I have been reading jewelry trade publications since I started working in my family-owned jewelry stores over ten year ago. Throughout the past five years, I have noticed a steady increase in the amount of articles relating to the Internet and more specifically how computers are changing the jewelry industry. Articles have been written about everything from the latest POS systems to how Internet e-stores are the way of the future. Not only do I believe that Internet sales will steadily increase over time, I think retailers will start to rely on the Internet to increase business productivity and profitability.
After creating websites for other businesses, I joined the family business full time and I analyzed the day-to-day operations of a jewelry store. It became evident that I could create a website that not only could make the business become more efficient, but help generate revenue. I designed many systems that can be implemented into a web-based system that helped us become more efficient. The company repair business was immense taking in an average of 150 repairs per week. The system being used was a repair envelope written in triplicate and logged by hand into a record book for tracking purposes. The next inefficient system I had discovered was the method in which appraisals were handled. They used a form that was created in MS Word and filled it out every time for each customer. It was then stored on the computer hard drive for a few years. Sometimes they would even go so far as to type up an appraisal on a typewriter. One of the most important aspects of any business is being able to increase profitability. I suggested the implementation of a new website that would help the business grow. Creating Value Forms assisted in taking a family-owned retail store located on Long Island, New York and opening it to a new worldwide location online; surely one way to increase a customer base.
While visiting several jewelry shows, I came across many software companies that were assisting retailers in the above-mentioned services. The developers had found a way to incorporate job tracking and appraisals into their POS systems. Although, this does help many jewelers, there are several problems you will encounter with them. Along with purchasing software comes the issue of licensing. Every computer you install software on, the user must pay a licensing fee. This can become extremely costly especially for a store that has multiple locations and they wish to have their information shared or networked. In addition, many times, you have to purchase their job envelopes or appraisal forms that go along with their software. Once again, this creates an unnecessary expense. POS systems also are stationed on individual computer hard drives or a server where hard drive space can become maxed or overloaded. Although these systems are excellent for inventory tracking and managing customer information, there is a better solution for these other aspects of your business, including e-commerce, Value Forms.
Value forms has created a simple way to increase productivity and profitability for the retail jeweler. Value Forms can be used as a stand-alone system or in conjunction with your current POS or website.
Chuck Lin and Scott Zuckerman together make a great team. Our mission is to help you make money. Chuck has been developing websites for companies for over ten years. He is an expert in many programming languages and each of the websites he has developed is original and unique. He is excellent at assessing business needs and putting them to work using the internet. Developing over 150 websites for all different kinds of business' affords him incredible experience with the Internet. Chuck and Scott together make a great team and assisting buiness' make money is what the two of them do best. We look forward to working with you.