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!