I subscribe to every jewelry industry news related email, feed, or social profile that I come across. It's a lot of information daily and I admit that I can't consume it all, but I do look at the headlines. When I see something that would be of interest to my clients I take the time to read it.
I usually read the INSTORE Worksmart emails every morning because they are short and I like to see what they are recommending. Sometimes the daily tips are good, most of the time I find that they are simple reminders of what jewelers have already heard at trade show seminars.
Reminders are good.
Sometimes those Worksmart tips are bad, and I usually just shake my head.
Today's tip (shown below) was so bad that I had to stand up and say STOP! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?
Since I spent a lot of time covering Landing Pages in 2012 I would like to present the top 10 Daily Nuggets that attracted website visitors. This is the list of Nuggets people most often landed on, which also could mean that these are the top 10 topics that jWAG helped people with in 2012.
Surprisingly enough, none of these Nuggets were written in 2012. The first one on the list was written in 2010 and the rest were all written in 2011.
July 27, 2010 What are those square dot-like bar codes becoming so popular? I couldn't be more proud of this Daily Golden Nugget. Why? Because this is actually Nugget #2 that I wrote from a hotel room while vacationing around France. I had been dabbling with QR Codes myself since 2007, but few people had smartphones back then and only techo-geeks would even attempt to scan t... VIEW FULL ENTRY
An interesting thing happened to the jWAG site in 2012 after we hit our 500th Daily Golden Nugget. The Google spider started visiting our website at a rapid pace, and our visitor counts increase dramatically. On most days the Googlebot spider will visit our latest Daily Golden Nugget at least 30 times in 24 hours.
Here's a list of the top 10 most visited Daily Golden Nuggets for 2012 according to our own Google Analytics tracking:
July 3, 2012 Google Free Merchant Center is Now Paid Shopping Google announced in 2012 that their free Merchant Center system would transform into a paid advertising model called Google Shopping. Those of you with automated inventory uploads from your website to the Merchant Center would have to change things around and start paying for yout products to appear in the SERP. This was... VIEW FULL ENTRY
On September 21 Apple released it's iPhone 5 and iOS 6 with a lot of fanfare. On the same day all around the world millions of people picked up their new phone and immediately started playing with it.
Apple was touting the new Apple Maps which would now provide spoken turn-by-turn directions. Unfortunately this new Maps App turns out to be a complete dud, to the point that the CEO of Apple issues a public apology for the disastrous results.
The previous versions of iOS (the operating system that runs on the iPad, iPod, and iPhone... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Looking back over 2011 I'm happy to see the increase in popularity of the jWAG Daily Golden Nuggets. My team and I have tried various formats ranging from simple SEO ideas, to marketing lessons, to an entire series relating to the holiday season.
We get positive feedback on all the formats, and we don't yet know what you guys prefer most. Here now are the 10 best of 2011 Nuggets as measured by our own tracking and Google Analytics.
July 28, 2011 "Meta Descriptions are Your Online Jewelry Window Displays" Increasing the popularity of your website now goes well beyond the basic search engine optimization techniques, but as Google's machine learning techniques have improved we've had to think way beyond the number of times a phrase is mentioned on a page, your page title, and whether you use the bold-tag on ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Take a look at the product catalog. The photos are compelling, the descriptions are completely alluring. You better turn on a stop watch before clicking that link because time will FLY!
This website has previous successful history because it's a PR5, but the Alexa ranking in the past 4 days has gone through the roof to the 18,471 most popular website in the USA.
There was a 1200% rise for "stauer jewelry" in search, which is how I just found it in Google Insights.
Takeaways: Photos: Basically... another very successful site that does not use white backgrounds Descriptions: Wow... everything has a story!
This is a good learning lesson for any retail jeweler or jewelry ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
According to Forbes blog, there is a Flaming Yellow 32-Carat Diamond about to go up for auction. Early speculation is that the precious stone is expected to go for between $6 to $8M!
What makes this diamond so special? It is a Vivid Yellow - "a rare, highly saturated, fancy vivid yellow diamond of 32.77 carats". Christie's New York will feature it as part of their Christie’s New York Magnificent Jewels sale on October 18. VIEW FULL ENTRY
Avoid weasel words like may, might, could... WHY? Because they suggest to your customer that you’re not confident in what you're saying. HOW? Use altern... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Prince William already gave Kate Middleton his mother's diamond sapphire engagement ring and now he's bestowed upon his new bride another precious jewelry gift from his late mother, Princess Diana: her diamond and sapphire earrings.
"Now that they're married, William wanted her to have some of his mother's favorite pieces," an insider tells The Daily Mail.
The Duchess even gave the earrings her updated and personaliz... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Country star Randy Houser has officially "put a ring" on his duet partner Jessa Lee Yantz.
"I finally found the person that I can't be without," says Houser (in People magazine). "Jessa makes me a better person every day, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her."
Buzz about the engagement began on July 22, after Yantz's sister, Alicia, tweeted her congratulations. Not too soon afterwards came the tweets from fans.
