designer jewelry

[mepearl53]

Good Morning Pricescope Members!

I need your feedback. I am a jeweler, of 75 years, that represents a large number of jewelry designers. Five years ago I ventured onto the internet with my site. At this time most designers had no clue as to what my vision of 21st century retailing might be. Some were happy to have a new customer and looked at the net as a blip on the radar. To my joy most were happy to look at this new median as a way to spread more information on what they do to a large number of potential customers. Some jewelers looked at this as a potential problem in distrubution. In the old days of retailing a jeweler had a market in which to conduct business. This market was protected and other jewelers could not have the same lines. This insured that the local store could conduct their business as they saw fit. The net has changed this and I have a question as to your thoughts. We have for the past 5 years represented a desinger Michael B. Back then he was not known but has since become quite a hot name. His work is wonderful, perhaps one of the best that we have had the privilage of working with. Problem as many of you have found is that he does not want his work to be displayed on the internet. For those of you who have visited my site you have seen the work of Michael displayed and visited your local dealer to see in person his work. Some have found price differences in what the local stores have asked for their work than what I have displayed on my site. This has caused some concern with the local dealers and they in turn has voiced this to Michael B. He responded with all dealers must take his images of their websites. This was ment mostly to me. I refused for in the begining he new what I was doing. He sent me additional merchandise to photograph AND I believe it is the merchants right to conduct business in a manner that gives his customers the most amount of information to make their correct purchase. He has since pulled my name off his website and has refused to present me with new product but still sell me the product I originally purchased, a legal issue! I can''t for the life of me get him to understand that the web is the best way to inform the public of his talent but his retailers presure is too much. Thoughts!

 

[mepearl53]

Yes, but my point to him is I''m driving customers to view his work to the B&M stores. Many places in the country do not have stores that represent his products yet he continues to advertise nationally. I am constantly being asked where people can find his work. This is why we posted his pricing so people can see if the product is in the price range of their budget. I had people actually get mad at us for not posting prices before. As to the B&M stores, which we are, commanding his attention don''t you feel that given the information customers will make their own decision on his products? We are just giving our customers the ability to see what we do which I think is the big advantage of the web. I have found it much easier to work with a informed customer than to have someone drive over to see his product and find it is not in the budget they have.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Mr Pearlman:

It is a shame that you are not allowed to post Michael B. pictures on your website because his stuff is gorgeous. Too bad he doesn''t understand the allure. I have seen some settings that I thought were nice on a website and ended up going to a local B&M to try them on... Not sure if he''ll reconsider his position but I for one am now considering Michael B. after seeing his work online...

So..

I hope everything works out for you!

 

[mepearl53]

Busy day! The question is does the consumer want this info on the net. Most designers think this is a area that people don''t use and I beg to differ. I see my photos all over the various chat areas and feel the consumer really would like the information. I can''t go back to the designers and ask specific questions unless I get feedback. Feedback gets your questions answered. A little help here!

 

[Kaili]

YES!
People want his product on the net. Many of us here at PS have been exposed to Michael B, shared his design photos, and gone to local b&m''s to see his settings in person. I even recall a post in which one PSer was driving a decent distance to see the showroom in Studio City after having seen the photos on your website. I personally have done all of my intitial research on the web in order find out exactly what I want. No single B&M store has the kind of selection one can find by searching online.
Personally, one of Michael B''s designs is my dream setting. I would never have known he existed without him having been on your website. In fact, a few other websites listed Michael B, but when I clicked on the link, I was not able to view photos. honestly, that put me off of the designer and I would not have given him a second thought had I not been directed to pearlmans jewelers where I fell in love. I just don''t have time to drive all over town looking at different stores, but if I''ve seen it first and fall in love with it, I would drive an extra distance to find it.
By the way, the only other place I have seen his engagement designs is in bridal magazines which many women buy after they get engaged... not necessarily before. I think having photos and prices (for that matter) on the net is very beneficial, IMO. I''m sure B&M diamond sellers didn''t like diamonds being sold on the internet either, but they are sold here.
IMO, selling on the internet will not replace buying in a B&M exclusively. Many people like to be interactive with their settings/ jewelers face to face and want to have a future relationship with a local jeweler.

 

[Kaili]

By the way, if you do a search for Michael B on PS, you will see that people are searching for pictures of his settings or discussing them. I would venture to guess that he would get or has gotten more exposure by letting you list him on your site.
...just my 2 cents

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Enthusiastically, Resoundingly! YESSSSSSS!!!!

 

[reena]

i agree, YES. i love michael b.

but, aren''t we oversimplifying the issue? from what i''ve been told by another B&M that stocks michael b (but doesn''t have pics of his stuff on their site) the reason he doesn''t want his designs on the web is not because he''s a fuddy duddy about new technology or because he doesn''t see the value in internet business--he just doesn''t want widespread copying of his designs. is this the reason he gave you?

of course, the whole situation is complicated by the fact that michael b has his OWN website with pictures of his rings . . .

 

[valeria101]

Not only there is quite a load of talk about MichaelB around here, but much of it mentioned Pearlman Jewelers just because of the pictures. This is not sayg that there are no posts saying "I love MB designs - how can I get a cheaper copy". Not that I can tell off the bat which kind prevails. My guess ? The second.... so, yes, there is a problem - even as far as PS is concerned.

Actually, one could probably find the same kind of chatter about any brand name. Including diamond cuts, and everything else.

But, why say "he is getting most sales from BM, why catter for the net". Is there any acount of how many such shoppers got their ideas online ? Not to sell online (by mail order) is one thing, not to advertise online is yet another, IMO. If there is prrof of the contrary (that virtually no one decides on design based on online search)... I do not know of it. The question seems relevant for starters.



