4 CUSTOMERS- 4 CITIES- 3 STATES- ALL CONFIRMED V-BY SALES. CAN YOU DO THAT IN ONE DAY?

Anyone in the wholesale jewelry business needs to know about V-By's capability. This was one of the biggest reasons we created V-By i.e. while in Grand Junction, CO we held V-By appointments in Belleview, WA, Ventura and Visalia, CA, and Denver, CO. Each of these customers was given the same service as if I was sitting across the table from them. The beauty was, I never left my mobile office. Yay! This peace of mind alone makes V-By worthwhile!

Tim wants me to make sure to say that V-By is not a gimmick or just a fast way to make a sale. It can take as much time as a regular jewelry sales appointment if you don’t plan it in advance. That's why I highly recommend that you have your retail customers send you a list of sold and in stock merchandise before their scheduled V-By appointment. It’s good for two reasons. First it makes the customer participate and understand that it will be a true appointment and second, you can be more prepared and therefore be able to streamline the time the appointment takes. When you explain this to your customer they will have a strong incentive to do their part.

Just another reminder of why looking beyond the box (V-By) for new ways to do business is so essential!

Want to learn about V-By the Tool? Attend our Free V-By Webinar

OK, so for my daughter it's all about Halloween and candy. Tim and I see it differently...it's all about going home at the end of a difficult year. Phew!

We certainly won't have time to kick back for long and I for one am glad. We have much to do. Deadlines to make all the way into 2010. I have decided that we are going to put on a free V-By Webinar for all of the wholesale jewelry industry on Wednesday, Dec. 9th at 11am PST. This program will be designed to highlight the multiple uses of V-By the tool for the jewelry manufacturer and designer with or without reps and for the jewelry reps themselves. If you want to attend, please make sure you are on our email list. If there is someone in (or out of) the jewelry industry whom you think would gain by using V-By the tool, please let them know and send us their email as well. Tim and I are dedicated to make V-By the tool an alternative sales option for the entire jewelry industry.

We will be holding a V-By Webinar exclusively for the retailer jewelry stores and their sales teams in January. A date will be announced later.

HERE COMES 2010...I'M EXCITED, ARE YOU?

My phone calls this season have been difficult for new reasons. Instead of worrying about my customers spending their dollars with any other designer, I am concerned about their doors staying open. Less than 25% of my calls find my customers moving fairly smoothly through their season. Many more of my favorite customers are facing the possibility of consolidating by closing secondary stores. They are also upset over their weak monthly numbers and are confused as to what to do in order to turn things around. Before each call, I never know what I'm going to hear and consequently I am more apprehensive.

Surprisingly for me personally, this season has been exciting. V-By and what it has to offer has stirred almost every person I have spoken with. Even those customers who are facing stressful times see that V-By offers them an innovative way to bring in an additional income. Having both the major jewelry trade magazines, JCK and Instore, writing about V-By in their August issues has definitely added to the "hum". If my cash flow could handle it, I would sell V-By exclusively. It really turns me on to see peoples' eyes light up, after a demonstration, with their ideas of how V-By could enhance their own cash flow.

V-By has sparked interest in many “facets” of the jewelry industry including retail store owners, manufacturers, reps and designers. They see its potential and in several cases have purchased it and are in the process of learning its use. One day I know that the trade magazines will write about these forward thinking business people and their V-By successes. The fact that I have created a new method for people to use to be able to add to their dollars makes my work very satisfying.

This new established process, V-By, enables customers to increase those currently weak monthly numbers.

This is exhilarating! The V-By patent has been deliberately written to benefit the sales of any merchandise, not just jewelry. The future looks bright and I can already see the success that V-By promotes.

V-By, a new invention, is recognized by the Jewelry Industry

V-By the tool, has begun to have a life of its own. This month it got written up in two of the prominent jewelry trade magazines for our industry.

Augusts edition of The JCK and Instore Magazine both recognized V-By as a viable sales tool for jewelry designer, rep and retailer. They acknowledged that the way V-By uses technology makes it’s superior quality something special and useful for every facet of the jewelry industry. The credibility given by these magazines validates the work and effort that we have put into it for the past 2 years.

V-By has begun to sell to each facet of our industry. The interest it promotes inspires people to see beyond their old methods. The first wave of V-By customers are the industry leaders from the sense of breaking tradition and using technology to learn new ways to do business. In return, these customers inspire me to educate them to make V-By as effective and successful as possible. Isn’t that what education is all about?

Are you going to lose jewelry sales this season?

It’s time. The shot was heard. The jewelry industry season has officially begun. Holiday sales are on everyone’s minds whether you’re wholesale or retail. Now is the time to make those calls and those sales.

What if you go through a territory and they tell you they will buy in another 45 days? What are you going to do? Spend the time and money to go back later?

Not me, I will go back via V-BY. I won’t have to spend the money to do it again. And, did I mention the diminished safety issue? I worry more about that than ever. Using V-BY I am determined to keep every sale this season. How about you?

New Technology for the Jewelry Industry

I’ve been reviewing the technological methods the jewelry industry has been developing to enhance safer and more cost effective sales for business to business (B2B) transactions. There seems to be a drive for more creative jewelry websites that handle cleaner, in-depth imagery along with point and click ordering systems. This type of software is a welcome addition to the many poorly designed websites out there. Jewelry store buyers have gotten real good at determining which websites (and therefore jewelry designers) are worth their effort. The thing that’s missing in many of these kind of software methods is that personal contact and connection between buyer and seller. That connection makes for a more effective order. This is the exact reason why we created V-By for our industry. Along with cost and safety, V-By answers the personal connection dilemma.

These other creative new programs can allow a traveling jewelry salesperson with laptop in hand to generate a more comprehensive order. The fact that the salesperson is present and doesn’t have to travel with as much valuable inventory (because the computer images are so detailed) are definitely two positives. Any time there is less risk of jewelry loss for both the salesperson and jewelry manufacturer; We are happy! But that salesperson still has to fill the gas tank, turn the key and drive to the store; Not so happy…

The other way I see these new jewelry website sales generated are over the internet by the buyer themselves. This is the type of sale that is alright for a fill in order but by no means makes for any kind of significant sale. The main reason being that the salespersons is no where in the equation. I think we all can agree that the salesperson always generates the best sale in the end.

YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES ME CRAZY?

It's making me crazy! So much negativity floating around the jewelry industry blogs. Ranting and raving about how things aren't working. It has had me captivated for a month! Look at the date of my last post! Where do you think that leads to besides no posts?
I don't want any part of it. I want to be the duck with the water rolling off my back. I want to be the one looking for answers and finding them. What about you?
You have to be careful with technology. I have found that there is a balance you must keep in order not to let it rule your life. Just like the scale in the bathroom. Do you really need to weigh in every day?
I admit, it is important to be informed. But do I really have to see what is being said everyday. I do not. Getting pulled into the daily unproductive drama just doesn't work for my future plans. Those ranters must have nothing better to do...sad.
There was a time in my life when I was proud because I took the high road. I need to remember that mantra now. For my future, yes. But mostly for my sanity!
Are you drawn to the drama? Do you like it? Does it help?