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Price is right for pearls this holiday

By Teresa Novellino
November 03, 2009
Each year, holiday sales
data reveals a little-noticed statistic that
is noteworthy for 4Q-ready jewelers:
Shoppers often buy themselves a thing or two
while playing Santa.
Given that women are the top pearl jewelry
buyers for 73 percent of National Jeweler's
product panelists, and since fashion
magazines have gone a bit gaga over pearls
lately, is a pearl-focused ladies night, or
an overall push in order?
"Every person that enters the store is shown
my pearl selection," one product panelist
wrote. "I believe that the more I show them,
the more I will sell them, and so far it's
working."
Price-point perfection
Among the many panelists planning to play up
lower price-point pearl jewelry this year
was one who will only buy pieces under
$500--also the sweet spot in terms of sales
for 62 percent of panelists--
and another who
advises keeping a bowl of pearl bracelets at
the point of sale.
A few were aiming higher, citing Tahitians,
golden South Sea pearls and estate pieces as
additions for this year. Another biggie:
custom pieces and redesigns of customers'
old pearl jewelry (a top marketing strategy
for 14 percent of panelists).
Inventory maneuvering
As for pearl inventory, responses were split
between jewelers buying more and those
keeping levels flat.
One jeweler cited plans to "focus on
freshwater pearls, especially freshwater
baroque jewelry and silver jewelry with
pearls," while another was awash in unsold
pearls.
"I have enough loose pearls and strands from
previous overbuying in Tucson to design into
fresh looks for this season and probably the
year beyond," the jeweler wrote. "Sorry,
wholesalers."
Merchandising mix
Many panelists mentioned the importance of
wearing pearls themselves and merchandising
wisely.
"I purchased a little more than last year
only because I have a nice showcase of
pearls on display," one jeweler on the
product panel wrote.
Another combined pearl marketing with an
in-store event.
"We have bought more freshwater color and
[taught] an 'Ancient Oriental Art of Silk
Knotting' class in October to promote
pearls," the panelist wrote.
To see the complete results of National
Jeweler's Product Panel survey on pearl
jewelry, download




