Smartphones: A Jewelry Store in Every Hand?

What else is there?

Through the power of Internet, everything is now one search engine away. So if one wants jewelry, web is more than enough to over-sensitize variation of styles, themes and designs. This way, the realm of jewelries evolved from being sold in chic specialty shops to regular department stores to e-commerce sites. But with everything said and done to ‘wow’ dynamic consumers, what else is there left to do?

It is mobile retailing.

With smartphones the newest hip, mobile retail started to sound like a new business strategem. But is it really feasible?

Jewelry consumers embracing mobile platform is the latest fad industrialists want to take into light. Buyers go out and have full-of-zip lifestyle while glued to their phones; slave to goings-on of mobile devices. Thus, e-commerce is trying to diverge to mobile retailing as component of marketing… many jewelry industries, especially stainless steel jewelry designer houses, even mull over on the possibility.

Just like the conception days of Internet, pioneers who took unconventional risks garnered great pay-offs. Criticisms may be there, left and right, for jewel mobile retailing, but there are definite signs it can be probable future for the business.

The Future of Jewelry Retail

Accessibility is never an issue now that Internet dominates the world. Anyone wishing to buy jewelries will be swept over by assortment of designs in the zenith with just one keyword. Hence, its retail world has varied from exclusive elite shops to regular department stores to internet sites. Yet, the cycle of change hasn’t stopped.

The coolest mobile device opened a new opportunity for industries in a very promising way… this is through smartphones. With augmented number of users of this newest “it” phone, mobile retailing is now greeting the horizon.

Users of this gadget are interestingly stuck with their phones, on its every activity and more. They can afford to have active social life, go out and have fun while fasten full blast to its every nook and crook. Thus, business people couldn’t help but see the intensifying possibility of conquering even these tiny gadgets to enforce industrial businesses, especially jewelries; because if carried out successfully, this has high percentage of becoming a breakthrough project.

Smartphones: A Jewelry Store in Every Hand?

What else is there?

Through the power of Internet, everything is now one search engine away. So if one wants jewelry, web is more than enough to over-sensitize variation of styles, themes and designs. This way, the realm of jewelries evolved from being sold in chic specialty shops to regular department stores to e-commerce sites. But with everything said and done to ‘wow’ dynamic consumers, what else is there left to do?

It is mobile retailing.

With smartphones the newest hip, mobile retail started to sound like a new business strategem. But is it really feasible?

Jewelry consumers embracing mobile platform is the latest fad industrialists want to take into light. Buyers go out and have full-of-zip lifestyle while glued to their phones; slave to goings-on of mobile devices. Thus, e-commerce is trying to diverge to mobile retailing as component of marketing… many jewelry industries, especially stainless steel jewelry designer houses, even mull over on the possibility.

Just like the conception days of Internet, pioneers who took unconventional risks garnered great pay-offs. Criticisms may be there, left and right, for jewel mobile retailing, but there are definite signs it can be probable future for the business.

Clients today do not desire convenience, they command it. And nothing is more convenient than looking for your prospective stainless steel jewelries right on your smartphone, provided it is well-showcased through effective 3D or 4D graphics. Moreover, mobile flash sales and daily deals can attract attention of many customers, especially if these are most accessible to them. Mobile devices can serve as a more operative enforcer of jewelry industries than anything else.

So how can a jewelry retailer, stainless steel or not, take advantage of this hottest vogue? One must always start with what covers all you have. Take for instance, be certain that your e-shop has mobile format that is easily navigated even on small screens. Despite the fact that smartphones can show the desktop mode of your online store, putting up a mobile version can make your shoppers spend more time browsing your stainless steel jewelry nirvana.

Downloadable catalogs specified for phone formats will surely look a good method of enticing customers to check out more products on their own bidding. Make certain that you are also listed as local jeweler in mobile online maps, so if anyone looks up your location, it is ready information.

If you have more money to spare, working with an app that notifies your steadfast purchasers when new inventory or design comes out will also be a good idea. Furthermore, integrating QR (Quick Read) codes on poster and brochures that when scanned by a smartphone renders corresponding coupon will undeniably become a hit.

Even if jewelry is well-liked to many since time immemorial, today’s customer behavior is getting more demanding. With mobile retailing, your jewelry store is situated in every smartphone owner’s hands.

Building a Strategic Jewelry Inventory

Attracting customers is the blood of any retail business. And for a retail jeweler, building an inventory that appeal to as many people as possible is vital for success and staying relevant in the industry.

With so many products flooding the market from various jewelry manufacturers and designers, retailers need a keen eye for craftsmanship and a good sense of deducing future trends to insure that the investment for inventory will not go to waste. To give a fresh perspective on how to create an attractive and strategic inventory that will attract jewelry shoppers, here are some tips on how to select the best products to put on your retail store.