There have been no details yet about the ring Houser proposed with but we'll keep... VIEW FULL ENTRY
American Idol winner Lee DeWyze proposed to his girlfriend Jonna Walsh on July 16th, according to Us Magazine.
DeWyze popped the question to Walsh during a visit to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. The couple have been dating since Walsh tried out for the lead in DeWyze music video about 9 months ago. Although, they haven't been together for t... VIEW FULL ENTRY
It's July 26, 2011 and I'm thinking the jewelry industry needs to be shaken up. Either a shake up or a wake up, but I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish either.
I've spent eight progressive years working with jewelry stores and jewelry manufacturers and developing online marketing for jewelers and general jewelry websites. I'd like to explain what I see about the industry and why I think it's being held back from technological progress when so many other industries have already taken 1000 steps forward almost overnight.
The first problem I see is the general lack of technology interest that retail store owners have. I know many jewelry retailers that are still using simple cash registers while maintaining their inventory by hand. Others use point of sale software, but many use it ineffectively without understanding the... VIEW FULL ENTRY
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently embarked on a North American Tour and while they on it, we saw many different yet ultra chic looks from Duchess Kate. Of course, we expected nothing less from the latest media darling and fashionista! We'd like to talk about her earrings today!
For the BAFTA event, Kate wore a borrowed pair of chandelier earrings from Queen Elizabeth's jewelry box. Imagine having the Crown Jewels available to you for red carpet events! You can see these lovely earrings on the right. <... VIEW FULL ENTRY
You've heard the old addage "less is more," right? More often than not, celebrities don't heed this sage advice, but we love when someone knows how to rock simple beauty. (Pun intended!)
For instance, check out how effortlessly Eva Longoria, Hilary Duff and Reese Witherspoon pulled off these gorgeous green drop earrings recently. From the pics, they're the only jewelry the women are wearing and with earrings as bold and bright as these, we don't think they need to adorn with anything else!
Looks like it wasn't "just" a kiss! Lady Antebellum's lead singer, Hillary Scott, had reportedly toldBillboard magazine that the country band's latest single, "Just a Kiss" was based on her current relationship with Chris Tyrell. The song captures the spirit of new love and the uncertainty and hope that comes with it. However, Scott and Tyrell have definitely moved beyond the new stage of... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Grey's Anatomy star Sara Ramirez's longtime beau Ryan Debolt decided to put a ring on it!
Ramirez's rep, Nancy Seltzer, told US Magazine the actress and her fiancé were "thrilled to announce their engagement."
Just over a week ago, Debolt popped the question in none other than the city of love: Paris, France! No ring pictures have surfaced yet, but we imagine it's something pretty fabulous to be worthy of this gorgeous star.
ABC Family "Pretty Little Liars" actress Shay Mitchell (seen right) stepped out with the tried and true "less is more" attitude towards her jewelry at the 2011 MuchMusic Awards on Sunday. Mitchell complimented her LBD with statement jewelry by M.C.L. (Matthew Campbell Laurenza).
It's only the 8th of June and already Hollywood is glittering with the newly engaged!
To "ring" in the month typically most associated with weddings, actress and jewelry designer Molly Sims announced on June 1st her engagement to boyfriend Scott Stuber, according to People magazine.
Kim Kardashian is best known for being part of the reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians. On the show, which she stars with her two sisters, Khloe and Kourtney, she's known for being the single sister. All that has changed now and she's been given something that's going to make it very difficult to "keep up with" her...a 20.5 carat engagement ring from boyfriend and New Jersey Nets forward, Kris Humphries!
Though the couple has only been together for about 6 months, Humphries popped the question to Kardashian in her Beverly Hills mansion about a week ago. "I walked into my bedroom and there he... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Winners of the CBS TV show "The Amazing Race" Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney recently tied the knot with diamond wedding bands by ArtCarved.
According to National Jeweler, their wedding was “another amazing event,” Tom Tanner, vice president of marketing at Frederick Goldman, Inc., the parent company that manages the ArtCarved Bridal brand, said. “It’s a wonderful time in [Rickey and Whitney... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Besides the cake, the pageantry and the fact you're invited to celebrate the lifelong love between a couple, the next best thing about any wedding is the bling! When you're about to become Duchess of Cambridge and Queen-in-waiting, you know your jewelry has to be impressive. Kate definitely didn't disappoint in that, or any regard.
Her "something borrowed" was the Queen Of England's Cartier "halo" tiara. Set in platinum, the headpiece is made from baguette-cut diamonds, with the upper part of the tiara forming a range of lotus flowers. The lower "zig-zag" part forms a re... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Actress Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy, front man for the band Muse, are engaged to be married. In what Hudson called a very "sweet" and "romantic" proposal, Bellamy popped the question last week in NYC.
