Bench Business

Take_In Procedures

Be careful of customers’ jewelry while in your possession.  Always place it in the best safe you have.  If robbed it is harder to replace customer’s jewelry, than your own inventory.  Even if the value is lower, the difficulty in finding suitable replacements adds to the importance of caring for the jewelry.

Never place more than one piece of jewelry in an envelope.  If the customer brings in multiple items for repair, use a separate envelope for each article.  Then complete descriptions and instructions of each piece can be recorded.  Later, there will be no confusion in the shop as to what is to be done and to which piece of jewelry.  Make a notation on the envelope that this is job 1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.  Then you can verify that all work is finished before notifying the customer.

MJSA Expo New York

MJSA’s annual Expo will be held in New York April 10-15, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

MJSA Expo New York is the largest and oldest trade show in the United States dedicated to the design and manufacturing of jewelry.  The show features nearly 400 exhibits of some of the latest and most innovative tools, supplies, machinery, components, services, and finished products all under one roof.

MJSA Expo New York also features a full roster of educational seminars by some of the industry’s most renowned experts, and a cocktail party where our exhibitors and attendees can network with colleagues from all around the world.

For more information and to register log onto: http://www.mjsatradeshows.org/expoNY.php

Need A Jeweler?

Bench Jobs Online is a new service provided by Bench Media.  Bench Jobs Online is a syndicated job posting board.  Your job listing will be seen by thousands of bench jewelers on Bench Media’s Bench Jobs Online website.  Plus it will automatically be listed on hundreds of other online job service websites.

Job listings are only $50 for a 30 day listing.  To post a job click on the link in the side bar, or log onto www.BenchJobsOnline.com

Productivity

"It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste." - Henry Ford

To me this quote shares the key to productivity.  Productivity is NOT working faster, but working more efficiently.

To increase productivity, find areas of wasted time and work to minimize or eliminate them.

Avoid any attempts to increase productivity that results in a lower quality finished product.  Trying to hurry through jobs usually has a reverse affect on productivity and profits.  Hurrying through jobs results in more mistakes, causing re-work or damaged stones.  When items have to be replaced, it cuts into the profits of the shop.  When work has to be redone, it slows productivity.  If you do not have time to do it right, When will you have time to do it over?

Brad

Doormat

Place a Doormat in the doorway of the shop.  Employees can wipe their feet on it as they leave the shop.  This will help in removing particles of precious metal off the soles of their shoes.  Replace the mat annually and send the old mat to the refiner with the polishing waste.

Remember: When it comes to recovering precious metal, nothing is WORTHLESS. 

Brad

Marketing Platinum

Marketing Platinum

Platinum Guild International

Thursday April 24th & Saturday April 26th

Platinum = Profits!  Learn how to take full advantage of The Platinum Opportunity in this unique seminar from the Platinum Guild International.  The high price of platinum today makes it more important than ever to know how to inform your customers about all the advantages of platinum jewelry.  The future is poised for tremendous opportunity to grow your platinum business.  Platinum Guild International is here to help you tap into the power of the platinum brand and to build an even more profitable business.

This seminar is part of the program at the Bench Jewelers Conference & Expo, April 24 – 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.  For details on all the seminars offered, more conference & expo information, and to register go to: www.BenchConference.com.

Take-In NOT Taken

Proper Take-in Procedures Help Everyone!

A single, simple mistake during take-in can erase several months’ shop profits—and dramatically impact the entire store’s profitability.  It may also destroy your good name; a few dissatisfied customers can give you a reputation for mishandling jewelry.

If a customer comes in to pick-up their jewelry, and leaves another item for repair, use a new envelope for the new job.  Do not cross out the instructions on the original envelope and write in new instructions next to it.  It does not allow you to record an adequate description of the new piece of jewelry.  Reusing an envelope eliminates the record of the original repair for your permanent file.  This also causes confusion in the shop, possibly resulting in the wrong repairs being performed.

Brad

Sink Drain Trap

Precious metal particles are washed down the drain in many shops.  Causing many shops to lose Profits they never knew they had!

To avoid this, install a special precious metal trap in the drain line on the sink in the shop.  There are several styles available from tool suppliers.  Be certain to purchase one that is made to trap precious metal particles, not just loose stones.  For the retail shop, the small drum trap with a separating screen is adequate.  Clean this trap out whenever water slows going down the drain, and save the sludge to send to the refiner with your polishing waste.

With the high price of gold and platinum today it is now more important than ever to implement a good scrape material management program.  I’ll be sharing more tips to do this in the weeks ahead.

Brad