4 Jewelry Business Survival Tips in the Time of COVID-19

Living in the new normal requires new strategies.

First, the good news:

The market for jewelry remained robust even during the height of the pandemic lockdowns. In fact, several retailers have reported an uptick in the 30-40% range in the purchase of luxury products compared to the previous year.

Unfortunately, it’s been reported that the vaccine rollout in the country has slowed down. This means that while life has pretty much returned to normal for many, the fact remains that the virus is still very much present, and the presence of a more transmissible variant of the virus means the time’s not yet right to let our guards down.

And so, jewelry entrepreneurs need to think of new ways to handle their businesses while all of these are going on. 

While we’ve always talked about jewelry display solutions here in our blog, we’ve decided it’s time to talk about the takeaways jewelry businesses can learn from their pandemic experience. Given the current status of the industry and the society at large, what are the learnings or tips they can build themselves from and apply in the new normal?

1. Be flexible. Change is something that should be expected and embraced.

To say that all of us have to make huge adjustments in the early days of the pandemic would be an understatement. Almost overnight everyone had to pull back and basically change their everyday, normal habits to curb the virus’ spread. Outside of essential workers, everyone was made to stay at home for their health and safety. All of a sudden, businesses were shut down, work and schools had to be recalibrated for the home, and with it came new challenges that most are faced with for the first time.

Yet those challenging times brought forth innovative ideas. A lot of folks have turned their hobbies into money-making ventures ー jewelry making included. For those who already have existing jewelry businesses, many turned online so they can continue selling their merchandise at home. When setbacks happened, a lot of folks were quick to make adjustments to cope with the unpredictable nature of things. 

Recently, two social media marketplaces that serve as hosts to many jewelry entrepreneurs have all of a sudden shut down for hours. Last Monday, October 4, 2021, Instagram and Facebook (as well as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Oculus) ceased operations for more than six hours because of a server configuration issue according to Facebook. The effect was global and this urged many small business owners using the said platforms for selling to look for alternatives such as setting up their own websites.

Pandemic or no pandemic, many veteran entrepreneurs will tell you that this won’t certainly be the last roadblock on the path to owning a business. What matters is that you are capable of thinking ahead and knowing when to make adjustments to the challenges that you will be facing.

2. Be clear about the new policies your store is adopting.

Along with the increased reliance on online marketplaces, many stores have adopted new policies to ensure the continued smooth operations of their businesses. 

Online shopping means deliveries and the need to have a clear purchasing and shopping system in place. Having multiple payment options is the most ideal, most especially electronic payment options for their ease and to minimize contact with the courier. When it comes to shipping, it’s best to rely on courier companies that are reliable and have clear tracking systems in place for your customers’ peace of mind. Likewise, you need to also have enough packaging materials to accommodate your goods.

The same case should be applied to brick-and-mortar shops but it would require additional systems in place such as installing hygiene areas, barriers, and even regular disinfection and cleaning schedules to keep your premises safe for shoppers.

These policies need to be conveyed and explained clearly to shoppers as part of your store’s customer services.

3. Be creative with your marketing efforts and selling.

Standing out from the competition is always the goal of every entrepreneur, but times are harder and so you may need to do something extra to get the public’s attention. The good thing about having all this technology within reach is that you can explore different facets of the marketing game to boost sales for your shop.

Mere static ads just wouldn’t do these days especially online. From quick clips on TikTok and Instagram to long-form videos that you can use to create beefed-up content to promote your merchandise to the public, video is the way to go. Think of it as similar to TV infomercials but done online. 

But that’s not all you can do with the technology available. You can also highlight your products with lifestyle vlogs featuring influencers that can talk about your products. Providing educational content is always a good strategy to take as well. Many would love to know how to style themselves with accessories or are curious to know how to take care of and store their jewelry collection to make them last longer. From here you can talk about particular items from your merchandise that you would like to highlight or have some experts talk about jewelry care and jewelry display ideas that would be of interest to potential buyers. Some shops these days are also holding live selling on videos to boost their shop’s earnings. 

Simply put, there are plenty of ways to get creative and stand out, and it would be to your business’ advantage to take your shot with these opportunities.

Looking ahead…

4. Be one step ahead by studying your customers and the market.

Being proactive these days is crucial to a business’s survival. While the pandemic was an event that no one anticipated, the experiences of entrepreneurs during this period should serve as a reminder of the importance of having the foresight to be ready for the future.

Market research is key here. Data gathering and customer mapping may help predict future buyer behavior. Learn about their buying journey and see if you can spot issues to resolve. From here you can find out what could be possible pain points and make the best plans to resolve them.

Likewise, keeping abreast with industry trends helps you figure out what items could be hot commodities in the coming months. If you are an entrepreneur and also the creator, this can help you come up with styles to include for your future collections.

It’s safe to say that many of us went through the wringer in the past year and a half. Individuals and institutions alike faced challenges but the beauty of these tough times are the stories of resilience and redemption stories of those who were able to bounce back. With careful planning, a positive attitude, and the guts to push through the rough roads, life will go on and will continue to prosper. Hope this article gets you the motivation to continue on your road to success!

Categories: COVID-19, jewelry business, jewelry business tips, jewelry display, Nile Corp

Should You Wear Jewelry During the COVID -19 Pandemic?

Are you doing enough to protect yourself from the virus?

Washing our hands is one of our best defenses against the dreaded coronavirus. Health experts agree that soap, along with water, can break down the virus’s fatty lipids which destroy and prevent it from infecting you. In cases when these cleaning agents aren’t available, disinfecting using alcohol and gel sanitizers will suffice.

