Bench Business

Bench Jewelers Newsletter Special Offer

In 1999 Bench Media published ‘Run Your Shop Without It Running You’.  For the past 10 years it has been the Best Selling book on Jewelry Shop Management.  In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the book you can now read it online free when you sign-up for eBench Newsletter.  Go to http://www.eBenchNewsletter.com enter your email Address to Subscribe and you will be sent instructions to read the book.

10th Anniversary Special

In 1999 Bench Media published ‘Run You Shop Without It Running You’.  For the past 10 years it has been the Best Selling book on Jewelry Shop Management.  In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the book you can now read it online free when you sign-up for their eMail newsletter eBench.  To subscribe to eBench newsletter and read Run Your Shop Without It Running You log onto: www.eBenchNewsletter.com

A Practical Guide to Efficient Shop Management, ‘Run Your Shop Without It Running You’ offers jewelers useful advice to managing their shop.  Take-In Procedures, Setting-Up a Shop, Pricing Repairs, and Productivity in the Shop are just a few of the subjects covered in this 154-page manual.

eBench is a FREE monthly newsletter for Retail Jewelry Store Owners, Shop Managers, Bench Jewelers and anyone else that is interested.  It contains numerous bench tips from master jewelers including; Alan Revere, Jurgen Maerz, Brad Simon, Charles Lewton-Brian, and others.  Now in its 10th year of publication, eBench is the longest running publication of its kind in the jewelry industry and is by far the most popular.

To subscribe to eBench newsletter and read Run Your Shop Without It Running You log onto: www.eBenchNewsletter.com

Economic Survival for Bench Jewelers

Has the Economy gotten you down?

Do you need a Positive Shot in the Arm?

The 2009 Bench Jewelers Conference may be Just What You Need!

For the most part the Retail Jewelry Industry is a Recession Proof Business.
However many Jewelers are failing to take advantage of everything at their disposal to help them through this economic downturn.  Come to the Bench Jewelers Conference and learn what you need to know to thrive in your Business this year!

Go to www.BenchConference.com and Register TODAY!

The 2009 Bench Jewelers Conference
May Be The Most Important Event You Have Ever Attended! 

Are you concerned about today’s economic effect on profits?

Are you concerned about keeping your job in 2009?

Are you looking for ways to make 2009 a better year than 2008?

Don’t just Survive in this Economy - Learn How To Thrive in 2009

Go to http://www.benchconference.com/seminars.html
And check out all the GREAT Seminars

Register by March 20 for Early Registration Discounts!

 

Jewelry Shop Management

The 2009 Bench Jewelers Conference is offering the following seminars on Jewelry Shop Management.  For a complete list of seminars and registration details go to: www.BenchConference.com

This may be the most Important Event you Attend in 2009.

On The Bench and Proud of It!
Joel McFadden
Thursday session 1, Saturday session 2,
In sports, being On The Bench is something you want to avoid.  However, in the Jewelry Industry, those on the bench provide job security and financial success during economic down turns.  This in-depth seminar will look at the role of the Bench Jeweler in a down economy.  You’ll learn to rise to the challenge of today’s difficult times and prepare for future prosperity. 

Integrating Technology into the Small Shop
Chris Ploof
Thursday session 2, Friday session 3
This seminar explores the business side of the bench.  Setting up a Studio or expanding it takes capital planning.  Learn how to add and pay for larger purchases of equipment - even in depressed times.  Learn what you need, why you need it and most importantly how to pay for it.  In this seminar Master Jeweler Chris Ploof will show you how you can have your Dream Studio.

Its About Time - Productivity in the Shop
Brad Simon
Friday session 3, Saturday session 1
Proper time management is the key to shop efficiency.  Learn how to get total control over the day-to-day operations of your shop, and increase productivity without sacrificing Quality.  This presentation explores the effect that the physical environment has on productivity and how to identify and eliminate time wasters that keep us from getting our work done. 

