EXPERT GUIDANCE TRACK
This track will feature experts speaking on topics that will help independent jewelry store owners improve their stores in a variety of ways.
How to Maximize Your Search Engine Results through SEO
Room 52 45minEvery year, more and more of your customers are shopping for jewelry online. Learn how to ensure their searches bring them to your website — and that once they get there, they’ll find exactly what they’re looking for.
Presented by: Guy Pineda, CEO of Jewelry Store Marketers
How to Keep Your Showroom Fresh and Up to Date Without Spending a Fortune
Room 52 45minSales floor looking a little bit tired? Discover tips and tricks to liven it up — and score admiring oohs and aahs from new and old customers alike — that don’t involve dropping thousands of dollars on renovations.
Presented by: Lyn Falk, RetailWorks
LUNCH - Included with your Cram Day Ticket
Room 47 1h 15minComplimentary with Cram Day Conference Registration.
How to Sell (and Close) Today’s Jewelry Client
Room 52 45minJewelers are dealing with a new breed of shopper, coming in with more information, options, and expectations than those of years past. Find out what it takes to engage these customers and consistently win their business.
Presented by: Jimmy DeGroot, TrainRetail
How to Unlock the Power of Digital Marketing with Effective Content Strategies, Innovative Social Media Exposure, and an Impactful Brand Presence
Room 52 45minYour prospects and customers are all on the internet — but so are your competitors. This session will show you how to reach shoppers online, and get noticed by standing out from the pack as the jeweler they definitely want to do business with.
Presented by: Marnelli Martin, Founder and CEO of Karat Social
How AI Can (and Will) Transform Your Marketing
Room 52 45minWith the ability to automate countless tasks and identify key patterns, artificial intelligence is already changing the business landscape. What effects will it have on how you target jewelry customers? Find out in this session.
Presented by: Shane O’Neill, Fruchtman Marketing
RETAIL EXCELLENCE TRACK
This track will feature panels of retail owners and managers sharing best practices in areas critical to store success and profitability.
Cracking the Estate Code: Best Practices for Selling Vintage and Antique Jewelry
Room 53 45minVintage and antique jewelry can be an intriguing and rewarding category, and an opportunity to offer your customers something different. Maximize your success by learning the ins and outs of this unique space in the jewelry business.
Moderator: Anna Samsonova, Samsonova Consulting
Presented by:
Susan Eisen, Susan Eisen Fine Jewelry & Watches, El Paso, TX
Lee Krombholz, Krombholz Vintage, Cincinnati, OH
Jordan Brown, Once Upon a Diamond, Shreveport, LA
Win Friends: How to Build a Team That Closes Sales and Loves to Work for You
Room 53 45minHandling beautiful, priceless treasures. Helping customers celebrate joyous milestones. Selling jewelry should be a good time for both you and your team. Unlock the secrets to making your store a fun and profitable place to be — for all of you — at this session.
Moderator: Mark Pimental, MP Business Consulting
Panelists:
Lauren Priori, L. Priori Jewelry, Philadelphia, PA
Brennan Smith, Kesslers Diamond Center, Inc, Appleton, WI
Stephenie Bjorkman, Sami Fine Jewelry, Fountain Hills, AZ
LUNCH - Included with your Cram Day Ticket
Room 47 1h 15minComplimentary with Cram Day Conference Registration.
Help Wanted: How to Find, Hire and Retain the Best Employees
Room 53 45minIt’s a cliché because it’s true: Your people are your most important asset. So how much could you achieve by putting together a staff that delivered optimal results day in and day out? Check out this session if you’re ready to find out.
Moderator: Mark Pimental, MP Business Consulting
Panelists:
Kyle Bullock, Bullock’s Jewelry, Roswell, NM
Beth Greene, Conti Jewelers, Endwell, NY
John Carter, Jack Lewis Jewelers, Bloomington, IL
Safety First: Security Tips that can Keep Your Clients, Staff and Store Safe
Room 53 45minAnyone can walk into your store off the street with unknown intentions, and as a purveyor of luxury goods, you have to be extra cautious. Ensure you’re prepared by picking up these up-to-date tips for protecting your people and merchandise from some of the top security experts in the country.
Moderator: Trace Shelton, Editor-in-Chief, INSTORE
Panelist:
Greg “Dutch” Holland, Senior Security Consultant, HMH Consultants
Dan Tober, Senior Manager of Risk Services, Jewelers Mutual Group
ASAC Steve Gonzalez, FBI - NY, Transnational Organized Crime
Event Horizon: How to Plan Your Most Successful Store Event Yet
Room 53 45minPlanning a party, trunk sale, or other event can take a lot of time, effort, and money — so it needs to deliver a return on that investment. Discover how to draw the crowd you want, put them in the right mood, and leave them with great memories, eagerly awaiting your next invite.