Instead of going right to the press, though, Hudson chose to be coy. According to US Magazine, when asked why her engagement hadn't been announced yet, Hudson replied "I was... VIEW FULL ENTRY
A few months ago, stars were getting engaged practically every minute of every day. After Valentine's Day, the betrothal buzz petered out. That is until NFL player Jay Cutler decided to propose to former "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" star, Kristin Cavallari.
Cutler decided to surprise Cavallari by surprising her on a vacation to Cabo, Mexico just to propose to her. How cute! So far, there has been no picture of the ring he proposed with, but VIEW FULL ENTRY
Elizabeth Taylor was a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a philanthropist. She will forever be a part of "Hollywood's Golden Age", standing alongside the likes of John Wayne, Shirley Temple, James Dean, Henry Fonda, Marilyn Monroe and many more!
Taylor was also famous for something else; the jewels she wore. Elizabeth Taylor inspired us with every type of jewelry you could imagine. Her love for diamonds was most well-known; be... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Odyssey Golf seems to think it might. According to Today's Golfer, Odyssey just unveiled the "stunning one-off 2-Ball putter encrusted with rubies and diamonds to be sold in world-renowned department store Harrods. The putter comes complete with an 18-carat white gold head, 240 rubies and 378 diamonds - as well as a price tag of £100k"(equivalent to $160,510.00).
In The Bachelor season finale last night, Brad Womack proposed to Emily with a stunning 3-carat platinum and diamond engagement ring that was handcrafted by celebrity jeweler, Neil Lane.
According to People magazine, "when Bachelor Brad Womack eyed the sixth — and final — engagement ring from a se... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Jennifer Lopez captured most of our hearts back in the day when she walked out as "Jenny from the Block". However, it's clear that the new American Idol judge has grown and branched out from "the block". In the span of her career so far, she's juggled movies, music, motherhood, marriage, dance, record producing, fashion designing and now television.
Recently, she released the music video to her new single "On the Floor (featuring Pit Bull)" and the song is currently the second most... VIEW FULL ENTRY
There are countless options if you want to jazz up your iPhone. You can buy designer skins for it and charms to dangle from it. But until now, we weren't aware of a way to actually bling out your iPhone.
Enter Gresso, a luxury mobile phone manufacturer, who's latest creation is the new "iPhone 4 Black Diamonds for Lady." The limited edition iPhone 4 is "encased in 200-year-old African Blackwood, and combin... VIEW FULL ENTRY
The BaselWorld show will be happening later this month in Switzerland. And while it's primarily known as the place for high-end watches, they won't be the only pieces to shine.
According to National Jeweler today, "Siegelson, a New York-based purveyor of high-end and rare jewelry, has announced that it will be selling an iconic piece of 20th century American jewelry at the show: a circ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
If you've seen the TV show 'Mad Men', you've seen Christina Hendricks. The well-endowed redhead is memorable in her own right and that special "it" quality that she possesses made her the natural choice for Vivienne Westwood when looking for a "model for her new jewellery range."
It wasn't only a perfect fit for 'godmother of punk' Westwood, but also for Hendricks, who has been been a fan of the designer since she was a child. She considers the collaboration a "great honour...... VIEW FULL ENTRY
We've talked about unusual but elegant jewelry choices and also the rise of emerald and other green-hued stone pieces seen on the red carpet for this year's Academy Awards. But what seems to be the most popular type of jewelry to grace the red carpet? Platinum.
Sandra Bullock wore Harry Winston platinum and diamond stud earrings and vintage platinum and diamond bangles. Jennifer Lawrence looked stunning in platinum and fancy, yellow 16 carat diamond earrings by Chopard.
2011 Oscar's knocked this year upcoming spring and events on a high note. Numerous stars were spotted wearing Emerald jewelry. Since green is a bold (and underused) choice for most evening wear, it's all the more surprising that five daring stars rocked the red carpet with some amazing emerald jewelry.
Clockwise from top left, Amy Adams was stunning in $1.35 million worth of emeralds (and diamonds), lent to her for the night by Cartier. The necklace she put over her dress was a 33.24 carat emerald all by itself!
Annette Benning wore elegant platinum and emerald drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz. while Reese Witherspoon’s emerald and diamond earrings were courtesy of Neil Lane.
Celine Dion’s gorgeous 18 carat yellow gold necklace featured diamonds, green spinel and emeralds necklace was designed by Bul... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Last night was the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood and, of course, the whole event was a sparkling, star-studded affair. Now that all the statues have been awarded and we've seen so many gorgeous dresses, it's time to talk about the jewelry!
While many people in Hollywood have already proposed or been proposed to, plenty of others are still waiting for that one special question. Paris Hilton recently joined the ranks of the anticipating when she told Ryan Seacrest how eager she is for beau Cy Waits to pop the question!
We all know everything comes back in style. Ladies, don't you wish you saved some of those old purses you threw away from years ago?
In 1963, when the film Cleopatra came out, there was a demand for collar necklaces inspired by the Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor. Now, more than 45 years later and those collar necklaces are back in style again! With the Oscars right around the corner, we here at the Red Carpet Jeweler blog can only sit on the edge of our seats wondering which stars are going to rock the collar necklaces on the red carpet. VIEW FULL ENTRY
The 2011 Grammy Awards was filled with "huge earrings, creative cuffs, statement rings, yellow gold and menfolk in layered looks," according to Jewelry Insider. Here are a few of our favorite pieces jewelry from last night's music biz extravaganza. It seems like "big and bold" was definitely the statement this year!
Lea Michele, left, was spotted wearing this bright Lorraine Schwartz bracelet .
Kim Kadashian can add "jewelry designer" to her list of accomplishments. The 30 year old reality TV star, who also has her own perfume, fashion boutiques, Quick Trim spokeswomen and Sketchers Shape-Ups, now has "Belle Noel", a new stream-lined jewelry collection.
Kim had a little help from famous jewelry designer Pascal Mouawad, who assisted her as she designed the line, which is very "indicative of her fashionista’s chic style." According to VIEW FULL ENTRY
Well, as we all know, love is in the air and it has breezed by even more couples! We are up to our necks in celebrities engagements. It would seem that every few days another couple announces their engagement!
Tattoo artist and reality show star, Kat Von D just announced her engagement to boyfriend Jesse James. They aren't the most "traditional couple at first glance" but, boy does Jesse James know how to propose!
James, popped the question to Von D with a vintage four-carat... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Ever watch Full House? Chances are, if you have children or grandchildren who grew up in the 90's, you've seen at least one episode of this saccharine family show from the original TGIF lineup on ABC. Available now on DVD and in syndication, the Tanner clan has been immortalized so that we can always see John Stamos as Uncle Jessie singing Elvis and Beach Boys songs (sometimes with the Beach Boys!), Bob Saget in his neurotically clean TV dad persona as Danny Tanner, and Dave Coulier's portayal of cheesy comedian Joe... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Black Swan's Natalie Portman glowed on the red carpet this Sunday at the Golden Globes. And it's no wonder: the actress was nominated (and later won) an award for her complex performance in Black Swan, plus she's expecting her first child and recently became engaged to choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied.
The 2011 Golden Globe Awards were dripping with big, bold earrings! Celebrities are clearly opting for striking looks with a classy edge. Actresses such as Jennifer Lopez, Elisabeth Moss and Vanessa Williams sported statement earrings on the red carpet this past Sunday. Yahoo's OMG has a gallery of the actresses with distinctively gorgeous earrings for the event.the stunning actress arrival on the 68th Red Carpet Golden Globe Awards. Here are a few of our favorite's from the red carpet:
This year, the Golden Globe Awards were sparkling with more jewelry then usual. From the newly engaged, to the sparkling earrings and bracelets, the red carpet jewelry sure left a dazzling mark.
One of the popular choices for this Award show was David Yurman.
Late night host and comedian Jimmy Fallon sported David Yurman watch and cuff links while his wife, producer Nancy Juvonen, wore David Yurman stackable bangles.
Towards the end of December, we reported a wave of celebrity engagements, including Black Swan star Natalie Portman. At that time, no images had surfaced yet of her ring. However, People magazine just released this photo of Portman at the Palm Springs Film Festival Gala on January 8th, sporting a fairly substantial "round stone set with a pavé diamonds."
First, came All My Children. Then came Skating with the Stars. Today, however, the biggest news in Rebecca Budig's life is that she's engaged to her boyfriend Michael Benson.
Joining a whole slew of celebrities who got engaged on or around Christmas this year, Showbizspy reports that Benson "popped the question on Christmas Day with a ruby and an old European cut diamond in platinum and yellow gold circa 1935... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Chances are, at least some of your customers watch the cable channel WE (Women's Entertainment). They're known for original shows like "Bridezillas," "Secret Lives of Women," and, of course, "My Fair Wedding" with David Tutera.
The most recent episode of "My Fair Wedding" featured a unique couple who didn't have room in their budget for wedding bands. Tutera teamed up with Grace Terezian from Kirk Kara to p... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Happy New Year! And for some stars, like Vivica A. Fox and Sherri Shepherd, it's an even happier New Year. We're only four days into 2011 and already two stars a ringing in the New Year with, well....a ring!
Earlier this morning, Vivica A. Fox (seen left) announced her engagement to Atlanta club promoter Omar "Slim" White.
Fox, 46 received an eight-carat diamond ring over the holiday... VIEW FULL ENTRY
I've decided to bring in the New Year with a pretty challenging task over in the jWAG offices. I'm riffling through our collection of webmaster and SEO magazines, re-watching hours and hours of training videos and pouring over our own mountain of what is now 8 years of analytical data.
What's my goal? I'm compiling a massive list of SEO techniques and directions.
Honestly, with our recent realization of the incorrect usage of rel=nofollow that we mentioned in yesterday's Daily Gold Nugget, I realized I needed to compile a book of verified SEO notes. Sort of like an SEO training and consulting book to rule them all!
