The season is coming! The season is coming!
As the holidays approach, jewelers should prepare for increased demand and sales. Whether you’re in a small boutique or a national chain, taking a few critical steps in advance will help ensure that your store operates smoothly and efficiently during this peak period of opportunity.

Here are three essential tips:

1) Train Your Sales Staff
One of the most crucial yet often overlooked preparations is training salespeople to be knowledgeable and confident at the counter. The holiday rush often brings extended hours and new employees, making it critical for everyone to be prepared in advance. Your entire team should be equipped to handle inquiries, explain details, and dispel myths with competence. Expertise builds trust, and trust wins sales.

Fun fact: IGI’s short eLearning courses can be game-changers for both your existing and seasonal staff (more on that below).

2) Stock Up on Key Inventory
A surge in both foot traffic and online orders can be expected, so be sure to have enough stock on hand. Review sales data from previous years to predict trends and plan for the right mix of inventory. Along with your best-selling items, stock popular price points that appeal to casual and luxury shoppers. Most important, have all your diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry pieces certified well before the rush. This not only builds trust with your customers, it also reinforces the quality of your products, encouraging confident purchasing decisions.

Fun fact: IGI issues affordable, professional jewelry reports for OTC, estate purchases, etc., testifying to their authenticity.

3) Organize Packaging and Displays
You want your visual merchandising to capture the attention of holiday shoppers. Make sure your displays reflect the festive spirit and are strategically placed to highlight your most popular or high-margin products. Elegant, holiday-themed packaging can enhance the shopping experience and help your store stand out. This is the time, in advance of the holiday rush, to order all packaging materials. Also, get your marketing assets ready to go—from in-store signage and window displays to social media graphics and videos—so your promotions will be consistent, recognizable, and visually appealing across all platforms.

Did you know…?
Knowledge is power, and IGI eLearning is a fast, affordable way to give your staff a solid foundation in gemology and the knowledge they need to assist holiday shoppers. Unlike traditional courses, IGI’s eLearning offers interactive lessons that engage learners with decision-making moments and hands-on exercises. Studies show that this type of active learning increases engagement by 80%, meaning your staff is more likely to retain valuable information. This guarantees that your customers receive expert advice and enhances their overall shopping experience.

Through IGI’s eLearning, team members can learn gemological fundamentals as well as the modern jewelry trends that interest today’s buyers most. They’ll feel more confident, and in turn your customers will trust their guidance. It’s a win-win for your business.

Carpe diem
The holidays will be here before you know it, and advance preparation for the jewelry industry’s busiest season is key. By educating your staff, stocking up on inventory, and refining your visual merchandising and packaging, you’ll be well-positioned to produce positive results during the most wonderful time of the year.