How to Wow Your Customers with Pearls

Hello again and welcome to 2017!

I hope you enjoy my latest instalment of my infamous blog- Pearls My Continued Passion
Like so many of us, I have been extremely busy into the lead up to Christmas and into the New Year. It was particularly lovely as Christmas windows are magical to design. I work with several wonderful shops up and down the country, enjoying tailoring their individual styles to their windows.

Wow Your Customers with Pearls

All my windows are my favourites! From the traditional ‘cosy’ Christmas window with red,gold and green baubles, seasonal foliage and snow to the ultra modern scene in metallic colours of steel, gold and rose with a good dose of  twinkling lights! Each of my windows reflects my client’s image and the message they wish to convey. There is never a dull moment, lots of fun on the way to achieving ‘the look’.
How your shop windows look conveys a lot to the public who you are and what you are as a company. The power of the window can not be under estimated. They reflect you. I fully realise that running a shop, buying beautiful things, customer care and managing a team, often the windows are the last thing on the list to deal with! However with a little thought and planning plus a good sprinkle of imagination your windows can look professional and cared for.

Pretty Pearl Windows

Here are a few suggestions to help you get your windows off to a great start this 2017! Some of which is very basic but often neglected….

• Keep them clean and tidy
• Hire a window cleaner regularly who will not only clean windows inside and out but will also wash wood work and doors etc on show to the public.
• Designate staff members to be responsible for certain window areas
• Plan your windows to coincide with promotions and seasons
• Check windows at certain times during the day not just first thing in the morning
• Always make the public smile! Use colour, themes and thought provoking messages

Photo courtesy of Oliver & J Jewellery http://oliverandj.co.uk/
Isn’t this window amazing? It looks so fresh and inviting and makes me want to go in and try on those pretty pearls. What do you think?
Drop me a line  via the BPA as you can imagine the above is only the tip of the iceberg! It’s great to share and exchange knowledge, we always can learn something new.

Christmas Magic

Before Christmas I visited London and was overwhelmed by the beautiful windows and lights of Bond Street, Fortnum & Masons and Harrods. I would recommend to everyone to have a visit to be inspired, delighted and made to feel ‘like a child’ again. The atmosphere created by these sparkling, colourful, magical windows is truly spectacular.
We must all try and create’ magic’ in our shop windows and inside our stores. Not just for Christmas but everyday. Happy staff creates a happy atmosphere hence giving good customer service which naturally leads to cheerful customers who wish to participate and purchase something gorgeous! Simple but true.
I think 2017 is going to be exciting. Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon planning my year of merchandising, consulting and loads of WI talks! I love the New Year with its new challenges and projects. Meeting new people is always a plus, exploring and finding wonderful pearls is also a plus! These things make my work a privilege and a joy!

Jewellery and Watch 2017

The next event on the horizon apart from romantic Valentines windows is the NEC jewellery and watch fair. I always enjoy these exhibitions whether it is at Olympia, Basel world or the NEC. It’s a great opportunity to find something new and catch up with old friends and make new ones in the Jewellery family!
This year I am going with a wonderful team of friends who like myself can not wait to explore and discover some wonderful new Pearls. If you are visiting the NEC and feel that the odd pearl or two will liven up a drab wintry few months, then I would suggest before you buy consider the following ‘top tips’. Most I am sure you will do anyway but you might find something of interest!

Buying Tips for Pearls

Appraise your stock before you go. Identify gaps in price range and design.

1. Make a stock list of what you need to replace. You then can get on discovering the new ranges knowing your ‘core range’ is dealt with.
2. Consider fashion trends and forecasts for the next few months.
3. Consider your audience and location. What do you represent as a Company?
4. Pearls cover a multitude of occasions from Bridal to Christenings.
5. Anniversaries not just 30 years!
6. Always have a variety of pearls from Freshwater (more reasonable) to Akoya and South Sea.
7. Have well trained staff who understands about all aspects of pearls, this helps with buying the correct quality. Read up and brush up your knowledge!
8. Most importantly buy what you need and what sells, NOT what you like. This contributes to over stocking. Remember when you buy you consider what other people may like not you personally. (It does help if you like it though!)
9. If you can when everything else has been considered buy some pieces which will ‘liven’ up the window. You want to be individual.
10. Focus the buying then you do not waste your hard earned money.