Define your business. What is your niche? Who are your target markets? Do you like to project an ambience of high end luxury or maybe an affordable, casual shop? Attracting the right kind of clients is the first step on selling a product and this can be achieve by creating a space that your customers will find comfortable. If you want to target young customers, offer products that are more youthful, not too sophisticated or delicate and most importantly, priced in the range that they can afford like stainless steel jewelry. Focus on what you think your target customers are looking for then build your inventory on this.

Stock up on timeless pieces in terms of style or design. These types of jewelry usually have very general design themes like floral, heraldic, Gothic and many others that do not go out of style for a very long time. They also tend to go back after a few decades as fashion progress. Simple, single-tone rings or charm bracelets are good examples of timeless pieces.

To ensure variety, also offer jewelry that is on trend or getting attention in the mainstream. See what are strutting down the runways and be inspired to show similar pieces on your inventory. Good source of what are "in" can be found on pop culture icons like celebrities, TV shows, movies and others. Emerging alternative metals like tungsten carbide, titanium and stainless steel jewelry are also great pieces to offer today.

Inventory must have a sense of cohesiveness but not to the point of being too flat. Offer products that can work with each other like jewelry collections and gift sets. This shows a sense of association and can also help encourage customers to buy more than one piece. Also, do not be afraid to offer style advice on which jewelry can be worn with others so that customers will also notice other pieces and not just focus on one. Even though the customer did not buy the ring with the bracelet on the same sale, at least you were able to bring it to the client's attention and maybe purchase it on another time.

There is no exact formula in creating the perfect inventory but with careful planning and creative thinking, retail jewelers do not have to worry about attracting customers and staying relevant in a competitive industry.

Battle of the Bands: Tungsten Carbide versus Cobalt Chrome

The huge surge of new materials used in the creation of jewelry today has given customers more choices of fresh products that bring in style. But the surprising thing about the impact of these new products is the increased interest of men to accessorize.

Though there are men who do love to dress up with necklaces, bracelets and pendants, most male customers prefer to buy signature rings as their main jewelry. Titanium, tungsten carbide and stainless steel jewelry apparently are now directly competing with silver and platinum. The affordable price and same appearance of alternative metals make most men think twice about spending thousands of dollars on precious metals.

But even in the alternative metal jewelry arena, competition is also tight. Because the price point is nearly the same with each type of alternative metal jewelry, tungsten carbide jewelry and stainless steel jewelry appears to be further fragmenting the market. Designers and consumers are now debating whether tungsten carbide or stainless steel jewelry is better when it comes to men's wedding bands.

Tungsten carbide has always been marketed as a tough and very durable metal. Because of this perception, sales of tungsten carbide rings surged and are now estimated to be between 300,000 to 500,000 wedding bands a year. But some industry experts and designers are arguing that tungsten carbide is not as indestructible as what customers were led to believe.

Actually, tungsten carbide is not really a metal but a metal matrix composite. It is a very tough material with hardness that is comparable to sapphire. But because it is not a true metal, wedding bands crafted from tungsten carbide cannot bend or tolerate sharp shocks, like getting dropped on a marble floor. Tungsten carbide rings (though this is subject to the quality and design of the jewelry) has the tendency to shatter, crack or chip.

With the creation of a new breed of stainless steel jewelry in the form of cobalt chrome alloy, many advocates and fans of this alternative metal argue that customers will likely benefit more by buying cobalt chrome wedding bands instead of tungsten carbide rings.

Cobalt chrome is a member of the stainless steel jewelry family and is considered to be an innovation of the industrial alternative metal. It has luster that is comparable to platinum but four times as hard. Like stainless steel jewelry, cobalt chrome rings can withstand corrosion, scratches and sharp shocks. Also, unlike tungsten carbide rings, cobalt chrome bands can be resized.

Compared to 316L stainless steel jewelry, cobalt chrome is fairly new. As of the moment, the types of cobalt chrome jewelry that is available are limited to statement rings and wedding bands due to the restrictions in the manufacturing process, though this may change in the coming years.

As more men get enticed to improve their style with jewelry and accessories, retailers should analyze what are the best products that they can offer to tap this new market. Tungsten carbide and cobalt chrome rings have their own pros and cons, thus, the best way to go is to give the decision to customers on which kind of wedding band is better.

Alternative Metal Trends for Women

Many women are great in embracing new trends in fashion and jewelry. In fact, the majority of products in the fashion industry are created and targeted for women. And by comparison to men's jewelry, women's jewelry and accessories are greater in number not just in available designs but also in the frequency of new styles being released each season.

 It is only expected that the alternative metal jewelry market, though primarily been targeted to men, is now seeing the great potential of getting a slice of the female consumer market. With the advancements of techniques in manufacturing and materials used to craft high quality alternative metal jewelry for women, retailers can now maximize their inventory and take advantage of alternative metal jewelry to help female customers enhance their style for a fraction of the cost.

