Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays, part II

Wow, can't believe it is the middle of September already. I'm working on the Spring 2008 Signature Diva Collection and have shows booked through Feb 2008. Phew! ;)

Here is part "deux" of Planning Your Jewelry Sales & Marketing for the Holidays. At the bottom of this post, you will find a link so that you can read the first installment. Look for the 3rd installment by the end of September.

Now that you have a color palette and designs created what do you do? How about generating some buzz with these promotional ideas...

• Create a higher "retail" ticket jewelry design up for grabs. For example, if you are strictly e-commerce based, you can have a "lottery" entry and increase your chances of winning with every purchase. Depending on your pricing, maybe there name is dropped in every time they spend $50. Notify your customer base (on and offline), potential customers (prominent spot on your website), and send out e-mails to various blogs that may be interested (they can post a blog entry about the contest).
  
• Offer a promotional holiday related or jewelry related item with each minimum purchase. Be creative. It doesn't have to be jewelry...it could be an ornament, candle, etc??? Or it could be a nice velvet pouch or polishing cloth to protect their jewelry purchase. It's amazing what you can find for under $1-2 that can pack a punch. Plus, if you are pricing properly this will not hit your bottom dollar because you include packaging and incidentals in your price (right!!).
• Do you have a loyal customer base??? Send each of them a FREE gift certificate (NO strings attached) . I know you're thinking is she crazy.....Absolutely NOT. Yes, some customers will ONLY come in to get a FREEBIE but many will come and spend more; every time I have done this my sales have increased ( I track the gift certificates).
• Consider a partnership. For example, consider a similar business (fashion or beauty) that can cross promote with a particular item. For example, maybe a bath and body product with any purchase over a certain $$ amount (the other vendor will do the same with your jewelry). Trust me....you both will win. You both get exposed to new customers and your customers are getting value ( and they will remember this).
• Offer services to make your customer's purchase EASIER...free gift wrapping, free drop shipping, free gift cards, or if they are local (a private trunk show). The point is by adding value your customer will feel appreciated and think of your jewelry and business in "warm and fuzzy" terms which is a GOOD thing!

Read Part I of this holiday jewelry marketing series? Do you have any fab suggestions that you would like to share? Leave a comment!

Read part III of this holiday jewelry marketing series!