Also, I could not help notice how detailed the pictures at Pearlman's are. As good as a free of charge blueprint!

Would it help the cause of copyright to show less or more ? The issue seems worth a second thought. Interesting ?

Among the websites talked about on PS, Artofplatinum and Diamondsbylauren seem to have dealt well (knowingly or not) with this issue. Both show just enough to demonstrate just to what extent their best pieces are impossible to duplicate at a lower cost. Not that they spell it out, but the message is clear enough in their description of how these rings are made and why they are different from the rest. Most likely this is exactly what whoever expects the ultimate from a jewel wants to hear. For example, a certain Schlumberger ring on Tiffany's site comes with the comment "this took 6 months to make" - how many wil attempt to ask the jeweler around the corner to reproduce it ? Artofplatinum.com explains that it takes 5 years to train one of their benck jewelers - that's as much as my PhD - surely I can respect such a statement. The communication receipe also applies to GIA diamond cut research and the H&A technicals here.

There is a good load of research about what information can be distributes to prevent copyright infringement. The statement above is one innocent bit...

Surely MB would know how to prepare a photo package for presentation online, once the pros and cons have been sorted.

For once, not showing work online is likely not going to help. With fine details lacking from ad-hoc, uncontrolled presentations, almost any shoddy coppy made to resemble just the overall look of his rings - not the fine detail lost in communication - may pass as "just as good". As long as larger, finer diamonds are sold online, this may not be such a marginal issue, but quite important indeed.

Hopefully, none of this sounds off. There seem to be tried and true ways to present work online without letting it out for grabs. It would be a shame not to investigate, in my opinion.

Just those 0.2, of course.

 

[mepearl53]

I believe that Michael has a fear of his designs being copied which in another thread was extensively talked about. BUT, one only has to look in the advertisements or for that matter return policies of stores to copy his design. In the trade everyone is doing micro pave or everyone is knocking each other off. The difference is the craftsmenship. Michael is the BEST at this and the folks in Asia, India, and S Hill st can''t come close to this level of expertise. But Michael and his side kick Ms C, who is of my generation, 50 something, won''t enter the 21st century. Demographics? How old are the people here? 1st marriage? Getting engaged? Is this a area more comfortably suited to learning. Do you research because of the exposure to advertising and seeing the product? Questions, questions, questions!

 

[katbadness]

Date: 10/30/2004 7

5

7 AM
Author: mepearl53
But Michael and his side kick Ms C, who is of my generation, 50 something, won't enter the 21st century. Demographics? How old are the people here? 1st marriage? Getting engaged? Is this a area more comfortably suited to learning. Do you research because of the exposure to advertising and seeing the product? Questions, questions, questions!

Re: demographics..
If I may make broad generalizations here...

From what I've read and seen thus far, I have to guesstimate that most of the people who are here are in the early 20s - 30s to early 40s, well educated professionals.

It seems like most are on their 1st marriage, though the decision to purchase a diamond may not be tied to 1st engagement. Some people are upgrading from their previous diamond..

I have to say that most people who are on the forum are avid learners and most of them stumble upon the forum when they're trying to find informations regarding diamonds prior to purchase (myself included). I think if you use the search engine and look for any diamond related information, sooner or later, you'd ran into one of the threads on this forum.

Re: Michael B designs..
I first came across Michael B's design on your website (while doing a search for Georg Jensen retailer in the US) - not knowing anything about the designer prior to it. In my case, anyway, the advertising I see afterwards, etc. is irrelevant, because I have already seen the detail on your website (which is much better any of the ads I saw!) and I have already made up my mind about what I think about Michael B's designs (I love

it!!).

However, for others it seems like they saw the design on magazines, etc. and they turn to the web to do their research.. and eventually onto your website - as your website is the only one showing Michael B's work in detail.

Date: 10/29/2004 7:55:35 PM
Author: mepearl53
Busy day! The question is does the consumer want this info on the net. Most designers think this is a area that people don't use and I beg to differ. I see my photos all over the various chat areas and feel the consumer really would like the information. I can't go back to the designers and ask specific questions unless I get feedback. Feedback gets your questions answered. A little help here!

Yes.. today's consumers are willing to go to extensive research before making a choice - especially for an emotionally tied choice like an engagement ring.

A lot people here on PS are willing to go the length to find the "perfect" diamond and the perfect setting - some end up getting a custom ring, others check out a lot of B&Ms before choosing the one.

I realize you are in a precarious situation.
On one hand you'd like to give consumers all the information to make an educated choice, but at the same time you have pressure from other retailers due to the amount of information you give to consumers.

Is there a middle ground that can be reached? Less detailed pictures, pricing only to those who asked? I don't know..

I can't even begin to suggest what will be a workable solution that will be win-win for both the consumer and the trade..

 

[mepearl53]

Interesting! I am actually going to take these comments to my design group. I know for a fact that my site makes sales for other jewelers that carry the same lines. I send people everyday to other stores to see the product in person. Complaints I hear are that the store doesn''t carry the complete collections or the sales people are rude or less than helpful. This makes it difficult to send people elsewhere. The design side does not realize what goes on in the stores and maybe I just hear more of it because I''m on the net. Either way it''s a problem. The B&M stores are scared of the net and don''t seem to embrace it as some have. But, trying to limit information to the consumer is not good and group boycott is illegal. We have a tracking software on our site that tells us what people actually look at. I can see what people are hitting on and I try to use this information to give back to the my designers. The majority listen. You know who doesn''t Hopefully this discussion will open his eyes as to the depth of usage on the net.