Mike meets with Savannah Kell, Junior Designer at Punchmark, to talk about everything she's done to renovate the Punchmark Instagram account, what goes into managing an account sustainably, and the differences in approach for a B2B account versus a B2C account. Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com ..read more

Kevin Jack, the creator behind Jack Custom Jewelry on social media, is known for his mesmerizing time-lapse social media showcases. From snowflake ring designs to dragons that will wrap themselves around your finger, Kevin's designs in CAD are inspiring. Mike spoke with Kevin to learn about how he got his start in custom jewelry design, his advice for others trying to learn CAD, and common pitfalls jewelry designers might encounter when designing jewelry to be worn. Follow Jack Custom Jewelry online: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKazCiRiA0JK1gGEeUtHC6w Instagram: https://www.in ..read more

Unlock the secrets of luxury watch photography with photographers and fellow RIT alumnus, Chris Coe and Adam Antalek of Coe Group.  We cover the demanding brand expectations of different brands, the balance of in-camera excellence versus post-production finesse, and the inventive techniques that ensure every shot conveys the luxury and craftsmanship distinctive to these miniature masterpieces. Watches are more than mere timekeepers; they're mementos with stories to tell, linking generations and encapsulating emotions. We explore the practicalities too—navigating the costly realm of phot ..read more

Whether you are selling luxury jewelry or luxury jackets, the art of storytelling is an important one that helps a shopper make the leap of faith that this object is EXACTLY what they've been looking for all along.  Michael unpacks a recent online purchase he made on Huckberry for their Flint & Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Jacket and the subtle storytelling elements they used that really connected with him, and draws comparisons to how jewelers can employ similar tactics when selling jewelry on their websites.  Whether its a healthy mix of in-studio and lifestyle photographs, a d ..read more

Whether you are selling luxury jewelry or luxury jackets, the art of storytelling is an important one that helps a shopper make the leap of faith that this object is EXACTLY what they've been looking for all along.  Michael unpacks a recent online purchase he made on Huckberry for their Flint & Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Jacket and the subtle storytelling elements they used that really connected with him, and draws comparisons to how jewelers can employ similar tactics when selling jewelry on their websites.  Whether its a healthy mix of in-studio and lifestyle photographs, a d ..read more

Ever wonder why some websites rank higher than others, or how to make your site the jewel in Google's crown? Michael  and Stuart unravel the mysteries of search engine optimization in a candid chat about Google's latest SEO Starter Guide. We're not just rehashing the same old keywords tactics; we are talking about the current state of Search Engine Optimization and what has changed since the last time we spoke about it. And Spoilers: it's a LOT. Learn more about our sponsor NIVODA: https://nivoda.com/intheloupe Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe Learn abo ..read more

A NOTE FROM MIKE: In the introduction of this episode, Michael mistakenly states Day's Jewelers have 10 locations. At the time of publishing this episode, they have 8 active locations. Nikia Levesque, VP of Marketing at Day's Jewelers, joins Michael for a chat that traces her ascent from intern to VP of Marketing and delves into her latest leadership venture with the WJA Foundation.   We talk about her membership in the 20 Under 40 list, as well as some of the hurdles that comes with trying to market for a business with 8 locations! Check out Day's Jewelers here: https://www.daysjewele ..read more

The first half of Trade Show Season concludes with IJO Dallas, and Mike speaks with Penny Palmer, Director of Member Services at IJO, to talk about the new vendors that have been added, the highlights of the event location, and some of the exciting educational sessions that will be taking place! And if you've got children traveling with you, make sure you bring them to the show for the opportunity to help foster a future love of jewelry (and let them pick out a piece as well!). Plus, we're learning about how IJO is leaning on the next generation of jewelers to inject fresh energy into the ind ..read more

Step into the sparkling world of Tiffany & Co. with Sara Schoenlank, a Jewelry Designer on the High Jewelry team. High Jewelry is characterized as being the crème de la crème in the luxury world, using the most perfect precious stones possible and pushing the art of jewelry to new heights at every turn. Our conversation with Sara is a journey through her personal evolution from art school, interning in Italy under a master goldsmith, to now designing in the high jewelry space. She shares details of her intricate design process, sharing the delicate balance between imagination and craftsma ..read more

Mike is joined by Alex Schlindwein, also known as Diamond Diaries, to discuss her recent decision to expand one of their retail locations to include an adjacent building. This decision is one that many successful jewelers have needed to make and it comes with a whole host of difficult subsequent decisions such as handling existing tenants, renovating the space, and the design for a "monument sign".  We  hope to have this be a recurring story that In the Loupe listeners can follow along to as we document a store's expansion efforts! Stay tuned for follow ups later this year! Send fe ..read more