In the Loupe

Email marketing has the power to elevate your traffic to new heights. Mike sits down with Hope Bellair, Punchmark's Digital Marketing Manager, and Sarah Weeks, Art Director at Punchmark, to discuss best practices and strategy for your next Email Marketing campaign.  Where is the sweet spot for sending "too many" and "radio silence"? What should you market about during the...

Are you open every day between Black Friday and Christmas Eve? Do you close between Boxing Day and New Years? Do you have VIP events or "Guys Nights" to drive traffic? Do you stock up your best sellers with multiples or get a broad variety of products?  The busiest time of the year is starting, and Michael sat down with Ray Lantz from The Diamond Center in Claremont, CA to hear about wha...

Michael is joined by Jason Adams, Director of Education at Punchmark, to discuss how to get your website ready for the busiest time of the year, and encourages all Punchmark clients to get their website tickets and requests in early. There are a few key parts of your website that should be checked prior to the holidays, and Jason shares his expertise so that you feel like you are putting your best...

AI has been the buzzword of the last few years, but its accessibility for everyday people can feel limited as some use cases require extra downloads and plugins. Michael wanted to showcase some of the most readily available and accessible use cases for ChatGPT in your every day life.  Learn how querying this powerful tool can help with everything from cooking to your mortgage decisions. Send us Fa...

Bryan Braddy, the talented artist behind Bad Art Nice Watch, shares how he has created a business out of helping tell the captivating tales of luxury watches. Beginning with a simple drawing session with his daughter, Bryan rediscovered his passion for art, eventually developing a unique and recognizable style using professional-grade watercolors. His artwork brings to life the personal narratives...

Mike sits down with Constance Polamalu , the founder of Birthright Foundry to talk about the latest updates to her jewelry line since they last spoke during S4 E34. Constance discusses her journey this past year, highlighting the meticulous selection of her pieces that were featured on the Golden Bachelorette and the importance of creating a brand that stands the test of time.  Send us Fan Mail  S...

Cheers to Episode 200 of In the Loupe! Whether you've been with us since the beginning, or this is your first episode, thanks for joining us! Join us for our special 200th episode of "In the Loupe," where we journey from our humble beginnings as the "Jeweler's Survival Kit" to becoming a pivotal marketing tool within the jewelry world. You'll hear from Ross Cocke...

Michael sits down with Ross Cockerham, CEO & Co-Founder of Punchmark, who recently got back from The EDGE Workshop in Connecticut. They discuss what was covered at the workshop, what Ross presented on during his allotted time, and what we can learn from this workshop to improve our own Punchmark Client Workshop.  Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/lo...

It's time to start thinking about your holiday marketing and begin planning for this year's busy season! Mike speaks with Hope Bellair, Punchmark's Digital Marketing Manager, to discuss how to get your site ready, what the easiest starting points are, and where to look for inspiration. This is the pre-marathon stretch, so buckle up! Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more abou...

This week, Mike talks through his favorite website to order from, and the consistency that has made them stand out to him for nearly 8 years. Moo.com is a company that makes business cards and greeting cards, and their communication, ease of use, and overall quality stand out in a crowded field. Mike tries to pull out a few key lessons that you can learn from this company and apply to your own bus...

Mike sits down with Lee Elgin from Elgin Fine Jewelry and Vincent Spilotro from Arezzo Jewelers for a Retailer Roundtable to talk about how the trade shows were this year, as well as how they are prepping their stores for the holidays. We dive into how the surging price of gold effects their business, their strategy for attending shows, and if they find it to be "worth it" to hop on jewe...

Announcing the first In the Loupe giveaway of 2024, powered by Picup Media! Join Michael and Marius as they unbox and demo a new GemLoupe, and the many use cases for it. Michael explains the rules of the giveaway and explains how you can enter!  https://www.punchmark.com/loupe Learn more about our sponsor Tailored Rings: tailoredrings.com Send us Fan Mail  Send feedback or learn more about the pod...

Join us as Stephen Barnes, President of IJO, shares the journey of his first year in leadership. Stephen recounts his experiences leading IJO, highlighted by the recent buying shows at IJO Dallas and IJO Chicago. He discusses the unity and commitment fueling the organization’s mission to uplift its retail members and vendors, reflecting on the overwhelming support and loyalty that form the backbon...

