By this point in the year, many holiday inventories have already been ordered, with merchants hoping their selections will sell well across the product categories. While some jewelry choices never surprise, many more are often educated gambles by makers and merchants.

“We look at everything in the jewelry market, magazines, trade shows, runway shows, retail stores, employees, reality TV, and social media,” says Theresa Namie, marketing manager of Ostbye. “Then we focus in on what would be special enough to last longer than a seasonal trend and would price well in that category.”

Her best-sellers routinely include a Christmas cross along with new looks with wide appeal (think flowers) to present low-risk options. Happily, retailer requests can skew more adventurous—like this year as store owners have asked for bold gold, gemstones, and a new elevated silver and diamond line, she adds.

“Retailers have been asking for yellow gold in fashion jewelry, elevated silver designs, color, organic motifs, signet rings, and wide band designs,” says Namie.

At Paris 1901, Sam Hupp, vice president of sales and marketing, is hoping that two new collections will speak to customers and their clients. Hupp has a men’s line called ETHOS and a new lab-grown diamond line called Monte Luna, with styles designed to appeal to demi-fine jewelry fans. The latter was created specifically for consumers who are “leaning into jewelry at a price to enhance their wardrobes,” he says.

“You can turn a look into something new with amazing new diamond and ruby earrings,” he continues. “Or adding layered bracelets can change the appearance of a basic shirt.”

His firm’s 2024 offerings already have an advantage because of his team’s keen product analyses.

“We have a few incredible men’s pendants and chains that are already beating last year’s sales,” he says. “For women, our diamond accent demi-bracelets will be the go-to for approachable jewelry gift giving.”

 Imperial Pearl

His retailers are also asking for romanceable product and stories to engage customers. These will help build trust and keep shoppers in stores longer, ultimately leading to improved sales. For sure, sharing insights, market trends, and successful concepts are critical for all.

“The days of everyone against everyone are over since the pandemic,” observes Hupp. “Now, we need to encourage and help each other find success. Ultimately, market growth helps us all.”

Imperial Pearl is hoping that more 4^th quarter sales will take shape in the form of some of its newest collections. Think silver and karat gold, pearls and flowers, 14k gold and pearls, and a seven-piece sterling silver capsule collection.

Goldstar Jewellery’s Steven Lerche, chief operating officer, hopes his firm’s relaunch of mined diamonds will be appreciated. “We need to get the consumer re-excited about natural diamonds,” he says. There will still be lab-created diamonds in assortments, however, due to consumer demand and flexibility of styling.

“Lab-created diamonds have made unattainable price points attainable with the use of small fancies and creative shapes of diamonds that would normally only be accessible to the affluent who shopped top brands,” he says.

Aneri Jewels is banking on seasonal-themed motifs to resonate with shoppers. Director Nancy Italia-Gajera says those items will “evoke the spirit of celebration and gifting.” That’s why she anticipates her firm’s Snowflake diamond pendant will be a 4^th quarter hit. That, along with new gemstone cuts and color combinations, will “keep our collections fresh and appealing to evolving consumer tastes,” she adds.

KGS Jewels is banking on medallion pendants in 14k gold with diamond accents to land in the holiday gift piles of many, while Shefi Diamonds thinks its yellow diamonds, yellow textured gold, enamel, and rubellite tourmaline offerings will sell well.

Aneri Jewels

“The secret to crafting jewelry that everyone wants is sticking to timeless designs,” reveals marketing director Surbhi Jain. “Classics never lose their appeal.”

And to serve as the cherry on top of jewelry gifts, The Kingswood Company suggests retailers add cleaning products to inventories as stocking stuffers or teachers’ or hostess gifts. “Jewelry care and cleaning products provide the perfect add-on to holiday sales,” says Heather Brown, vice president of content and editorial.

Magical Product Campaigns

Those returning from North America’s biggest trade jewelry buying experience will have more than suitcases in hand; they’ll also have orders for what merchants’ hope will be hot sellers for the holidays. But inventory is just one part of the 4^th quarter equation—another is marketing and how to get clients into stores. To make that happen, manufacturers make myriad visual tools available for customers to use.

Imagery is everything—from lifestyle model shots to still life to styles on white (also called pack shots), consumers need to see the product from many angles to drive home a desire to own it. Marketing surrounding new product releases can involve these three types of photography for each campaign. Frequency of efforts varies.

Ostbye

At Ostbye, Merchandise Manager Theresa Namie has three product releases a year, all with its own creative. At Paris 1901, full campaigns are shot once a year but are supplemented by “smaller launches with updated assets,” says Sam Hupp, vice president of sales. At KGS Jewels, new visuals are shot monthly, while Aneri Jewels shoots four times a year.

“We create new campaign imagery quarterly to keep our marketing fresh and aligned with seasonal trends,” explains Nancy Italia-Gajera, Aneri’s director.

Heather Brown of The Kingswood Company is also well-versed in the importance of visuals.

“We understand that providing beautiful high-end imagery for our full production line is imperative,” says the vice president of content and editorial. “Our image development is handled in-house by our talented design team.”

                Shefi Diamonds

Other opinions vary on whether to handle the imagery in house or outsource it. Namie does both depending on the tasks at hand. “For us it is just a matter of who can do [the job] best,” she explains. Most interviewees execute creative within company walls for cost-effectiveness and better control over brand imaging.

To create effective campaigns, consider a color scheme that will work across all four seasons. Effects and props should be simple. “We strive to keep the jewelry prominent by not using too busy of backgrounds,” observes Namie.

Consistency and a thoughtful approach are also key. According to Hupp, don’t break out the 5 ct. diamond rings for a message that’s supposed to speak to younger clients. “Know the end purpose before developing any new assets,” he says.

Prime Art & Jewel

Italia-Gajera urges peers to remember the most important aspect of new brand imagery— “Its ability to evoke emotion and convey the essence of the brand,” she says. Further, visuals should “resonate with the target audience and effectively communicate brand values.”

Once visuals are complete, put them into action. Photography is so important for use in ads, signage, and e-blasts as well as on websites and across social media platforms.

Namie creates content shared in weekly texts and/or emails and has marketing resources available online, while Hupp develops assets for partners to use on social media, in email, and for banner ads. And based on sales reports, the marketing team at Shefi Diamonds crafts “stunning” social media posts for retailers on request, according to marketing director Surbhi Jain.

“Keep your audience interested!” urges Namie. “Attract, not sell.”