2020 Highlights and 2021 Announcements

With the holiday rush and 2021 off to a fast start, we’re just now taking a breath to reflect on 2020. And we wanted to share with you some of the highlights and what we’re looking forward to this year. 

 

Highlights

In October, Start-to-Finish attended the Atlanta Jewelry Show and there was a lot of enthusiasm for our bracelet line. And we noticed a much larger national attendance. We want to give a very big thank you to all the staff for creating a safe environment for Vendors and Retailers in this new normal. (And check out this amazing video they put together!)

 

Oftentimes, we learn from our community of retailers about customer needs and jewelers’ innovations. At this show, we had a very interesting conversation with a bench jeweler who gave us an idea too good not to pass along to you. Here is his story: 

 

A customer came into the store with a Start-to-Finish diamond link bracelet that had been handed down, sadly through the death of her mother. To keep her mother’s memory alive, she asked, “Can this bracelet be broken up and re-created into some pieces so that all the girls in the family can have something to remember her by?”  

 

Smartly, the bench jeweler provided these recommendations (and we added a few of our own):

  1. Make a ring out of one link. (How? Add a shank and size to finger size.)
  2. Create earrings using two links. (How? Add a post to each link, and you will have a pair of earrings.)
  3. Allow each girl to create their own unique bracelet using a few links. By adding different styles and arranging them in a pattern they design, they’ll be starting a new bracelet with you (and becoming a repeat customer).  (How? Visit “Custom Jewelry Design Made Easy” to help your customer create their own special, one-of-a-kind diamond link bracelet.)
  4. Similar to the unique bracelet option, anyone may choose to keep the existing style and start their own bracelet. (How? Purchase a starter link with a 7” snake chain and add the inherited links.) 

 

Not only are these great ideas for that heirloom piece, but Start-to-Finish can provide links or mountings for colored stones to make additional rings or earrings to purchase with a starter bracelet. 

 

All of these scenarios allow for upsell opportunities and repeat customers when jewelers register customers’ bracelets and/or keep up with marketing efforts. 

 

Got ideas? Please post in the comments below or drop us a line if you have questions. 

 

2021 Announcements

First Show of the Year

Start-to-Finish will be exhibiting at the Atlanta Jewelry Show, March 6-7, 2021 in the Cobb Galleria Centre. As reported by Southern Jewelry News, this year, RJO is joining so we’re excited to extend “SoHo” (short for Southern Hospitality, and the theme of the show) to our old friends and welcome the newcomers. 

 

We’ll have show specials, so keep an eye out for those this Spring.

New Brochures

We have new brochures for our retailers. The tri-fold design accommodates all our current styles in an easy-to-read format. And it’s customer-facing, providing a link to www.diamondlinkbracelets.com (our site for consumers).  We will have these to distribute at the Atlanta Jewelry Show. If you are not attending that show, please give us a call at 888-753-8340 and we will mail some brochures to you.

 

New Styles

We’re working on two new styles based on best sellers and very excited about it! At the Spring Atlanta show, we’ll debut the samples and you can place your orders there. 

 

We’ll have photos available for these by Fall, so you can place an early Holiday order and include them in your ads, newsletters, and social posts.

 

Got questions? Give us a call at 888-753-8340.

2020 News

So far, this 2020 year has brought about many changes for each of us, individually and as businesses.

Start-to-Finish is making one major change beginning June 23, 2020. We will no longer participate as a member of the Retail Jewelers Organization. We have enjoyed our 14 years as a member, adding not only new businesses to our product line but numerous friendships.

We will continue to serve all of our customers with their bracelet and link needs. Start-to-finish invoices will be sent the first of each month.

Our terms remain the same whether you are a regular account or an RJO account.

We hope things will settle down by the fall and it is our intention to attend the delayed Alabama Jewelers Convention in Birmingham and the Atlanta Jewelry Show in Atlanta, GA.

We wish for your continued success and are thankful for your support of Start-to-Finish Diamond Link Bracelets.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

What’s Happened this Fall and Looking to 2019

Report on Fall 2018

Alabama Jewelers Association held their Saltwater Seminar at Orange Beach the last weekend in September. Some changes were made for this annual fun event. 

It started on Thursday, a day earlier than the previous years, which gave us more time in our hospitality suite and dining at some of the new restaurants.

The main dinner event was held at the Orange Beach Senior Center. It was catered by the owners of Cosmos and G.T.’s Restaurant.

Maria and Cody Foote of Maria Jewelers in Opelika, AL, provided the music with their DJ style. They are also professional dancers so we had a lively group of learners on the dance floor.

In the past, we had an educational seminar on Sunday mornings, but this year it was decided that the entire weekend would be centered around socializing and networking. Instead, all of our education will be held at the Convention in Birmingham in April, 2019.

The weather was perfect all weekend except for Saturday afternoon when the rain came and cancelled our golf outing. But there’s always next year!

Looking Ahead to 2019

The Alabama Jewelers Association Board has lots of great ideas for next year’s convention and I am even more excited to be a part of this serving on the board

Y’all come to Birmingham in April and enjoy our southern hospitality! 

