The promise of a free meal has lured college students into many meetings, but Geraldine Pingul never expected that complimentary dinner to turn into an expertise in retail, fashion, and analytics as well as a chance to impact how people buy diamonds and get engaged.
Pingul’s official title at the California-based Robbins Brothers is bridal jewelry buyer; she helps the century-old company establish lab-grown diamonds within its engagement ring business. But her role at the 15-store chain goes beyond the case, allowing her to lend her more than 20 years of experience in buying, merchandising, and fashion to jewelry.
Her story begins in the Philippines, which her family left for the United States when she was 9 years old. Her parents hoped to give her and her brother expanded educational opportunities, Pingul says, as well as career options. Pingul started college as pre-law because of her problem-solving nature, but it didn’t fulfill her creative side, she says.
A few weeks before she was set to graduate, that free meal got her into a presentation from May department stores, which the retail chain had set up to recruit for its executive-training program, Pingul says.
“The more they spoke, the more I fell in love,” Pingul says. “I knew of the company, but I had no idea that there was even a program that taught you how to become a retail executive. I had always funneled my creativity into fashion—I love putting outfits together, reworking items so they suit me, whether it is clothing or accessories.”
The lawyer-to-be changed directions, applied to the May program, and got in. Pingul says completing the training program was like getting a business degree because she worked at every level of the store, whether it was on the store floor or as a department manager or, her ultimate role, as an analyst in the fashion office, helping the department store chain keep a pulse on what’s new and relevant.
“Being in the fashion office was fun, but no one cut me any slack,” Pingul says. “For me to drive new business, I couldn’t be fluffy. I had to draw on that analytical side to bolster my suggestions. I worked with buyers on forecasting trends, projecting sales by looking at data, and keeping up with what was happening with pop culture.”
Ready for a change, Pingul connected with the new vice president of merchandising at Robbins Brothers, who was looking for a buyer who had a fashion-forward sensibility, had done trend work, and had a strong background in merchandising, Pingul says.
“They wanted to stay a leader in the marketplace. Whether you’re in jewelry or anywhere else, it is easy to be complacent. But Robbins Brothers wanted to maintain its leadership position,” Pingul says. “Engagement rings are the core of the business, so you want to have those classic and forever styles. But you also need to be on the pulse of what the guest wants and stay on top of what’s relevant in the marketplace.”
That may be the best part of Pingul’s responsibilities. When a celebrity engagement happens or a bridal trend catches fire, she dives deeply into what it says about future brides, how that might translate into jewelry, and what Robbins Brothers needs to do, if anything, in the short and long term.
She says other highlights include working with longtime jewelry experts, and bringing her fresh perspective to the table when Robbins Brothers relaunched and rebranded the Eternalle collection of lab-grown diamonds as engagement or wedding rings.
“It’s a newer position and a newer way of looking at the business,” Pingul says. “It’s been quite a ride but I definitely love it. I feel like I’m always learning and the team is willing to evolve.… I’m definitely a sponge, taking all of the information in.”
Top: Geraldine Pingul left her lawyer aspirations behind for a fashion-forward retail career. Now, she’s working with Robbins Brothers to boost its trend forecasting and helping the jewelry chain develop new products and collections. (All photos courtesy of Robbins Brothers)
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