In the Loupe

We unpack how agentic AI shifts marketing from reactive prompts to proactive systems that watch behavior, answer real questions, and stretch budgets. Hope Bellair joins us to map practical steps for independent jewelers, from product data hygiene to Reddit-driven relevance, plus a few warnings about AI ads and synthetic influencers. Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast:...

Mike shares five practical fundamental tips to prepare your jewelry store for Black Friday and the holidays. Quick wins stack up: show energy, make hours obvious, trigger visits with email, and remove online friction. Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com Inquire about sponsoring In the Loup...

We break down how a small DNS error inside AWS rippled into a global outage, and why it affected everything from uploads to streaming to... beds? Andy Szoke, Developer at Punchmark, joins us to explain cloud basics, Lambda bottlenecks, and redundancy. Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com In...

Michael is joined by three independent jewelers who share how they protect margins, create memorable offers, and keep teams sharp during the busiest weeks of the year.  We discuss gold pricing, VIP outreach, gift guides, and why the week after Christmas can outsell Black Friday. Guests:  Vincent Spilotro from Arezzo Jewelers Anna Barnett from Barnett Jewelers Lee Elgin from Elgin's Fine Jewel...

Mike talks with Komoka’s Josh Humbert about his family pearl farm in Tahiti rebuilt its methods around eco-farming and sustainable handling of oysters. Fish now clean their oysters, helping reefs recover, resulting in the harvesting of hundreds of beautiful pearls that shine with rare color that redefine what quality feels like. The story of Kamoka illustrates what is possible when working WITH na...

We trace Malo Bands’ journey from handwoven artistry to a tech-enabled, service-first business, and how listening to retailers turned beautiful showpieces into scalable, profitable designs. Tony shares candid lessons on customization, B2B tools, tariffs, and why yellow gold is surging. Learn more about Malo Bands here: https://www.intro.malobands.com/ Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more...

Mike shares how he's helping rebuild Punchmark’s Premium Vendor Program from a one-way data pipe into a two-way system that gives vendors and retailers real value. He discusses zero-to-one strategy, systems thinking, and practical steps to standardize data, deliver insights, and reduce friction. Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about P...

Mike sits down with his boss Ross Cockerham, Punchmark Co-Founder & CEO, about how he balances attending trade shows and events vs. being present at his own business vs. family life. Every business owner learns to balance these roles on their own, as well as how they fold into their own personal lives, but the journey is important and worth discussing! Enjoy the conversation. Learn about our s...

Melisa Monroe from Podium shares exclusive insights from a recent consumer survey of nearly 1000 prospective shoppers about projected holiday spending for the upcoming season, revealing data-driven strategies for retailers to maximize their sales. Learn more about Podium: https://go.podium.com/tSqRg1 Learn about our sponsor JewelerOS: trytheringbuilder.com Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn...

Digital marketing expert Hope Bellair shares insights from HubSpot's Inbound 25 conference and tailored Q4 marketing strategies for different types of jewelry businesses. Reach Hope Bellair at hope@punchmark.com or 704-910-4774, extension 318 for more information about holiday marketing strategies. Learn about our sponsor JewelerOS: trytheringbuilder.com Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or lea...

The jewelry industry is evolving with significant technological, market, and policy developments that are reshaping how businesses operate and connect with customers. Google Gemini AI tool can place jewelry onto digital hands and ears, offering an alternative to expensive lifestyle photography. Taylor Swift's vintage-inspired engagement ring features an antique cushion cut diamond on yellow g...

Michael interviews his eldest brother, Joseph, about his custom engagement ring process with Vincent from Arezzo Jewelers, revealing that custom projects can be affordable and quick when incorporating family jewelry pieces. If you're considering a custom engagement ring, don't assume it will be more expensive or time-consuming than buying off the shelf. Talk to a jeweler about incorporat...

Alexis Padis, President of AGS, shares insights from her first year of leadership and discusses her vision for the organization's future after being re-elected for a second term.  Alexis shares what leadership development looks like in an organization with a storied history, and the humility and foresight required to implement changes that might not come to fruition during her own presidency....

GPT-5 has arrived with meaningful improvements in logical reasoning, processing speed, and the ability to dynamically switch between models based on task complexity! The technology excels at pattern recognition in data analysis while software developers are finding new ways to integrate it into their workflow without sacrificing quality. Mike sits down with Punchmark Back-End Developer, Andy Szoke...

Michael dives into data pulled directly from the Punchmark E-Commerce platform for Q1 & Q2 of 2025. Punchmark services only the Jewelry industry, which means their platform data offers a unique insight into the e-commerce fluctuations and jewelry trends of the industry as it stands today. Learn more about our sponsor, Jewel-Craft: jewel-craft.com Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more a...

In the Loupe EXCLUSIVE Bill Becker, new President of the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO), shares his perspective on the organization's growth from a small collective buying group in 1966 to a powerhouse with nearly 1,200 members today. As both a multi-store jeweler and industry leader, Bill offers unique insights into RJO's success factors, current challenges, and his vision for suppo...

StoneAlgo's new Jeweler OS product is revolutionizing how jewelers convert website traffic into sales by generating real, manufacturable CAD files for custom engagement rings. The AI-powered tool creates a seamless path from online browsing to in-store purchasing while allowing jewelers to set their own markups. Learn more about JewelerOS: https://getjeweleros.com/ Learn more about our sponso...

It’s no secret that summer can be a slower season for retail, and the jewelry industry is no exception. After the excitement of spring engagements and before the holiday shopping season ramps up, many jewelers experience a noticeable dip in foot traffic and sales. But a summer slowdown doesn’t have to mean a complete stall in business. This time of year offers a unique opportunity to refocus on se...

Michael recounts his journey through the JCK Las Vegas jewelry show, discusses notable jewelry trends, and the value of in-person industry relationships. He also buys some jewelry that comes... blessed. Pretty neat!  Schedule your appointment for RJO & IJO at punchmark.com/appointments Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark&ap...

John Liebler, formerly of Signet and currently VP of Operations at Clientbook, shares how independent jewelers can maximize sales through client retention strategies and relationship building in the digital age. Learn more about Clientbook: punchmark.com/clientbook Schedule a guided demo today at punchmark.com/go Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe...

Kyle Pancis from Gems by Pancis shares the fascinating world of fancy colored diamonds, revealing how a royal connection in Belgium launched his family's 30-year specialty business. His insider perspective offers rare glimpses into the value, cutting techniques, and origin stories behind some of the world's most exclusive gemstones. Learn more about Gems by Pancis here: https://www.gemsb...

Atlassian is a suite of products including Jira, Confluence, and Trello. The Atlassian suite offers powerful tools for business organization and knowledge management that can be adapted for jewelry retailers, with special focus on Trello and Confluence. Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com...

Join Mike for a behind the scenes look at Punchmark's annual Client Workshop in Charlotte, NC, offering a glimpse into what makes this educational event special for jewelry retailers from across the country. If you missed the Workshop this year, make sure to mark your calendars for next May to attend our two day educational workshop in person! It's a lot of fun! Send us Fan Mail  Send fe...

Marketing professionals Lisa-Marie Delgado from Gary J. Long Jewelers & Aurora Simpson from Holliday Jewelry share insights on retail strategies, event planning, and industry trends in an energetic conversation LIVE from the Punchmark Client Workshop in Charlotte, NC.  Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark's website plat...

Michael hosts a LIVE Vendor Roundtable at the 2025 Punchmark Client Workshop, featuring Jordan Peck from Brevani and Craig MacBean from Ostbye jewelry to discuss how they're navigating current market challenges and preparing for the upcoming buying season.  Ostbye: https://ostbye.com/ Brevani: https://brevani.com/ Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/...