Stop Sharing!
Posted on | September 15, 2011 | 1 Comment
Facebook, Twitter, blogs, real conversations (did we forget about them?) – it seems like it’s all about sharing information these days in the new business world. I have shared a lot of information in a lot of places. I share on Facebook and Twitter – articles, thoughts, pictures, and more. On this blog, I write about diamonds, gold, the jewelry market and music. You may remember an earlier post I wrote, The Grateful Dead Created Social Networking. My idea was later made into a book “Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead” by two other guys – a popular marketer, David Meerman Scott, and the CEO of Hubspot, Brian Halligan. Did they have my same idea? Yes. Did I have it first? Maybe. But they executed on that idea and I did not, so they win.
Of course, I’m not looking to get rich writing a book about The Grateful Dead, I prefer to just listen. However, when it comes to buying/selling jewelry, I take it very seriously. About 3-4 years ago, I was asked to speak at the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show – the topic, Social Media of course. I said yes and went with a friend, who owned an email marketing company, to give a talk. The first year it was not very popular, but once Facebook caught on, it got more a lot more attention. I went on to speak at JCK for a few years and at The Couture Show, the JA Show, The Instore Show and other jewelry trade shows. After doing all of this, I sat back and thought about why I was doing it. Although my father was proud, he often asked me, “Why are you giving away your secrets? Don’ tell nobody nothin’!” For me, it was a combination of ego, the need to become an industry thought leader, and not being able to say no…and also somehow buying into the myth that the more I talk about this stuff, the more I will grow as a businessman. After about the third year, I had spent a lot of my time on this and was not getting paid for my time. (directly) I did make some nice connections, but my time is money and most of these trade shows did not pay, except for a trip. So I stopped, sat back, and watched the other guys talk about the same topics. Well, since then, we’ve been doing a lot more actual business and using my techniques to make real money, so I’m happy – although I’ll admit I miss it a little.
However, something recently happened to me that validated my father’s words. I told another person/acquaintance/friend about what I was doing in the diamond buying industry. Not every detail, but a little. My current partner also spoke to him since they used to do business together. Now he’s copied my site and even took some identical pictures and logos from my site. I’m not really worried about it because once you have a website up, it’s for public consumption. Also, the other site happens to be a terrible offering. However, it did remind me that’s it’s not always cool to tell people about your business or post about your business, even if it gets a lot of “likes” and comments. Remember, no one cares about your business more than you do and everyone has an agenda, whether they admit it or not, or whether it is conscious or not. So my lesson is BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SHARE – online or real time. The one thing that I do take comfort in is the fact that it’s all about EXECUTION and I am confident that we know how to do that!
Tags: grateful dead marketing > JCK show > sharing > sharing on social networks > trade secrets
Grateful Dead Terrapin Station 4-27-77
Posted on | August 24, 2011 | No Comments
I have some posts cued up but of course I’m Lost in Transactions right now, so I’ll throw a video up – Terrapin Station from the Capitol Theater 4-27-77. This Spring Tour was the best few months The Grateful Dead ever played.
“The story teller makes no choice. Soon you will not hear his voice.
His job is to shed light, and not to master.”
Tags: grateful dead > grateful dead 77 > grateful dead video 1977 > terrapin station
Lost in Transactions
Posted on | July 12, 2011 | 2 Comments
We’ve been busy here at Samuelson’s with a lot of different projects. We just hired a new Director of Marketing and there have been customers in Baltimore, Washington DC and from all over the country selling their diamonds, silver and jewelry to us. So every day I’m involved in a lot of transactions – whether it’s me buying from customers or trading with other dealers.
I feel like this has inhibited me a little bit with my creativity. You know, the videos, facebook stuff, and the other ideas that make us who we are. So I’ve been Lost in Transactions. Is it a good thing? Isn’t the whole point of creative marketing efforts to get new customers and create business? Well, it is and we are doing it, so I’m not complaining. But I do need to make time to be more creative.
On that note, keep an eye out for a few more videos – the next one will have to do with our Living Social Deal – it’s a doozy! We are also planning something for our Diamonds Facebook Fan Page when we reach 1 million fans. We’re at 916,000 right now, so it’s coming soon – we may even giveaway a big diamond!
Tags: buying jewelry > facebook diamonds page > facebook fan page > living social local deals > transactions
Phish Merriweather Post 6/11/11
Posted on | June 15, 2011 | No Comments
Wow, what a show. Check out this Wilson->Sand. Great light show too – enjoy!
Phish – 6/11/11 \”Wilson\” > \”Sand\”
JCK Las Vegas 2011 – Diamonds Are King!
Posted on | June 10, 2011 | 4 Comments
Interesting weekend we had in Las Vegas for the annual JCK Jewelry Show. This year they held the show at Mandalay Bay which was a much nicer
View from room at Cosmopolitan
venue than the Sands at Venetian. We stayed over at the new Cosmopolitan. GREAT hotel – best rooms in Vegas by far. All rooms have a terrace so we were overlooking the Bellagio fountains every night. That made it hard to get over to Mandalay though – the Cosmo is right in the middle of the action and there are great restaurants and bars in there like STK, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Milos, Bond, to name a few. You know how Vegas gets, it’s hard to know what you’ll be doing at any given time and we were just going with the flow.
So with all that fun – and the Antiques and Estate Jewelry Show (I worked that show Saturday) across the street at Paris, I only made it to the JCK Show on Sunday. Then Sunday night there was a big party at Mandalay that I missed, although I may have gone if they had a better act than Bruno Mars (really?). While I had a very successful show, (sold some nice stuff) I did miss out on seeing some industry friends, as I was not around the heart of the show and hotel most of the time. As I flew back, I regretted that – however, I will admit that it was somewhat of a conscious decision. We are doing so many exciting and innovative things around here, I didn’t want to get in any conversations and spill the beans. 🙂
25.09 Fancy Vivid Yellow Radiant Cut Diamond
Now let’s talk about what I saw in the diamond market. It’s getting very interesting these days as the US is slowly losing it’s status as the world’s largest consumer of diamonds to China and India. With young people in China starting to get more connected and having Western engagements, they will start to consume more diamonds. Not just more but a TON – like billions. India is the other country that has a rising middle class and also a billion people. The Indian diamond dealers are paying big money for stones and buying up as much as they can, often for extremely high prices. Even melee’ prices (diamonds smaller than 1/4 carat) are starting to rise. We are getting paid well for it, and the big stones are moving for big premiums.
How long will this diamond surge last? No one knows, but it looks like a great time to be invested in diamonds, I know I am!
Tags: 25.09 Fancy Vivid Yellow Radiant Cut Diamond > cosmopolitan las vegas > diamond market > JCK > JCK jewelry show > las vegas diamonds > sell estate jewelry > washington diamonds > yellow diamond
The Customer Experience in Washington DC
Posted on | May 13, 2011 | No Comments
We made a video describing the customer experience in our Washington DC jewelry buying office. Please take a look at our new office. If you are interested in selling diamonds, silver, gold or coins in Washington please stop by. Even if you don’t have anything to sell, please come up and say hi – we’d love to see you!
Tags: ron samuelson > samuelson's diamonds washington dc > sell jewelry washington DC > washington dc jewelry buyers > washington diamonds > washington jewelers
Allman Brothers Band – Blue Sky
Posted on | April 18, 2011 | No Comments
Haven’t posted in a while so I found a good video to keep these posts current! Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes playing Blue Sky in 1991. Saw them a lot these years in college. Notice Warren playing a fender strat with lace sensor pickups (like I play along with another guy named Eric Clapton). Now Warren is all about Gibson – a Les Paul or ES-335. Enjoy!
Tags: allman brothers blue sky > dickey betts > lace sensor pickups > warren haynes
From Pennsylvania Ave to Wisconsin Ave…
Posted on | March 19, 2011 | No Comments
Monday will be one month since we opened our Washington DC jewelry buying office. It’s going better than expected – WAY better. The neighborhood is unbelievable – just like New York City but in DC. High end shopping, great food, beautiful 6th floor office overlooking Wisconsin Ave, nice people. The customer reaction has been so wonderful. We have received many unsolicited email testimonials from customers on what a good experience they had. Everyone loves it – even my father!
Steve and Paul evaluating silver
My father and I work there on Wednesdays and it’s been a nice break from the monotony of every day here in Baltimore. The other day we ate lunch together and it’s really just a pleasure. To think where we came from 90 years ago (on Pennsylvania Ave here in Baltimore) and even 5 years ago, it’s just mind blowing. Not to mention that we’ve bought several diamonds, (LARGE and small) a lot of gold/silver coins and bars, a ton of sterling silver flatware, and other beautiful jewelry. My brother-in-law, David, has been a rock star. Our store manager and expert buyer, Paul, is killing it. The entire Samuelson’s team has done a great job – it’s just so gratifying.
Ron and David
I look forward to being down there more and growing our new DC presence. It’s amazing all the business we’ve done without any street presence, signs, billboards, banners…nothing. Strictly online ads (and videos) and even some repeat business. You can’t even find us on Google maps – but you can on Foursquare! 🙂
Just wait until we really get there – it will only get better! I am determined to buy more gold, silver, estate jewelry and (of course) diamonds than anyone in the DC area while delivering an honest, fair and superior customer experience.
Please make an appointment to stop by and say hello. We would love to see you!
Tags: bethesda jewelry > chevy chase jewelers > david dannenbaum > family business > samuelson's diamonds washington > samuelson's washington dc > sell coins washignton > sell diamond washignton > sell diamonds maryland > sell gold washington dc > sell jewelry > sell jewelry baltimore > sell jewelry maryland > sell jewelry washington DC > sell silver washignton > washington diamond > washington jewelers > wisconsin ave
Phish: Sample In A Jar
Posted on | March 3, 2011 | No Comments
It’s been a little while since I posted. Been so busy opening our DC jewelry buying office that I can’t find the time to write – but there’s nothing worse than a blog with no recent posts, right? So I want to share a quick vid that I watch often for your enjoyment. Be back soon! 🙂
Treating Your Customers With Dignity and Respect
Posted on | February 8, 2011 | 2 Comments
I was asked to speak at an event last night at my synagogue. The first speaker was the rabbi who was asked to talk about ethics in business. The subject of “when to tip” was the topic of his conversation. Why do we tip the person who takes our luggage out of the car but not the clerk at the desk? Why do we tip a waiter but not the chef? Or why do we tip the person who cuts our hair or shines our shoes? Or the maid at a hotel? At first, I thought that the reason we tip these people is because it’s just the norm in society. But, of course, it goes back way further and deeper than that. The reason we tip these people is because they are doing something that is a little demeaning. Cutting your hair, shining your shoes, schlepping your bags, cleaning up your mess – they are all things that people do for you personally. More personally than what a clerk or receptionist may do. So the action of the tip makes them whole – it makes them feel better about what they do and gives them the dignity that they deserve. I found that fascinating.
Then it was my turn to speak. The subject was “No Pressure, No Diamonds: Selling Luxury Products in a Recession”. Instead of opening with my usual Facebook Diamonds Page/Social Media shtick, I wanted to pick up on what the rabbi said. The first thing I talked about was how we treat customers when we buy diamonds and jewelry from them. This may be the most valuable thing that my father taught me as I grew up and worked in the pawnshop. We often dealt with people who needed to borrow money on their their items. My father was their friend – he always treated them with dignity and respect, and was sensitive to their needs. As we carried our business over to buying engagement rings from people, we adopted this same philosophy of being sensitive to people’s needs and their situation. When someone is getting divorced and is selling their ring, it can be a sad experience or a liberating experience. We understand this and that’s why we do it so well. When someone is selling jewelry simply because they need money, we treat these people with fairness, dignity and respect so the seller can be happy about their transaction.
And that’s what I think customer service is all about.
Tags: customer service > dignity > respect > sell diamonds > selling engagement rings > selling jewelry > when to tip
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