| Oh. For the days when Gene Autrey was on | | | | Some of this will be happening this season so retailers |
| television singing "and never is heard a discouraging | | | | need to be sure their fashion jewelry selection is |
| word"! Well, today the media is serving up a steady | | | | fine-tuned to deliver an updated look. |
| diet of bad news and retailers in the fashion industry | | | | Another advantage fashion jewelry has for a retailer is |
| are getting a little jittery about their Christmas season. | | | | the "feel-good" experience. A steady diet of bad news |
| Fear sells more newspapers than comfort so | | | | almost drives women to go out and find some new |
| negatives are receiving too much emphasis. With 25 | | | | little item to lift their spirits. Fashion jewelry fills this need |
| years of experience in the wholesale fashion jewelry | | | | so well, especially if you keep the jewelry selection in |
| industry, we have seen our share of economic | | | | today's trends of classic looks that reflect quality. |
| downturns. Some barely affected business and none | | | | Gemstone jewelry, including turquoise and other semi |
| were as bleak as the media is painting the picture now. | | | | precious stones fulfills this look with necklace sets and |
| So get ready for a feel-good tour through encouraging | | | | bracelets that are not only hot in current fashion trends, |
| facts that can have a positive effect on your business. | | | | but deliver quality with perceived intrinsic value. Glass |
| First, there's gas prices that have fallen nearly in half | | | | jewelry, especially Murano style glass, also delivers |
| and add a nice piece of change to the family budget | | | | quality with eye-pleasing designs that are wearable art. |
| like a stimulus check every week. Second, the election | | | | Affordable quality is key to most of the feel-good |
| is over so all the hype of candidates beating each | | | | sales in fashion jewelry, but some stores are seeing a |
| other up to get the job is behind us. Much of this spills | | | | turn to the wilder side that they attribute to escapism. |
| over to the economy and is magnified by the media, | | | | JC Report quotes Jenny Le of Opening Ceremony as |
| making most presidential election years slower. | | | | saying "To some degree, there's an element of |
| Third, many areas of the country are barely feeling a | | | | fantasy going on-our customers are buying more |
| slowdown. Take Texas and Louisiana, for example, | | | | daring pieces, perhaps to escape from what's going on |
| where oil is more important than manufacturing. | | | | in the world". Still the safe bet is classic looks in fashion |
| Houston shares the highest creation of new jobs with | | | | jewelry that reflect quality. |
| the Norfolk, Va. area, which can only mean a robust | | | | Then there's the talk of major retailers cutting back |
| economy. Louisiana, according to the La. Mid-Continent | | | | Christmas orders and expecting a slow holiday |
| Oil & Gas Association, is number one producer of | | | | season. These cut backs are 10% to15%, which is not |
| crude and number two in refining with 4.5 jobs spinning | | | | catastrophic and anyone who thinks Christmas |
| off from every job in the industry. These good paying | | | | shopping is going to drop dead can dispel the thought |
| jobs are safe, adding stability to the economy. Of | | | | by taking a ride to the mall the day after Thanksgiving. |
| course unemployment is up overall, but a report | | | | I'm sure they're going to run into a parking problem. |
| released at the end of October by the Bureau of | | | | Besides, small retailers have a huge inventory |
| Labor names several other areas where | | | | advantage over the majors because they can order |
| unemployment is dropping-facts the news isn't giving | | | | to need and receive goods in a week or less, while the |
| us. | | | | majors place orders months in advance. Small retailers |
| OK, so maybe things aren't as bad as the picture that | | | | can make hairpin turns, satisfy the needs of specific |
| is being painted on television, but the customers see | | | | customers, and feel the pulse of the local community. |
| this stuff and consumer confidence is tanking. That has | | | | The majors don't have this flexibility. This amounts to |
| to be bad for retail sales, right? Historically, this isn't true | | | | far better inventory control for small retailers. |
| for businesses with moderately priced fashion jewelry | | | | The final and most important ingredient for a |
| and accessories. Look up the article, Fashion Jewelry, | | | | successful season in fashion jewelry and accessories |
| Fuel, and the Economy, which provides details of | | | | is none other than you, the retailer. Remember the |
| economic downturns dating back to the early eighties | | | | customers that are going out to buy because they |
| and the small effect this had on fashion businesses. | | | | need a feel-good experience? We owe it to them to |
| Actually fashion jewelry and accessories have plenty | | | | deliver that uplifting experience. Set aside any |
| of built in advantages. Let's begin with the woman who | | | | economic worries and make their buying trip fun and |
| feels she needs to tighten her budget. Adding fresh | | | | positive. This is worth more than the fashion jewelry |
| accessories or fashion jewelry to last year's wardrobe | | | | and accessories that are on display. |
| updates looks nicely at a far more affordable cost. | | | | |