Pearls are like people, they are individuals, available in all their wonderful shapes, sizes and shades of colour. There will be a pearl to match most peoples requirements and comfortable spend. Never be afraid to suggest a beautiful pearl as a gift.
I do hope your 2017 will be healthy, happy and successful, in that order! Concentrate on the positive and all good things will come to you.
Till the next time,
Maria x

Pearls – My Continued Passion

Categories: Pearling & Gemology, Pearls-My Continued Passion

Pearls – My Continued Passion
Hello & Welcome,
It seems ages since last we had a chat! Where do the months go?
I do hope you have had a wonderful summer. Mine has been full of exciting new projects, interesting places and great people! Let me share some of my adventures…
Some Snippets from Summer
The summer merchandising went well, with quirky Lighthouses, Beach huts, bathing belles, shells and driftwood all dripping with Pearls, Diamonds and very expensive watches.
As some of you may remember I also created a pearls summer picnic window complete with a silver tea set for afternoon tea and strawberries. It was great fun doing the windows, even more fun to see the expressions on the clients looking into the windows!
At least they made people smile and caught their eye.



In September I was working at the IJL. What a great event and honour to be there. I truly love the atmosphere and being surrounded by the trade and friends I have known for over 30 years. I still get that ‘buzz’ and joy of being part of such a great industry.
I merchandised a beautiful stand crammed full of exotic gems and Diamonds.
In the afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking along side our very own Louise Tippey! (President of the British Pearl Association) Louise shared her passion for pearls and the reason why she has become so involved with the Pearl Industry. An inspired story truly. I shared my experience on merchandising and gave a small visual display on how to change ‘a look’ with minimum effort. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and enjoyed speaking afterwards with the audience.
Merchandising Delights in London
Last week I went on a trip to Bond Street. It is a trip I enjoy several times a year just to get the ‘mood’ and ‘feel’ of what is being created and expressed. It is so important to be aware of what is happening. As usual it was a wonderful day, such an overload on my senses.
The displays were bright and cheerful, full of life and movement. It is difficult to say which display I loved the most, but, Mikimoto came very close with the deep blue sea colour, complete with stacks’ of Pearl books, pearls draped and displayed on them, all of the South Sea variety. Delightful!
I then wondered through the Park, the roses and trees looked beautiful. Some people were exercising their horses in the ‘horse lane’ that runs on the main pathway. It is always exciting to see the horses, elegant and powerful being put through their routines.
It is such a contrast to watch them whilst the City roars and throbs around the Park!
The Victoria and Albert Museum
After a short walk down past Harrods I visited one of my favourite places, the Victoria & Albert Museum. Cool, restful and oozing history, I made my way up the stone staircase to The Bollinger Room. For those of you who have not discovered this room, the treat will be enormous! This room never fails to excite my soul and trigger my imagination.


Through the door is a world of historical jewellery from earliest times to modern day. Artists such as Georges Fouguet sit next to Renne Lalique in all their Art Nouveau splendour. Faberge in all his richness and opulence is displayed with some of his playful carved animals. Rather like today, the lady’s of the time waited for the arrival of his new enamel colour so that they could buy silks to match!
The lighting in this room is very clever, just enough to make all the pieces twinkle and come alive, yet dim enough to cast a magical spell of intrigue and mystery….
This is the fascination with jewellery, since ancient times the human race has been involved in displaying craftsmanship in all its many forms, thus giving us evidence
Of how rich, powerful and clever these civilisations were. Jewellery represents all of these things in the past and present day.
I am continually amazed at the technical knowledge the ancient craftsmen had without all the advancement and no how we have today. Creating jewellery in past centuries was not just being clever with design to please the eye and lift the soul.
It was SO much more. Knowing how to handle and control the metals used, making then malleable and ductile and studying a gemstone for many days before deciding to cut or cleave to attain the maximum beauty and yield, is truly a skill of masters. Passing this knowledge down and skills through the ages helps us today to still create amazing pieces.
Today a considerable amount of jewellery is mass produced without any of the time respected skills handed down. Hand finished possibly, handmade rarely other than commissioned or bespoke pieces. Luckily we still have ‘Master Craftsmen’ trained and given the recognition they deserve for carrying on the wonderful skills. I am privileged to know some such people who rightly can claim that title. Their expertise and skill is breath taking. It takes many years to ‘feel’ the metal and judge a stone. To create a piece which is still practical to wear but with fine elegance is something you can not always teach. Being able to be part of the piece you are making ensures you can deliver perfection.
So the next time you are lucky enough to walk past a jewellers windows, peek in, and remember that the old second hand or antique pieces have taken many hours to be made by a skilled craftsman simply by sitting at his work bench, head down, working everything out without the aid of computers!

Till the next time,

Love Maria x