 Fashion experts dubbed 2011 as the year of stainless steel jewelry because it has been a great alternative metal jewelry for men. And even in women's fashion, stainless steel jewelry proves to be a great choice for high-end designers who are exploring the trend of alternative metal jewelry for women.

 Here are some of the trends in womens steel jewelry predicted to be popular this year:

 Bold and Massive

Mens steel jewelry and womens steel jewelry, especially stainless steel jewelry, is very versatile when it comes to design accents and details. Stainless steel jewelry, in particular, can be crafted in any number of ways that can create statement pieces whether by utilizing texture, shape or sheen. Large stainless steel jewelry for women will cost far lower compared to a piece with the same size but made in silver. Most people may not be inclined to have large alternative metal jewelry as they tend to possess more surface area which is susceptible to scratches and dents. But stainless steel jewelry and other mens steel jewelry and womens steel jewelry are very durable and is capable of withstanding wear and tear that results from everyday use, no matter how big the jewelry may be.

 Geometric Shapes and Solid Metals

The dramatic geometric pendants and bangles have the perfect mix of vintage-modern style, more so, when crafted as a solid alternative metal jewelry for women. The use of shapes and form as design details combined with hue and sheen creates alternative metal jewelry for women that are pronounced and attractive even at a distance. Titanium and stainless steel jewelry are alternative metal jewelry that can be crafted in different sheens and textures making them perfect for customers who want variation from the classic metallic grey.

 Crystalsand Gems

No women will settle for an all-metal jewelry collection. Sparkle for this year is expected to be supplied by natural crystals, rhinestones and Murano glass. Unlike other womens steel jewelry, stainless steel jewelry is still versatile enough to be incorporated with crystals and gems without compromising durability and strength. This particular characteristic of stainless steel jewelry is what made it great for both men and women.

 The continued popularity of alternative metal jewelry for women suggests that another fashion revolution is eminent. With consumers’ changing perspective towards the value, those in the jewelry industry (retailers in particular) should explore other venues and trends, like alternative metal jewelry, to ensure continued growth and staying power in a highly competitive market today.

Alternative Metal Jewelry Trends for Men

Men's style is very different to women's. Most men want modest designs yet still have enough appeal to attract attention. They tend to use accessories like ties and belts to break the unvariedness of their style. And as time progressed, some men learned to accessorize wearing stainless steel jewelry including rings, cufflinks and pendants to enhance their looks, no longer bound by the tired classic fashion.

Though precious metal jewelry is popular to both sexes, alternative metal jewelry for men got a particularly positive reaction due to the distinct properties of the metals. Alternative metal jewelry, which includes stainless steel jewelry, titanium jewelry and tungsten carbide jewelry, has become a vogue in the past decade in men's fashion, with more and more contemporary mid-range and high-end designers getting on the bandwagon.

For 2011, here are some of the predicted trends in alternative metal jewelry for men:

Chunky pendants, necklaces and chains

Promoted at this year's Milan Men's Fashion Week, chunky alternative metal jewelry for men including pendants, necklaces and chains are the trend to follow. Though many may think it is a bit unusual trend, high-end designers like Armani and Vivienne Westwood presented collections with bold and chunky alternative metal jewelry for men.

Solid metal jewelry

Though plain and classic looking, solid metal alternative jewelry is gone far more interesting over the years. And experts say that their favorite material for alternative metal jewelry for men in 2011 is stainless steel. Versatile and durable, stainless steel jewelry proves to be every man's best friend as it can enhance a lot of styles and matches almost anything, more so when it is on solid metal form.

Statement accessories

Whether it texture, shape or design, alternative metal jewelry for men that gives a bold and powerful statement are said to get hot this year. Brands like Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and D&G Jewels appear to have started offering alternative metal jewelry for men that are not only stylish but also very bold. Alternative metal jewelry for men, especially stainless steel jewelry, is very versatile when it comes to detailed designs and can meld beautifully with gemstones and other metals which make it perfect for statement accessories for men. It seems that the age of simple and bland accessories is ending due to growing choices offered by alternative metal jewelry for men.

Now that there is a lot of choices available due to the continued growth in popularity of alternative metal jewelry for men (particularly, stainless steel jewelry), men's fashion, like everything else, is evolving. After decades of stagnant trends and limited selections, men can once again express themselves and finally own their personal style with the use of alternative metal jewelry and with the rapid development of designs, each jewelries is already available not just for men but also for women. Several designs are already available on markets, retailers and even online that is just fit for women’s needs heavy or not on their pocket each styles are reliable, durable and fascinating. However, we can’t deny the fact that each styles were created from the creative minds of designers who give and spend their time on mens steel jewelry. But then, womens steel jewelry rise along with mens steel jewelry and has been on the trend for a very long time. This trend gives jewelry industries the hope facing our economy.