For a long time now my philosophy has been "think for yourself, question authority." Basically that means you should not blindly trust anything that someone tells you if there is at all the possibility... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Yesterday, we reported on the ever-growing list of celebrity engagements. Also riding on the engagement bandwagon is Kelsey Grammer (though he probably should've waited until his divorce from third wife, reality star Camille Grammer, was finalized before popping yet another question), British pop chanteuse Lily Allen, and TV drag personality Pandora Boxx.
Looking for something fun to watch tomorrow night? The PANDORA "Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice" special will be re-airing tomorrow night on the Hallmark Channel from 6:00pm to 8:00pm! Featuring the music of Manheim Steamroller and skating stars such as Brian Boitano, Ekaterina Gordeeva, and Ilia Kulik, this is sure to be a treat!
Happy Holidays from the Red Carpet Jeweler blog team! ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
It’s Christmas crunch time this week. The last minute shoppers are out and about trying to score some last minute gifts for their loved ones. It's always a challenge to find special gifts for that special someone. This year, many stars are opting to get very special gifts indeed! "Engagement ring" is the gift of this season in Hollywood and the latest is oddly connected with an engagement we VIEW FULL ENTRY
Oprah has done it again! What a surprise! 'Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things' audience members are making out like bandits! Every week a new audience gets one of Oprah's favorite things. The Jewelry Insider blog reports that previous prizes have included a $2,500 Philip Stein watch (accented with 58 diamonds), 1.17 carat Dana Rebecca earrings (featuring 100 diamonds), Judith Ripka earrings made with canary crystal stones and white sapphire accents, and even a trip to Australia! I bet you're wondering what the latest give-a-way is. Oh, wel... VIEW FULL ENTRY
The calendar says that winter is still a few weeks away. However, we're from New Jersey, which means we have gorgeous summers and harsh winters. It's only the first week of December and already it feels like winter is here with a vengeance.
When it comes to winter, at least in the Northern States, bulky accessories and outerwear are a necessity. However, your customers more than likely want to show of their bling-bling, no matter the weather conditions. This can be hard to manage what with... VIEW FULL ENTRY
We've watched her since the beginning but we all know her better as "Hermione Granger". About 7 years ago, Emma Watson was just a mere young girl getting used to the new-found fame that the Harry Potter franchise of movies bestowed on her. Now, she's all grown up, on the red carpet, and bringing the bling with her!
The 20-year old Watson was recently spotted at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Photocall. For the most part, she looked stylish and sexy. However, she was sporting a little too much bling. According to MTV'... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Yesterday's post was all about engagements, celebrities and even the royal family. So far today, it looks like no one else is announcing their engagement, which gives us time to show you the "Do's and Don'ts" for this upcoming holiday season.
We have been talking about "big and bold" jewelry but now we're going to spice up that conversation up a little bit by adding to it. Our advice? Don't over do it!
Most women know the saying "less is more" ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Love is in the air, the water and definitely in Hollywood!
Last week, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo confirmed their engagement and she's been seen flaunting her Asscher-cut diamond platinum ring from jewelers Bader & Garrin, which is worth an estimated $125,000. Just a week later, Nick's former wife, Jessica Simpson, announced her engagement to her beau of six months, Eric Johnson.
Last week, Vanessa Minnillo finally got what she's been waiting a long time for. Nick Lachey, who has been with Minnillo's boyfriend for the past six years, finally proposed to her with a gorgeous diamond engagement ring. Like any other woman, she just can't stop flashing the bling!
This season, fall jewelry fashions are all about big, bold jewelry – whether it’s a chunky cuff, an oversized & opulent cocktail ring, or this season’s front runner, the “statement necklace” – this sure seems to be the season for size.
In another example of this, actress Jane Krakowski was recently seen wearing one of "this season's hottest accessory statement pieces: the Petra braided bracelet. The unique, industrial chain braided piece adorned with cubic zircon... VIEW FULL ENTRY
With the holiday season rushing up on us, it can be hard to stay on top of ever-changing jewelry trends. You've got your store to decorate, part-time employees to train, events to manage, hours to extend and schedules to juggle...and that's not even factoring in the increase in traffic to your store!
Fear not! The Red Carpet Jeweler blog team is here to help you stay on top of the trends that people are talking about. And right now, whether you're in the jewelry industry or the clothing industry, there is one thing that is certain: Vogue magazine is always on cutting edge of style.
Ralph Lauren introduces a Fine Jewelry line. This jewelry line has four collections: • The Diamond Link Collection (seen to the let) • The Equestrian Collection • The Monogram Collection • The New Romantic Collection (seen below)VIEW FULL ENTRY
the Disney kind, that is...your Disney jewelry wishes come true!
According to the In Vogue Jewelry blog, the "Disney movie Fantasia has an incredible influence on fashion. Recently Walt Disney Signature and Noir Jewelry launch[ed] a jewelry collection inspired from the 1940 animation classic."