Moderator: Anna Samsonova, Samsonova Consulting
Panelists:
Evangeline Ross, Zachary’s Jewelers, Annapolis, MD
John Carter, Jack Lewis Jewelers, Bloomington, IL
Stephenie Bjorkman, Sami Fine Jewelry, Fountain Hills, AZ
GIA Track
Overview of Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Presented by GIA: Overview of Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Room 50 2 hrsPresented by GIA Alumni Collective
Laboratory-grown diamonds generate both excitement and confusion as their presence in the gem and jewelry market expands. Created through a technological process rather than geological, gem-quality laboratory-grown diamonds pose an identification challenge to any professional who buys or sells diamonds. Many customers and dealers alike have questions about these gems including how they compare to natural diamonds, how they are manufactured, and what steps can be taken to identify them outside the laboratory.
This live seminar will provide the answers you need to these questions and more, focusing on a solid foundation of accurate and updated information.
Key Highlights:
- Learn about the most common production methods (HPHT and CVD).
- Review the critically-important U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that define key terms and how to use them.
- Understand the services, methods and instruments that can help distinguish between laboratory-grown and natural diamonds.
- Explore GIA Laboratory Reports and the GIA iD100™ gem testing device.
This seminar will include a hands-on element that allows attendees to better understand these points through examination of diamonds under microscopes. Seating is limited to 50 attendees per session.
Presenter: Lisa Kennedy, Sr. Subject Specialist in Gemology, GIA
Presented by GIA: Overview of Laboratory-Grown Diamonds
Room 50 2 hrsPresented by GIA Alumni Collective
Laboratory-grown diamonds generate both excitement and confusion as their presence in the gem and jewelry market expands. Created through a technological process rather than geological, gem-quality laboratory-grown diamonds pose an identification challenge to any professional who buys or sells diamonds. Many customers and dealers alike have questions about these gems including how they compare to natural diamonds, how they are manufactured, and what steps can be taken to identify them outside the laboratory.
This live seminar will provide the answers you need to these questions and more, focusing on a solid foundation of accurate and updated information.
Key Highlights:
- Learn about the most common production methods (HPHT and CVD).
- Review the critically-important U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that define key terms and how to use them.
- Understand the services, methods and instruments that can help distinguish between laboratory-grown and natural diamonds.
- Explore GIA Laboratory Reports and the GIA iD100™ gem testing device.
This seminar will include a hands-on element that allows attendees to better understand these points through examination of diamonds under microscopes. Seating is limited to 50 attendees per session.
Presenter: Lisa Kennedy, Sr. Subject Specialist in Gemology, GIA
Welcome Reception
Ballroom Lobby (Near Room 43) 1 hr 30 minsHelp us kick off the start of the show during the Saturday evening Welcome Reception. Mingle with your jewelry pro peers and make new connections. We can’t wait to see everyone there! All event participants can enjoy drinks at our open bar and light appetizers.
Show Floor Hours
Exhibit Hall 8h 0minGet ready to learn, buy and connect on The INSTORE Show exhibit floor! Stock up on the latest products from industry leading vendors and service providers.
Opening Keynote: Strategies To Win In A Challenging Economy
Room 46 1h 15minWhile the media may be telling us of continuing doom and gloom, every small business can control its own destiny. Here is a list of what to do, what not to do, and what to stop doing. The economy produces winners and losers; this topic gives multiple points of attack for winning in a challenging economy.
Presenter: Tom Shay, Profits Plus Solutions
How to Use Social Media to Create More Sales
Education Stage 1 45 minsApps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok give you a direct line to hundreds or thousands of prospects in your area and beyond. Find out how you can leverage your online networks to get people in the door or shopping on your website, and turn those leads into sales.
Moderated by: Shane O’Neill, Fruchtman Marketing
Panelists:
Katherine Daily, The Jewelers, Lebanon, TN
Jen Parker, Alchemy, Portland, OR
Mike Moriarty, Moriarty’s Gem Art, Crown Point, IN
The Biggest Jewelry Trends of 2024 (and How to Fulfill Them at the INSTORE Show)
Education Stage 2 45 minsJewelry lovers are always searching for the latest styles, particularly those making waves on social media or the red carpet. Learn the fashions and motifs that these clients will be shopping for this holiday season and where you can find them on the show floor.
Presented by: Jennifer Heebner, INSTORE writer
Where AI Meets Personalized Engagement | Simple, Cost-Effective Strategies for Jewelers to Boost Sales
Education Stage 1 25 mins* Sponsored Talk by Clientbook
Hire a new employee without hiring a new employee. In today’s competitive jewelry market, personalized engagement is crucial for building lasting customer relationships and driving sales.
This session will explore effective strategies that jewelry store owners can implement to enhance personalized engagement through their sales associates without adding extra burden or complexity to their daily operations.