Could a simple hinge revolutionize the way you wear your wedding band? Join Michael as he speaks with Hunter Taylor, the mind behind Tailored Rings, as he unveils his journey of creating a unique hinged wedding band. Inspired by his own struggles with traditional rings due to larger knuckles and an active lifestyle, Hunter leveraged his PhD in Metal 3D Printing to craft a durable, safe, and easily...

Curious about what it takes to lead a family jewelry business to new heights? Mike sits down with William Jones IV, the newly appointed President of Sissy's Log Cabin. William opens up about his unique journey from the store floor to the executive office and shares the challenges and triumphs that come with guiding one of the most beloved jewelry stores in Arkansas and Tennessee.  Learn more...

Mike meets with Hope Bellair, who leads the Punchmark Digital Marketing team, about her recent presentation at IJO: Chicago, as well as to tease her upcoming presentation at RJO: St. Louis. She talks through common mistakes she sees jewelers making with their marketing, as well as explains why "plug and play" marketing, like Punchmark's Antwerp campaign, are great for stores that ar...

Mike sits down with Craig MacBean, President and fourth generation owner of jewelry powerhouse Ostbye to learn more their recent acquisition of Victor Corporation, a jewelry vendor that has been making jewelry since 1946. He discusses the timeline for the acquisition, why they made the move, and what it means for Ostbye customers. Learn more about our sponsor Podium: https://www.podium.com/loupe/...

Mike is joined by CEO of Punchmark, Ross Cockerham, to have a conversation about the latest season of jewelry trade shows, innovations at Punchmark, and Ross's recent experiences balancing business and family. We explore the importance of work-life balance, succession planning, and empowering team members to step into greater roles Learn more about our sponsor Podium: https://www.podium.com/l...

If you carry INOX Men's Jewelry, you've probably met Cole Rowland at a jewelry show, as he traveled to almost every jewelry show imaginable as a vendor for several years. However, when an interesting opportunity to step in as the next generation jeweler for Ware's Jewelry, he couldn't resist. Cole made the jump from vendor to retailer and shares some of the steepest hurdles, bi...

Omni-Channel is a term used in ecommerce and retail to describe a business strategy that aims to provide a seamless shopping experience across all channels, including in store, mobile, and online.  At Punchmark, we are constantly encouraging our clients to integrate their online presence with their in-store ones, by integrating with their Point of Sale system, and ensuring their marketing is unifi...

Ever wondered how to turn a small local business into an industry giant? Join Mike as he speaks with Dennis Steele, the Co-Founder of Podium, who shares the incredible transformation of his company from its modest beginnings. Discover the innovative strategies that helped Podium elevate businesses like Eric's father's tire shop by integrating cutting-edge technology into their review man...

What does it take to lead one of the most respected organizations in the jewelry industry? Mike sits down with Alexis Padis, the newly appointed President of the American Gem Society (AGS) and a driving force behind Padis Jewelry in San Francisco. Alexis opens up about her unexpected journey from avoiding the family business to finding her passion when she sold her first engagement ring. Her story...

Michael sits down with the two minds behind Jeweler's Advantage, the AI Powered tool designed to help elevate  jewelry stores to new heights. Their tool, AI CoPilot helps stores reach new markets, build a stronger brand, and, most excitingly, concept new custom jewelry designs in seconds rather than days. With the emerging tools that are AI driven, this conversation is an interesting check-in...

The winds of change are blowing through the corridors of family-owned jewelry businesses. Mike spoke with 3 members of the RJO Board about where RJO is headed and what topics are of greatest importance to them. Mike was joined by: RJO Board of Directors Joe Schiavone, Z’s Fine Jewelry (Peoria, AZ) RJO Merchandise Review Committee Joanna Gruver, Jo & Co Jewelers (Wirtz, VA) RJO Next Gen Advisor...

This episode was recorded LIVE from the 3rd Annual Punchmark Client Workshop in Charlotte, NC! Mike was join by Alex Schlindwein (also known as Diamond Diaries) of Kiefer Jewelers, and Caleb Falls from Fall's Jewelers, two Next Generation Jewelers for a retailer roundtable! They talk through their views on jewelry trends, how they balance working with their parents, and the tradeoffs of stock...