From Fee to Shining Fee - Pricing Your Work
Brad Simon
Thursday session 3, Friday session 1
Learn how to maximize profits in the shop by setting correct prices.  You’ll learn the three essential ingredients to setting prices, and how these affect the price you can charge, as well as several myths to pricing your services to avoid.  Learn how to set prices that your customers are willing to pay and will maximize profits in the shop.

Working at the Speed of Light
Scott Isaacs
Friday session 2, Saturday session 4
The past few months have been some of the most profitable for Master Laser Welder Scott Isaacs and this seminar will show you why.  Laser Welding has transformed his shop allowing him to be more productive and more profitable.  This seminar will show you how to get more work done in less time, perform better work, and improve overall shop efficiency.

Jewelry  Photography parts 1 & 2
Wayne Emery
Thursday session 3 & 4, Saturday session 3 &4
If you have ever tried to photograph jewelry, you know how challenging it can be.  This two-part seminar will show you how to take close-up pictures of your jewelry, eliminate glare, bring out the details of the piece, and show off your jewelry in the best possible manner.  You’ll also learn how to enhance your picture with color correction, re-sizing, sharpening the image, and much more using the most popular digital photo software available.

For a complete list of seminars and registration details go to: www.BenchConference.com

Save Time Sizing Rings

To save time when sizing rings, use several pairs of locking tweezers.  Then a number of rings can be held at the same time to solder.

  ~Brad

Southeastern Findings can supply all your Jewelry Tool Needs.

Bench Magazine Is Going GREEN!

Bench Magazine has always been printed on Recycled Paper.  However, even recycled paper consumes enormous amounts of electricity and water in its production.  Plus it uses up valuable landfills just like ordinary paper.  In addition, large amounts of diesel and gasoline fuels are wasted shipping the magazine across the country and around the world.

Let’s face it.  Printing a Paper Magazine is Expensive and Wasteful!

In order to Conserve the Environment and help Save the Planet Bench Magazine is Going Green!  Beginning with the Winter 2009 issue we will no longer print a paper edition of the magazine.  From now on Bench Magazine will only be available from www.BenchMagazine.com as an easy to use digital file.  Each issue will be available in PDF file format.  There will be both a High Resolution Version, which is suitable to read on High Definition computer screens and to print out any articles you wish, and a Low Resolution Version for faster downloads suitable to read on screen and to use on many portable readers.

You can go to www.BenchMagazine.com today and sign-up to receive e-mail notices for each new issue.  Bench Magazine is free of charge to all bench jewelers worldwide thanks to the generous support of the advertisers.

For a limited time ONLY!

Back Issues of the Printed version of Bench Magazine from the past 7 1/2 years!

Complete Set ALL 30 Issues!

For orders in the US $60
For orders to Canada $75
For all other countries $90

To Order go to: www.BenchMagazine.com 

2008 - What a Year for Jewelers!

The Price of Platinum Skyrockets to Record Levels ... Then Plummets!

Gold breaks the $1,000 an Ounce Barrier!

A Deep Recession Hits - Resulting in the Worst Christmas Season Jewelers can Remember!

Are You Ready for 2009?

2009 can be the Most Profitable Year for Bench Jewelers ever, if -  And Only IF - They have their prices for Jewelry Repairs and Custom Work Set Correctly!

In Spite of the Current Economy and Unstable Precious Metal Prices you can be Profitable if you Know How To Correctly Set Your Prices for your Jewelry Repair, Stonesetting, and Custom Design Services.

From Fee to Shining Fee is a computer software that allows you to get a better grasp on your true cost and a tool to help you set your prices correctly.  Fee to Shining Fee is a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Template - You MUST Have Microsoft Excel to use it.

"I have been using the Fee To Shining Fee Software and think it is the best tool ever created for setting prices in the jewelry repair shop.  I really like the organization and comprehensive format.  I tell everyone in the business I talk to about this software.
Thanks for all your hard work in putting this software together. Your help is greatly appreciated."
Don Glefke, Longwood, FL

All you have to do is type in your cost of labor, the precious metal prices, and the mark-ups you want and the software does the rest creating a custom price list with over 200 Repair, Stonesetting, and Custom Design Prices JUST FOR YOU.  Plus it is completely customizable to generate your price list just the way you want it.

