Professionalism

[Princess]

Is it just me or is the jewelry industry getting more angry? In most industries the professionals are supportive of one another. Why expend all the energy to slam and bad mouth one another when that same energy put to more positive can be so much more productive?

Jewelry is a LUXURY item. No one needs it to survive. If the jewelry industry continues in such a negative direction from its professionals, perhaps the consumer will choose to spend their dollars elsewhere?

Jewelers are not competing with other jewelers, they are competing with other luxury items, ie second homes, motorcycles, stereos, vacations, designer handbags or botox injections.

Promote the jewelry industry by professionalism and positive attitudes. It only turns off consumers when they have the negative aspects pointed out to them.

[Feydakin]

This is common in any industry that is seeing areas shrink while new areas grow.. While change can be good, it can also be very stressfull for those on the backside of the curve and getting further and further behind.. It's hard ot always be cheerfull when you are worrying about how you will pay bills, feed your kids, and still have a little free time..

This too shall pass as the industry shakes itself out and settles into a series of new business models..

[JLPJ]

Is it just me or is the jewelry industry getting more angry?

Define angry for me. I see it as increasing frustration rather than anger.

In most industries the professionals are supportive of one another. Why expend all the energy to slam and bad mouth one another when that same energy put to more positive can be so much more productive?

Take a common scene: you are knowledgable, positive, really know your stuff and give killer presentations and answer all questions with facts. Then the customer blows you off to buy at the cheapest possible price on the Internet--even worse, it wasn't anywhere near the quality of your merchandise.

How do you feel? You were positive--but did you produce?

Jewelry is a LUXURY item. No one needs it to survive. If the jewelry industry continues in such a negative direction from its professionals, perhaps the consumer will choose to spend their dollars elsewhere?

After millenia of humankind adorning itself to show status, rank and relative wealth/worth, I don't see that happening. What I do see is a contraction coming in the industry as the middle class continues to shrink and lose the abillity to spend large amounts of discretionary income. Couple that with incredibly shrinking margins and you have a recipe for an industry on the brink of extreme change--if not collapse of a large number of players.

If roughly half the independent jewelry businesses out there survive the coming shake-out (which should take about 8-10 years to complete), I'll be surprised. Remember that even the big chains have used the Bankruptcy courts to stay alive, and that includes those not heavily involved in the jewelry business.

Jewelers are not competing with other jewelers, they are competing with other luxury items, ie second homes, motorcycles, stereos, vacations, designer handbags or botox injections.

This has always been true; nothing new here other than it has become an either/or decision for decreasing consumer dollars rather than a 'Let's get both' decision.

Promote the jewelry industry by professionalism and positive attitudes. It only turns off consumers when they have the negative aspects pointed out to them.

I'm curious; what part of the industry do you work in, Princess?

[panachegems]

As this board is open to the public I will not elaborate on the subject openly
AC :eek: