Recently published: Make/Made is the "Must see" store in Greenville and a Survey of Planning tools for 2021

Hey Y'all. 
​
HNY and Happy MLK day!

It's bracingly cold in the Upstate of South Carolina. I'm always more than a little surprised at how raw even 50 can feel when the wind and the humidity and lack of sun conspire together to give us winter... Southern style.
My daughter in Michigan, where they haven't gotten above freezing in weeks, has reminded me of just how ridiculous I am to complain. Still, it makes "cozy" a lovely priority. 

Two new articles published in Jeweler's Suite Magazine are linked here.  
The first, Make/Made is a store that has COVID-proofed their business with a trifecta of revolving gallery retail, custom design/repairs, and an educational roster that keeps people coming back for more. You'll find that article on pages 26-28.

In the second article, I reviewed a few planners for 2021 and talked to lots of very busy and productive people (Duvall O'Steen, Patricia Mweene of Inonge Zita, Lawrence Roth of Virtual Diamond Boutique, Gigi Ferranti and Nico Glover to name a few) in the jewelry industry about their favorite ways to stay on course. I took a look at Michael Hyatt & Company's Full Focus planner and also Sacred Ordinary, which feels more timely than ever. I have been using the Simplified Planner by Emily Ley for a few weeks now and I declare it the Goldilock's Winner... not too granular, not too vague, not too big, not too small, but just right! It dovetails beautifully with how I use Evernote, Trello, and my google calendar. Simplified encourages prioritization and so it doesn't let me over plan my days and weeks. For that, I'm grateful. That story appears on pages 4 - 8 and is linked below. ​

​In the next issue I'll be exploring the state of trade shows and their alternatives: virtual, private events, and smaller shows. The interviews have begun, so please forward me any questions you have about the near-future of trade events! At the time of this writing, JIS Miami is a go and so is the Atlanta Jewelry Show. Tucson, an integral part of my calendar for many years, has been effectively cancelled by the majors. February will feel strange without it. In an upcoming blog I reflect on my Tucson experiences. I'll let you know when I post. 

The Jewel Vox is developing a lot of useful tools for designers and stores to download as you continue to develop your businesses and tell your stories.
Stay tuned. Stay warm. And have a great week.  

​Kindest regards, lwM