Speaker: Ryan Blumenthal, Chief Revenue Officer, Clientbook
Up Your Store and Website Game: High-Impact GIA Tools and Resources for Retailers
Education Stage 2 25 mins* Sponsored Talk Presented by GIA
Learn how GIA can help you refresh and enhance your in-store selling experience and attract new customers. From front-of-house to back-of-house, this informative talk covers tools for your website, innovative ideas for educating in-store customers, new equipment to help you feel more confident in your analysis of diamonds and colored gems, and more! Got an old microscope you can no longer find parts for? Want a cool, new way to educate clients at the counter that doesn’t cost a thing? Thinking of a website rehaul and in need of ready-made 4Cs content? Learn how GIA can help you refresh, enhance, and keep doing what you do best.
Speaker: Tali Nay, GIA
Sales, Shoes, and Significance: How to Train Your Team to Go Beyond the Sale and Make a Customer for Life
Education Stage 1 45minMore than the average retailer, a jewelry store lives and dies by the long-term customer relationships it builds. In this session, learn what your salespeople must know to create and sustain the kind of bonds that generate return business and meaningful connection.
Presented by:
Kyle Bullock, Bullock’s Jewelry in Roswell, NM & TrainRetail
Jimmy DeGroot, TrainRetail
How to Become a Better Salesperson through Interactive Games
Education Stage 2 45minMany have tried to increase sales by their employees by simply telling them to “sell more” or say some special phrase. This interactive session will have participants take part in seven “games” that actually teach them how to be better salespeople. Fun and learning combined!
Presented by: Tom Shay, Profits Plus Solutions
Play it Cool Party
Level 2, Room 45 2h 30minJoin your fellow attendees, exhibitors and the INSTORE team for THE industry event of the summer, including appetizers, drinks, music and networking! The Ron Harris Music Group — a favorite of past SMART Jewelry Show attendees — returns with their fun mix of Motown, disco, 80s/90s and contemporary music. As part of the evening’s festivities, the winners of the 2024 America’s Coolest Jewelry Stores competition will be recognized. But more importantly, the Play It Cool Party will be a time to relax, unwind and party on down! Please note, the first two drinks are on us. Additional beverages can be purchased with a credit card only. The venue bars will not accept cash.
Show Floor Hours
Exhibit Hall 7h 0minGet ready for day two of learning, buying and connecting on The INSTORE Show exhibit floor! Stock up on the latest products from industry leading vendors and service providers.
Keynote Presentation: How to Build Sales Momentum as a Team
Room 46 1h 30minHow can you personally sell 100, 200 or even 300 diamonds of over a carat in one year? How do you change your clients’ experience to make it unforgettable? How do you earn more 5-star reviews and referrals than ever before? In this presentation, renowned sales trainer Shane Decker will teach owners, managers and salespeople how to take their performance to the next level by creating “sales team-driven momentum.” Your sales floor, and your profits, will never be the same.
Presented by Shane Decker, Shane Decker Sales Academy
Q4 Marketing Strategy: How to Attract a Host of Holiday Buyers
Education Stage 1 45minMost jewelers will do 40% of their business in the 4th quarter of the year — what’s your approach to maximize those three months? This session will provide strategies for Q4 that are proven to work, including in-store event ideas, digital tactics, targeted mailers, traditional media, streaming audio and video campaigns, promotions, wishlist initiatives and more.
Presented by: Gus Garcia, LOUDR
How to Craft a More Compelling Shopping Experience
Education Stage 2 45minFor millennia, shoppers have wandered around looking at things before possibly buying them. Couldn’t we jazz the process up a bit? The answer is yes. Learn how to get customers truly and deeply excited to come into your shop and check out what’s on offer.
Moderator: Anna Samsonova, Samsonova Consulting
Panelist:
Melissa Quick, Steve Quick Jeweler, Chicago, IL
Ellie Thompson, Ellie Thompson + Co., Chicago, IL
Craig Husar, Craig Husar Fine Diamonds and Jewelry Design, Brookfield, WI
Unusual Approaches for Doing Better Business
Education Stage 1 45minIf you want extraordinary results, you can’t just rely on ordinary strategies. In this thought-provoking session, you’ll see how a willingness to think differently can take your business in new and exciting — and profitable — directions.
Moderator: Anna Samsonova, Samsonova Consulting
Panelists:
John Thomas Mead, John Thomas Jewelers, Albuquerque, NM
Karen Hollis, K. Hollis Jewelers, Boutique and Wine Bar, Batavia, IL
Chelsea Mead, Honey Designs Jewelry, Cincinnati, OH
How to Address a Jeweler's’ Top Pain Points: Recruiting, Bridal Sales and Profit
Education Stage 2 45minNo matter where you're located, you're likely facing the same big frustrations as your peers in the industry. The tips in this session will help make hiring easier, improve your bridal business, and show you how to get more value out of every sale.
Presented by: Mark Pimental, MP Business Consulting