The Latest in Tech and Tools: A Preview of the Debuts on Deck
Though we get really excited to talk about jewelry trends and the latest styles coming to the JCK show, let’s not overlook the tools that make it all possible. From vital software to the latest in technological advancements, store supplies, and more, it’s all available in the Essentials & Tech and Retail Technology neighborhoods at JCK.
Here is a preview of some of the newest things our exhibitors will be bringing to the show this year.
Shine On
The Austin, Texas-based Intercept Jewelry Care is showcasing its Intercept Foam, which are pads that absorb and neutralize the corrosive gases in the air that cause metals to tarnish or corrode. Jewelers can insert two of the foam pads into their showcase, eliminating the need to polish their silver and/or gold-plated jewelry for up to 12 months
Town Talk Polish will be releasing a set of luxury jewelry and watch care kits at the show, making options available to all jewelers regardless of size.
“For many high-end jewelers, investing in jewelry care for a cross-sell has not been an option. While offering jewelry care to the customer improves their overall service, the reality is that high-end boutiques sell pieces at a slower rate than other types of jeweler,” says Andrew Smyth, managing director of Town Talk.
“This means that there are fewer opportunities for cross-selling, and cleaning products are at such a low price point compared to the jewelry that the impact on turnover isn’t significant. These kits change that. Instead of a single polishing cloth or cleaning spray, you can now offer a complete set to customers so that they have everything they need to care for their purchase. The kits look completely at home in a retail setting, even at the top end of the market—meaning that you can extend the luxury experience that your customers are shopping for. And suddenly you have a product that is worth cross-selling due to the premium markup it commands,” Smyth says.
3D Casting Call
Level-up your labeling with Arch Crown. The company will be debuting a new leather-like string on its molded tags, which come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. The tags can be foil printed on one or both sides, or a barcode label and pricing can be applied to the backside of the tag. Arch Crown will also be showcasing its custom coins, which come in a variety of metals and plating options.
To spice up your in-store ambiance, Air Esscentials is bringing its new Bluetooth-programmable AE3500 diffuser, a tool that scents up to 3,500 square feet of space with your fragrance of choice.
3D Casting Call
B9Creations, a global supplier of additive manufacturing solutions, will showcase its new, ultra-precise 3D scanner, the B9 Scan 500. To celebrate its debut, B9 will host a “Sip & Scan” event on Saturday, June 11, from 12 to 4 p.m.
NSCNC Manufacturing will introduce its Mira 6S, a next generation of desktop mini mills. “The Mira 6S isn’t just a machine, it is a complete system that can quickly make a model of jewelry from the most popular 3D file formats,” says Cristian Bernal, a custom jewelry creator based in Chicago. “The ability to operate in five different axes enables the user to create complex models not found in previous machines. It is designed for jewelers who do not have special education in CNC machines and for those who do not have the time to calibrate and configure complicated settings in the machine.”
Master Casting and Cad will debut a new feature for its customized software management task system. The Easy Cost Estimator allows retailers to prepare an estimate for 3D printing or casting models by simply uploading an STL file to its system. “This new feature came to us as we developed an internal task-keeping management software system for our orders,” says vice president Jasmine Valencia. “We decided to develop our own customized software system because of necessity. Our business was growing and our need to satisfy customers was too.”
Head in the Cloud
Visitors on the hunt for cloud jewelry software might like to visit with RightClick, which offers a program that integrates inventory, pricing, new orders, customers, shipping, and more with sales platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and others. The latest software is updated for 2022 with new catalog templates, so users can send catalogs to buyers simultaneously and convert proposals to orders.
“I’ve been in the industry since 1990 and first began using RightClick in 2002,” says Ursula Piekut, account manager at RightClick. “It is the most comprehensive, user-friendly, and intuitive software I have worked with. It manages all areas of business, including diamonds, jewelry, castings, job bags, online inventory and orders, accounting, and much more. New RightClick customers are normally up and running within a couple of weeks.”
Business Computing’s e-Jewelry app, for cloud-based jewelry software, will make its debut at the JCK show. The app has recently been published by Microsoft and made available to the public through its AppSource site, and customers can sign up for a free 30-day trial online.
Ogitech, an Israeli company that manufactures and sells a full series of diamond detectors, will roll out its new AI technology that is reported to automatically separate lab-grown and natural diamonds, even stones below K color.
Living on the Edge
Jewelry store software company The Edge will be hosting free educational seminars at the 2022 JCK show, with topics including websites, holiday marketing, care plans, text campaigns, integrated credit cards, key Edge features, and more. Seminars are scheduled every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m., and repeat every day of the show so attendees can see them all. The company will also be showing the newest version of The Edge, with new features that can be learned about at its booth.
In other news for The Edge, Clientbook recently announced a new integration with the point-of-sale solution, allowing jewelers to connect it with Clientbook’s mobile clienteling app. “This powerful combination will enable jewelers to create automated and scalable personal clienteling interactions from the palm of their hand,” said Brandon Wright, CEO and cofounder of Clientbook, in a statement.
“We’re excited to be able to extend this integration to our clients and help them lean into what they do best: use their point-of-sale data to provide a more personalized experience for their customers.” Retailers can preview the new integration at both Clientbook’s and The Edge’s booths at the show.