Now, we know what you're thinking: "how could this possibly benefit me in my s... VIEW FULL ENTRY
In honor of Election Day, the Red Carpet Jeweler blog is paying tribute to First Lady Michelle Obama's style. On Halloween, she was seen sporting a beautiful bee brooch which generated a lot of buzz. Bad puns aside, it is quite a lovely piece. Designed by CFDA accessory designer of the year Alexis Bittar, the bee is hand-painted and hand-carved lucite.
Looking for ideas on how to use this to help customers flock to your store like bees to h... VIEW FULL ENTRY
I have many colleagues within the internet marketing business.
Many times I participate in forums where they talk about "spinning" articles in order to create more content on the web with links back to their websites. I've been saying for quite some time that all this spinning is nothing more than spam website content and eventually someone will come up with a way to filter it.
Singer and first time author Hilary Duff is featured on the November 2010 cover of Health magazine wearing two gorgeously versatile Alwand Vahan bracelets.
What does this mean for you? -Tell your customers! Get a few copies of Health magazine and display them on your counter near your Alwand Vahan jewelry. If you don't carry Alwand Vahan, display the magazines near stackable jewelry that's similar to Alwand Vahan so your customers can see how lovely Hilary Duff looks wearing the... VIEW FULL ENTRY
So INSTORE Magazine is supposed to be the current industry best source for information, right? Every jeweler we know swears by the magazine for its fresh take on things and business worthy information.
Unfortunately, they are a print magazine, and that means by the time their magazine is mailed out they run the risk of their information being out of date. Staff writers tend to do what they were trained to do. That is to say, when they need input on a topic they seek out sources for information, except there's just never enough time to provide investigative reporting or to cooperate their first source.
Let me add another caveat here before I tell you why I'm upset. I do enjoy my monthly infusion of INSTORE Magazine information, and I've had the pleasure of and editorial and interviews with Trace Shelton. I also agree th... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Matthew A Perosi provides 3 examples of how you can use Google AdPlanner to find the best websites to run your PPC campaigns on. Thank you to Kendra Weinman from Manhattan, NY, USA for the question. This is part of a series of videos records in Nice France discussing online marketing for jewelry stores. The Jeweler Website Advisory Group provides straight forward, easy to understand, and actionable examples through it's educational information via video, eBooks, audio and daily email lessons.
The TIME News Feed reports that fine jewelry designer Stefano Canturi has created a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll featuring a 1-carat pink diamond to be auctioned off in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
I considerable myself lucky with all the experiences I've had in my travels. I've never been stranded at an airport, and if my flights have been delayed or canceled it was easy enough to get on the next one.
I've never been stuck out on the tarmac for 4 hours waiting to take off, and recently while millions of people were stranded due to a volcano, it was easy enough for me to extend my stay in beautiful Nice, the South of France.
In fact the worst experience I ever had was an extra 4 hours stuck in a plane at the gate in Newark, NJ before an already long 10 hour direct flight to Hawaii. The plane broke and they wouldn't let us off, but they gave us extra food and open bar (those little bottles are so cute).
Today I'm writing this from my iPad at 33,000 ft just passing over Epernay, France. I'm not on my origina... VIEW FULL ENTRY
The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Brighton Collectibles is teaming up with The Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) to increase awareness. (source article - FightPink.org) They are selling limited-edition bracelets during Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is the sixth year for this team-up. But fo... VIEW FULL ENTRY
OK. You've read the title, and you're asking, "What is the age old question?" Here it is: What do I get my husband for Christmas?
This question can also be asked about a father, a brother, a son, a nephew, a boyfriend...pretty much any man that you know.
Well, what do guys like? Most American men enjoy sports. They all have a favorite player, a favorite team, a favorite racer. Men also like action movies. Who is his favorite actor?
Here are a few choices that you might use to help your lady customers get their men in their lives the perfect gift this holiday season. VIEW FULL ENTRY
InStyle.com wrote a report on Fall Accessories. This report featured six ways to accessorize this fall. What's unusual about this? The accessories featured.
• Wear your belt as a necklace. • Get silly with your bangles. • Get out Grandma's costume jewelry. • Pin a strand of sparkles in your hair. • Wrap your wrist in beads. • Borrow your baby's jewelry. (right: Michelle Williams wearing her baby's earrings.)
London has a hot new designer - Katie Hillier. But, she's doing something a bit unorthodox: She's shaping gold and silver into animal shapes. It all started with a gold and diamond pendant, and now, according to The New York Times, "is expanding the brand one hop at a time."
Currently, she is working on accessories for Marc, by Marc Jacobs. She is also working on Victoria Beckham's new VIEW FULL ENTRY
How many of us have been affected by the horrible disease of cancer, whether it was a family member, a friend or a co-worker? An estimated 1.5 million people will contract cancer this year alone.
There is a new trend in jewelry design: blackened jewelry. (Did black ever really go out of style?) According to Jewelry Information Center "blackened precious metals create fresh unpretentious-looking jewelry for both men and women."
