringes of the display. By introducing the …
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