March 2021 | Lab Grown Magazine

March 2021 | The Lab Grown Diamond Resource Book 30 The invisible display in final testing and full production for Neiman Marcus and GM-Ideal, which was created by Luxe Licensing, featuring Mouradian crystal, glass, and lucite. (Photo: GM-Ideal) you for using theirs or even wrapping fixtures in their cloth.This was a rare exception. The rules: It must be minimalistic. “Make the display invisible,” says one buyer. The display shouldn’t block anything behind it. It had to allow light to shine on and around the diamonds with maximum impact, provide a uniform structure, elevate the product and be simple for salespeople to use. Of course, it had to be durable, look luxe and ship light and fast. Enter the invisible display. Lead by the Light Borrowing from luxury timepiece displays that suspend the watch while allowing for back panel and incase floorboard logos/ branding, we created a strong but thin, completely clear and fingerprint-proof base with predrilled holes where museum glass- like plexi stems were inserted. A bracelet/ watch semicircle made of the same crystal- clear material secured the diamond jewelry and secured sales. Variations of the “invisible display”are being licensed today byHarrods of London and select U.S. locations. Interested parties can see the training video at https:// youtu.be/T5qbpgU6y84 Whatever the display props you create, license or purchase, be sure to leverage light. Properly lit jewelry in an uncrowded space could be your finest silent salesperson. TraditionalWins The traditional retail model is far from dead since in-store purchases still represent the lion’s share of total retail sales. It is, however, constantly challenged. Customers expected more from their retail experience pre-Covid. Experts are happy to report that small businesses are up for the challenge. “We’re seeing small businesses innovate and adapt like before,” says National Retail Federation Mid-West Director John Taylor, Jr., “Our Summer (2020) research underscores how many small businesses have proven their agility and flexibility and communicating with customers in a much more meaningful manner.” Small business owners also reported implementing or considering several changes to the workplace. 82% plan to employ a more flexible work-from-home policy for all workers with “telework-capable” jobs; nearly three in ten have adopted novel technology processes. Screen-to-screen may work for many industries, but the ability to try on jewelry and directly interact with a trusted person is protected within higher buying Even at $861 billion in U.S. e-com sales in 2020, that growing number can’t hold a candle to the over $4,000 billion of total traditional in-store retail sales. (Chart: Infogram) >>