Black has been a color, not only in jewelry, but in fashion in general, that denotes "class." Do you carry designers such as Cathy Waterman, Arman Jewelry or VIEW FULL ENTRY
Last week was Fashion Week in London. About.com says that many designers paid homage to the jewelry, fashion and hairstyles of the 1950s. "At the Caroline Charles show, some models wore pearls reminiscent of 1950s jewelry trends."
Do you carry a "Retro" line in your store? Or do you carry a designer pearl line like Imperial?
Here's a great way to use your .mobi site: Post a coupon on your .mobi site that gives a 15% discount to anyone who brings in their phone and ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
National Jeweler Network recently reported from the MTV VMA's about the latest red carpet trends:
"Pop star [Katy] Perry, who sported the blackened sterling M.C.L. [Matthew Campbell Laurenza] ring, also accessorized with rose-cut diamond earrings from Sutra, while in another of her on-stage looks, [Chelsea] Handler wore Neil Lane diamond earrings plus a stack of diamond, gold and coral bracelets and ba... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Because the Google Maps feature is so much more than getting printable driving directions from your computer.
Smart cell phones can download a mobile version of Google Maps which will lead customer right to your front door. Once your Google Places account is set up it is tied directly into the features of Google Maps. Then, whenever someone is in your neighborhood your jewelry store will appear as a little red pin on the map whenever someone searches for "jewelry."
Better yet, the person could be anywhere in the world planning a trip to your town, yet when they search for "jewelry" they well still see your little red pin on the map.VIEW FULL ENTRY
A thoroughly satisfied customer of Confer's Jewelers in Bellefonte, PA took the time to rave about the service, staff, selection and value they always encounter when shopping there.
In a glowing review, this customer discovered how knowledgeable and trustworthy Bella Jewelers of New Milford, CT is when presented with finding the perfect diamond to go in an heirloom setting.
If you're trying to find a new line to carry in your store I whole heartedly recommend Mark Schneider Designs. But my recommendation does not come because of the countless awards they have won (which you can see here) or the quality, or price point or anything else you might consider as a retail jewelry store owner.
My recommendation comes strictly on the basis that they know what they are doing with online advertising. Now, that's not even to say that I am looking at their website, or following the... VIEW FULL ENTRY
Our course on retail jewelers Learning the Basics, Lesson 2, Website Vocabulary has been posted. There are 54 very important website terms explained in great detail.
We all know that expression. It's introduced to us when we are young through fairy tails and antic-totes. It teaches us that each person has their own personal point of view to view something as beautiful. You might say the sunset with it's red-purplish colors is the most beautiful thing in nature; whereas I feel there is nothing more beautiful than a tall leafless tree blanketed in glistening white right after a calm winter snowfall.
We each have our own point of view, as it should be. But that also means your perceived beauty is not just different than mine, it's also different than that of your customers.
Honestly, I don't think diamonds are that special looking. When viewing a white diamond I still have the attitude of "eh, big deal - it's clear and it reflects light." ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
On Monday this week I received an email from Tony Seideman. He's doing an article for Colored Stone Magazine about how jewelers should design and build their web sites.
I have a telephone call scheduled for this afternoon, but before that he asked me the following questions:
This email cam to me tonight. This is rather typical of the questions people ask me and it's worth while to post the answer here for everyone.
Hello Matt, I had your email address from a while ago when we met.
I would like to create a website using one of your templates. I have never made a website before so all of your help is appreciated. You have so many templates available so what I want to do is recommend a site that I would want mine to look like and you can let me know if you have any similar. A site that I like is:
http://www.oroking.com/
The only difference I am looking for is I wouldn't want the categories on the front page (at the bottom with the jewelry pictures) to be at the bottom. I would want those in the middle where currently they have their logo and new arrivals etc. I hope ... VIEW FULL ENTRY
"...serious kudos to you. We love your straight talk, pertinent information and plain language. I don't know how many industries have something of jWAG's caliber available, but I learn from the emails every day. Really, really nice work, and very appreciated." -Cheryl Herrick, Global Pathways Jewelry
Country star Randy Houser has officially "put a ring" on his duet partner Jessa Lee Yantz. 
Grey's Anatomy star Sara Ramirez's longtime beau Ryan Debolt decided to put a ring on it!
ABC Family "Pretty Little Liars" actress Shay Mitchell (seen right) stepped out with the tried and true "less is more" attitude towards her jewelry at the 2011 MuchMusic Awards on Sunday. Mitchell complimented her LBD with statement jewelry by M.C.L. (Matthew Campbell Laurenza). 
To "ring" in the month typically most associated with weddings, actress and jewelry designer Molly Sims announced on June 1st her engagement to boyfriend Scott Stuber, according to 
Kim Kardashian is best known for being part of the reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians. On the show, which she stars with her two sisters, Khloe and Kourtney, she's known for being the single sister. All that has changed now and she's been given something that's going to make it very difficult to "keep up with" her...a 20.5 carat engagement ring from boyfriend and New Jersey Nets forward, Kris Humphries! 