NOW For a Limited Time you can download this software along with a user manual for Absolutely No Cost To You, when you sign-up for the Bench Jewelers Network.  Plus we are so sure that once you see all that is available on this network we are giving you your first month FREE!

You Get:
Fee to Shining Fee ($35.95 value) FREE
First Month of Bench Jewelers Network ($24.00 value) FREE

You Pay: $00 (Absolutely Nothing!)

Go here now: http://BenchJewelersNetwork.com/signuptoday.html

To take advantage of this Incredible Offer you must enter a valid credit card.  You will be billed $24 a month for each month after you first month.

The Bench Jewelers Network is an Online Community of Professional Bench Jewelers, Students, and Serious Hobbyist.  Here you can learn all about Jewelry Repair, Stone Setting, Jewelry Fabrication & Casting, Shop Management, and Much More.  Our vast Resource Library Contains Articles and Videos on everything related to Bench Jewelers.  Plus you can ask questions, share tips & tricks, and show off your latest creations in our Members Only Forum.  Becoming a Member could very well be Your Key to Success in 2009!

To Preview the Bench Jewelers Network log onto: http://BenchJewelersNetwork.com/preview.html

To Join log onto: http://BenchJewelersNetwork.com/signuptoday.html

P.S. You can cancel your membership to the Bench Jewelers Network at any time, but once you see all the information in the resource section and join in the discussions you won’t want to.

P. P. S. Even if you do cancel your membership to the Bench Jewelers Network you get to keep Fee to Shining Fee!

P. P. P. S.  If you want to save even more money you can join the Bench Jewelers Network for ONLY $197 a year instead of the $24 monthly charges.

Go here now: http://BenchJewelersNetwork.com/signuptoday.html

Is Retail Jewelry Truly a Recession Proof Business?

I’ll never forget the day back in the late 70’s when my boss took me aside to talk.  I was a bench jeweler for his downtown jewelry store, my first job out of college.  I was married and we were expecting our first child.  The economy was a mess and I was concerned how long I would have a job.

He told me not to worry because the retail jewelry industry was one of the most recession proof businesses to be in.  When the economy is great - we sell jewelry, and when there is a downturn - we sell remounts and repairs.  He said there were very few jewelry store closings during the Great Depression of the 30’s (I’ve never checked that out, but he was old enough to have known).  He reassured me that during an economic downturn the Bench Jeweler is the MOST important employee in a retail jewelry store.

Last week I was reminded of his little talk when I read some early statistics on jewelry sales for 2008.  Every single category was down from 2007 except for one.  Engagement and Wedding Rings, Platinum Jewelry, Diamonds, Colored Stones, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Pearls were all down from last year.  The one lone category that was not only up, it was up 16% over 2007 was Jewelry Repairs!

As you make plans for your Valentines Day advertising and for the rest of 2009 Promote Your Shop Services!  To be successful in 2009 you must keep your inventory levels low, train your staff to sell remounts and repairs, and provide your bench jeweler with continuing education so that they will be prepared to handle the increased work load. 

Advertise Your Repair Services.  Hold Re-Styling Events.  Promote Custom Designed Remounts.  2009 will be the Year of the Bench Jeweler – Are you ready for it!

  ~Brad

Southeastern Findings can supply all your Jewelry ToolNeeds.

 

Jewelers Workbench Organization

Have two plier racks on your bench.  One closer to your bench pin with the pliers you use all the time.  The other should be further away, for example, on the side of your bench top.  Keep the rest of your pliers there.  Then, when reaching for your pliers, it will be easier to find the one you are looking for.

  ~Brad

ShareBuilder 401(k) - A big benefit for small business

Jewelry Shop Management,Productivity

Time Management

Learn when to say NO.  There are times when a request can not be met.  Saying No up front can save many problems down the road.  For example, do not except a job you know you can not finish in time.  When the promised time arrives, it must be explained to the customer why it is not finished.  In addition, customer’s work that was delayed in an attempt to finish the new work may not be completed when expected.

    ~Brad

Jewelry Shop Management,Time Management,Jewelers Productivity