–Renee

 

P.S. Here’s where we’ll be in 2019:

RJO Show Nashville Music Center, Nashville, TN 1/26-1/28

Atlanta Jewelry Show- Cobb Galleria Center, Atlanta, GA 3/2-3/4

Alabama Jewelers Convention April 5-7 Hyatt at the Galleria, Birmingham, AL

Hello from the Atlanta Jewelry Show 2017

We’re happy to be here at the Atlanta Jewelry Show 2017; stop by our booth to get the juicy details on how our product keeps customers coming back AND engages them with a STORY!

 

Atlanta Jewelry Show 2017

Renee at Atlanta Jewelry Show 2017

 

Throwback Thursday to . . . One Week Ago at RJO Denver 2017!

Had so much fun in Denver, CO, participating in the annual golf tournament for RJO as both sponsors and players!

RJO Denver 2017

Steve Singer at RJO Denver 2017

RJO Denver 2017

Renee Singer at RJO Denver 2017

We shot 12 under par, a fabulous 60, and ended up in 2nd place!

RJO Denver 2017

The 2nd Place Team at RJO Denver 2017 (L to R): Renee and Steve Singer, Bob and Deb Meadows, Betsy and Lamar Murrell

Great team effort with great weather, great food, and great friendship!

We even announced our new product position around telling a story that sells. For our friends attending The Atlanta Jewelry Show this week, please stop by and we will fill you in on the exciting news in person! Our story is the one that keeps your jewelry customers coming back!

RJO Denver 2017

Our Booth at RJO Denver 2017

Jewelry Stores in Mississippi Gathered Last Weekend

Jewelry stores in Mississippi gathered on June 24-25 in Gulfport, MS at the Marriott Courtyard Beach Front for learning sessions and fun at the annual Mississippi Jewelers Convention.

From the vendors’ perspective, it was an opportunity to socialize with the attendees, support the organization, and have an opportunity to bring some merchandise and new ideas for the 2017 Holiday Season.

For Start-to-Finish Diamond Link Bracelets, we were able to share how we’ve repositioned our product line to accommodate the lifestyles of customers and their jewelry gift buying needs. Our presentation consisted of “7 Must-Have Bracelets,” emphasizing how you as a store owner or associate can tell a story as you present a certain style bracelet.

For example, a customer comes in needing a baby gift. You might suggest our “baby bracelet” and how the bracelet will grow as the baby grows into a child, a teenager, a young adult. The finished product will be a 14K gold and diamond bracelet with exceptional value and built over time on special occasions. Jewelry stores in Mississippi who stock our product can tell their own stories for our bracelets, it just takes listening to the customer, some help from us, and some imagination!

Found this page by accident? If you are a consumer looking for jewelry stores in Mississippi who carry our line of 14K gold and diamond bracelets, please visit our Find a Store page or our main consumer site to learn more.

We strongly believe in the “add-on” concept in our bracelet line because there is value in the finished product and the relationship is built with every important occasion in a customer’s life.

But it wasn’t all education and presentation… One of the highlights of the Mississippi Jewelers Convention was the Poker Tournament for Charity. There were two tables of players and the winner received a plaque. All the buy-in money was donated to a charity of the winner’s choice! This is certainly a reason to attend next year’s convention if you’re a jewelry store in Mississippi. Start-to-Finish will be there, will you?

News from Our Alabama/Georgia Jewelers Convention 2017 Trip

Start-to-Finish was pleased to attend the Alabama/Georgia Jewelers convention 2017 last week, as we have in years past. And even more excited to WIN the Alabama/Georgia Jewelers convention 2017 golf tournament! We played the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail right there in Opelika and had a great time with our friends and jewelry store clients.

Here’s our celebration photo!

alabama/georgia jewelers convention 2017 golf tournament participants

Left to right: Steve Singer, Tommy Glasscock, Marshall Sanford, Renee Singer

Celebrating Jewelry Milestones: Where Has the Time Gone?

Today, March 1, 2017, Start-to-Finish Diamond Link Bracelets is celebrating its 15-year anniversary. And we have other jewelry milestones to celebrate too.

When Magnolia Diamonds closed its doors in 2002, Renee Singer was approached to purchase the diamond link bracelet company. Magnolia created the Start-to-Finish line in 1987 with 14 styles.

We now have 32 styles in 14 K Yellow or White Gold.

To make our product have wider appeal, we have made five of our styles in sterling silver with a choice of CZs or diamonds.

Start-to-Finish crossed another milestone in 2016: celebrating 10 years as a member of RJO (Retail Jewelers Organization). This organization has helped us create new accounts and grow our business.

This year will also mark 15 years attending the Atlanta Jewelry Show, where Magnolia Diamonds proudly sold its wholesale line in the Southeast region.

Start-to-Finish is committed to helping retail stores make more money from a single sale. The Magnolia Diamonds concept “Building on those Special Occasions” still holds true today. The link bracelet provides flexibility in building the perfect tennis style diamond bracelet over time. Starting with one or more links and adding on for each special occasion makes this an affordable gift and takes the guesswork out of gift giving. It is a bracelet that is custom-made to fit anyone’s wrist.

Thanks to everyone who has supported us on our journey.

We are still wondering, “Where has the time gone?”