Did you catch the 2011 Billboard Music Awards this past Sunday? Even if you didn't, we have some jewelry highlights from the red carpet right here! 
Actress Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy, front man for the band Muse, are engaged to be married. In what Hudson called a very "sweet" and "romantic" proposal, Bellamy popped the question last week in NYC. 
A few months ago, stars were getting engaged practically every minute of every day. After Valentine's Day, the betrothal buzz petered out. That is until NFL player Jay Cutler decided to propose to former "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" star, Kristin Cavallari.
At the Los Angeles premiere of the movie Sucker Punch, actress 
Elizabeth Taylor was a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a philanthropist. She will forever be a part of "Hollywood's Golden Age", standing alongside the likes of John Wayne, Shirley Temple, James Dean, Henry Fonda, Marilyn Monroe and many more!
In The Bachelor season finale last night, Brad Womack proposed to Emily with a stunning 3-carat platinum and diamond engagement ring that was handcrafted by celebrity jeweler, Neil Lane.
The BaselWorld show will be happening later this month in Switzerland. And while it's primarily known as the place for high-end watches, they won't be the only pieces to shine.
If you've seen the TV show 'Mad Men', you've seen Christina Hendricks. The well-endowed redhead is memorable in her own right and that special "it" quality that she possesses made her the natural choice for Vivienne Westwood when looking for a "model for her new jewellery range."
Last night was the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood and, of course, the whole event was a sparkling, star-studded affair. Now that all the statues have been awarded and we've seen so many gorgeous dresses, it's time to talk about the jewelry!
Listen up, ladies...you're not the only ones who love diamonds.
While many people in Hollywood have already proposed or been proposed to, plenty of others are still waiting for that one special question. Paris Hilton recently joined the ranks of the anticipating when she told Ryan Seacrest how eager she is for beau Cy Waits to pop the question!
We all know everything comes back in style. Ladies, don't you wish you saved some of those old purses you threw away from years ago? 
Tattoo artist and reality show star, Kat Von D just announced her engagement to boyfriend Jesse James. They aren't the most "traditional couple at first glance" but, boy does Jesse James know how to propose! 
Ever watch Full House? Chances are, if you have children or grandchildren who grew up in the 90's, you've seen at least one episode of this saccharine family show from the original TGIF lineup on ABC. Available now on DVD and in syndication, the Tanner clan has been immortalized so that we can always see John Stamos as Uncle Jessie singing Elvis and Beach Boys songs (sometimes with the Beach Boys!), Bob Saget in his neurotically clean TV dad persona as Danny Tanner, and Dave Coulier's portayal of cheesy comedian Joe...
This year, the Golden Globe Awards were sparkling with more jewelry then usual. From the newly engaged, to the sparkling earrings and bracelets, the red carpet jewelry sure left a dazzling mark.
First, came All My Children. Then came Skating with the Stars. Today, however, the biggest news in Rebecca Budig's life is that she's engaged to her boyfriend Michael Benson. 
Chances are, at least some of your customers watch the cable channel 
Happy New Year to everyone! What better way to ring in the year than with 
It’s Christmas crunch time this week. The last minute shoppers are out and about trying to score some last minute gifts for their loved ones. It's always a challenge to find special gifts for that special someone. This year, many stars are opting to get very special gifts indeed! "Engagement ring" is the gift of this season in Hollywood and the latest is oddly connected with an engagement we 
Oprah has done it again! What a surprise! 'Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things' audience members are making out like bandits! Every week a new audience gets one of Oprah's favorite things. The 
The calendar says that winter is still a few weeks away. However, we're from New Jersey, which means we have gorgeous summers and harsh winters. It's only the first week of December and already it feels like winter is here with a vengeance. 
We've watched her since the beginning but we all know her better as "Hermione Granger". About 7 years ago, Emma Watson was just a mere young girl getting used to the new-found fame that the Harry Potter franchise of movies bestowed on her. Now, she's all grown up, on the red carpet, and bringing the bling with her!
Yesterday's post was all about engagements, celebrities and even the royal family. So far today, it looks like no one else is announcing their engagement, which gives us time to show you the "Do's and Don'ts" for this upcoming holiday season.
Love is in the air, the water and definitely in Hollywood!
Short hair is all the rage amongst Hollywood starlets. Actresses like Carey Mulligan and Michelle Williams are 
Last week, Vanessa Minnillo finally got what she's been waiting a long time for. Nick Lachey, who has been with Minnillo's boyfriend for the past six years, finally proposed to her with a gorgeous diamond engagement ring. Like any other woman, she just can't stop flashing the bling! 
In another example of this, actress Jane Krakowski was recently seen wearing one of "this season's hottest accessory statement pieces: 
The 
In honor of Election Day, the Red Carpet Jeweler blog is paying tribute to First Lady Michelle Obama's style. 
The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 
London has a hot new designer - Katie Hillier. But, she's doing something a bit unorthodox: She's shaping gold and silver into animal shapes. It all started with a gold and diamond pendant, and now, according to 
Last week was Fashion Week in London. 
