New Banner Demands

Curteis Chat's only been running a couple of months, and we've gone for phase 2 with a new banner.  The first one looked fine, and was put together from a graphic found on google images, adding the words 'jewellery trade news and developments'.  The effect of the first banner was slightly comic, but certainly friendly and there was no misunderstanding that here was a site where people can chat and talk over the news.

So far that aspect has been a tad disappointing, and no customers or suppliers have dared set foot onto the comments.  A friend and his family chipped in with the first comment congratulating Henry and Shane on the birth of Sean.  So we are off the mark!

But never mind.  It's bound to take a while for people to get over the shock of a jewellery manufacturer running a blog!  There are one or two around, but so far the trade can only boast single figures.   There's the Cookson's forum running well.  Alex Munro has something started, where he expresses his highly original ideas.  But overall it's not yet the done thing in the industry to open yourself up to 24 hour communication from all comers.

But the internet isn't going away, and there can only be advantages for all sides once we are able to transfer and act on ideas quicker than we do currently in the industry.  It's made for a trade where independents still predominate in number, and many good ideas get lost somewhere in the mists of time, while larger corporations deploy their forces and purposefully seize market share.  The key for the independents is surely service.  Most people hate spending much money with multiple-smiling staff who know little about what they are selling.  Branding helps the bigger outlets to win, but the independent retailer should be chatting about how brands misuse them publicly and join forces to hit back.

If the public gets to know the kinds of things powerful brands do to smaller retailers, the trust the brands depend on would get dented, and either better more ethical behaviour would be the result, or brands would lose some of their expensively-acquired credibility.   Don't worry.  The public will in time find blogs like this and read them.  It is a great opportunity to build trust with all kinds of people - opening ourselves up and showing that we do know what we are doing, and can meet the public's needs extremely well.  In fact maybe this will become a public fed blog as much as a trade blog over time.

As I say, we're not going away.  Numbers visiting will continue to grow and people will find that instant communication has advantages over waiting for the trade press or the main media to cover a story.  I predict some kind of breakthrough will happen, once the right circumstances arise.  Look at all those voice bubbles in the banner above.  Those are yours, by the way.  The internet is there for the taking, but only for those who engage.  Here's a space ready to run and fill the communication and information gaps.  Criticism is fine.  Compliments preferred.  Stories get people talking, and good ideas are best of all.  Fire away, before someone else does!

Drop off your thoughts either in an email, (address at top), or as a comment where we will pick it up and feature it.  I hope you like the new banner, or can at least live with it.   Anyway we like it!

The Trade Show Is About Winning In The Marketplace

It's all go here as we are prepare for Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham in two weeks from now, Sunday the 5th February - 9th February. We optimistically call it The Spring Fair, hoping to see new shoots of growth from product launches and the recruiting of new customers and sales leads, bolstering our online campaigns.

In truth early February is usually quite wintery. But for jewellers, the onslaught of Christmas is far enough behind us all for it to feel like a new year, with new challenges ahead, and another turn of the seasons not far away, as the days start to get lighter and longer.

The jewellery show is the UK's leading Jewellery trade event that takes place across two seasons. No matter how good our other marketing plans and campaigns are doing, there is still nothing quite as immediate as meeting customers face to face, seeing your reactions, and hearing your comments. By the end of the time on stand, if we didn't know for sure what was working, or not working at the beginning, we always know for sure by the end of the five days how things are, and where we need to put our next efforts.

In a single hall which brings together the full mix of jewellery and jewellery related products, showcasing what the whole industry has to offer, all of us get the feel of what is going on, in a way which would be impossible sat behind a desk.

We offer our customers old and new the opportunity to see our new collections, review our product range, and catch up with the latest developments at Curteis.

This year, amongst many other things, we will be showcasing three new modern locket designs alongside our new ball lockets with both polished and matt effect. As well as adding to our successful Echo and Instinct collections.

Here's a sneak peek below :

 

In the next few months, we will be reprinting our updated 400 page catalogue, and launching a mobile version of the website. You can soon be showing jewellery or browsing price and stock information whenever you carry your handset. And here you are reading a blog post.

The number of channels opening up between us and our customers is growing fast. But however many new channels open up, and however effective they become, the face-to-face discipline of the trade shows will always remain a key part of winning in the marketplace.

PICTURE OF THIS YEAR'S SPRING FAIR TRADE STAND FEATURING CURTEIS CHAT.

Why not come along for a chat, you can catch up with us at Hall 17 stand P59

We'll have lots more news on the show so watch this space.




Posted 17.01.12 Claire Davies Sales Manager

HALLMARKING FIGURES UPDATE !

The hallmarking figures for December 2011 again show a decline in volume against December 2010.
The total number of items hallmarked by the four UK Assay Offices was down by 25% - with gold down 19%, Silver 30% and Platinum 6%.

Hallmarking numbers have continued to feel the effect of the continuing high precious metal prices throughout 2011.  The total number of units hallmarked by the Assay Offices was 10.86 million compared to 14.84 million in 2010, a reduction of 27%.

All categories of precious metal have been affected with gold down 24% silver 29%, platinum 10% and palladium 7%.  For the third year running more silver articles were hallmarked than gold but the increase in the price of silver in 2011 has had an effect on the number of silver items being submitted for hallmarking.

There has been a shift within the jewellery industry towards fashion branded products, many containing little precious metal.  Also more silver jewellery is being made under the hallmarking weight of 7.78 grams and so it is difficult to estimate the total amount of silver products being manufactured.

Posted 12.01.12 by Ray Kenna Finance Director

New Arrival

Born January 3rd 2012.
Sean Anthony
To Henry Curteis and Shane Milay.
Manila, Philippines.
7 lbs

Happy New Year 2012.

What joys do we have to look forward to in 2012 in the jewellery trade?

Let's think.

Will gold finally rejoin the real world and decide to halve in price, giving us all a boost?

Even stone sellers are reporting a slowing in sales in recent years.  Their stones haven't moved in price, but the quadrupling of the cost of gold settings has lifted heavier pieces beyond the reach of many buyers.

The number of items being assayed was down by 40% in October/November 2011 by number.  By weight that is probably even worse.

Gold's price, though, has fallen.  It went from $1920, and nearly went through $1500 this last week heading back down, and it was seconds away from GBP 1000 as well.  It would make sense that falling demand for the metal worldwide would have an impact on its price.  That would be my sincerest wish for the trade in 2012 - for gold to halve in price back to the level of affordability.

The beginnings of a fall in price is, initially no doubt making buyers feel wary.   That could be why the assay figures were so poor.  If gold is going to be much cheaper soon, why rush out and buy?  We need the price down to rebuild the market sure enough, but we need it down quick and a clear cut market bottom in place!  A gradual decline could be debilitating to demand just as surely as the relentless rise of the last nearly ten years.  We need a crash!

Happy New Year!  Fingers crossed...