This begs the question about wearing jewelry in this day and age – should you still wear your precious jewelry pieces while the virus is still out there?

Read on to find out.

The 20-second rule

The Center for Disease Control recommends washing our hands for at least 20 seconds or the length of the “Happy Birthday” song sung twice. That’s enough time to thoroughly clean your hands and get rid of germs that may linger on them. It’s important to remember to take off your rings before washing lest you find them dropping into the drain. Remember to have the jewelry display tool of your choice nearby to place your accessory in the meantime. The next step to take is to disinfect your jewelry before putting it on again. You wouldn’t want to re-contaminate your hands by putting it without cleaning it again, right? If you need advice in this area, check out our tips on cleaning your jewelry from a previous article.

Follow what the doctors are doing

If you think that cleaning your hands and disinfecting your jewelry before putting them on is pretty tedious, that’s because it is! The CDC’s recommendation is that we should be washing our hands:

• Before and after eating
• Before and after food preparation
• After coughing, sneezing, or sneezing into your bare hands (better wear a face mask and carry tissue all the time instead)
• After using the bathroom
• After caring for someone sick
• Before you return home after being out

This could happen several times in a day and you would have to take off your rings each time you do.

Our advice?

Take a break from wearing your jewelry while the threat of COVID-19 is still present. Ever noticed how doctors rarely wear accessories especially while at work? That’s because germs could be hiding underneath jewelry. Leaving them on while washing is risky enough that they become prone to slippage, but even more so because it could be providing a safe cover from germs and viruses.

Another thing to consider is that certain gemstones can get easily damaged when they encounter chemicals present in sanitizers or antibacterial soaps. Better leave your collection in their respective display and storage holders and just use them once everything is safe and clear.


Each one of us is expected to do our part in keeping our communities safe and healthy. Taking a pause from wearing your jewelry can help a lot in saving you and your loved ones from getting sick. In the meantime, why not visit Nile Corp and check out our latest offerings which you can use to display and store your jewelry collection.

Categories: COVID-19, jewelry display, jewelry wearing, Nile Corp, safety and health precautions

Keeping Your Jewelry Clean During the COVID-19 Outbreak

The things you must remember to keep yourself safe and healthy.

Health experts tell us that even simple acts can keep the coronavirus away. Aside from keeping a safe distance from other people, washing our hands for at least 20 seconds is key to keeping ourselves healthy.

Because a lot of us are keeping ourselves holed up at home, it’s very likely that our jewelry hasn’t been taken out from their jewelry display stands and storage boxes for months now. On the rare occasion where you use them when you go out, you need to take some steps to ensure you’re not bringing in germs or viruses that will harm you and your family.

But first of all…

Remember to remove your rings and bracelet whenever you wash your hands

Experts say the length of time you must wash your hands must run the length of the “Happy Birthday” song. While you’re focused on singing and washing your hands, you may not notice your ring or bracelet sliding down and going straight down the drain. To avoid that from happening, make sure to take off your valuables before you wash your hands. Have a jewelry holder – these trinket boxes would make for lovely jewelry holders – and keep them nearby. But be careful still that you don’t knock over the box and drop your precious jewelry down the drain.

Better yet…

Don’t wear your jewelry while you’re out

There’s a reason why doctors don’t wear jewelry at work, and that is because they can potentially bring in bacteria from wearing jewelry. Another reason to give your jewelry a rest while there’s a pandemic? Jewelry can potentially hide body parts that need to be cleansed. For people with sensitive skin, prolonged wearing of jewelry may cause an allergic reaction. When this happens, cuts on the skin’s surface would make it easier for the virus to enter a person’s body.

But if you insist on wearing jewelry at this point in time…

Keep it simple when cleaning

This means all it takes when you need to clean the jewelry you’re wearing is to use a mild detergent like the one used to clean baby bottles and warm water. Try soaking your pieces in soapy water for 10 minutes or you may use a soft-bristled brush to carefully remove dirt or grime on your jewelry pieces. Avoid using alcohol or hand sanitizers to clean your collection. While they are effective at disinfecting our hands, their chemicals may cause a reaction on precious stones that will lead to cracks and breaking. Air dry your jewelry before you put them on or store them for later use.

Categories: COVID-19, jewelry cleaning tips, jewelry display, Nile Corp, trinket boxes

Things to Keep in Mind as You Reopen Your Jewelry Store

What you need to do to be ready for “the new normal.”

As many areas are now easing up their stay-at-home rules, several establishments will slowly start opening up after months in lockdown. While we are all still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, safety precautions to prevent the spread of the disease will even be more of a concern. Some adjustments to business operations may need to be set in place for health and safety reasons.

Here are a few key points every jewelry retailer must remember:

Follow the government’s health protocols

After staying in isolation for the past few months, the opening of business establishments means interacting again with the public. Please take into consideration the safety of everyone around, customers and employees alike, by wearing the recommended gear to prevent spreading the virus.

You may also implement some measures to safeguard your merchandise and establishment as a whole. Larry Spicer from the Jewelers Mutual Insurance recommends requiring customers to quickly show their faces upon arriving at the store for identification.

Make adjustments to your display counters

Installing barriers between the sales staff and customers adds another layer of protection. Make sure also there are enough sanitizing products (alcohol, hand gels) within reach of everyone in the store for quick touch-ups.

Cleanliness is crucial. Before every working day, make sure all items on display are disinfected. From the smallest earring display pads to the more elaborate combination set displays, nothing should be left out. Repeat the same procedure before shutting down for the day.

Take stock of inventory

Keeping cash flow is always the goal of every business, perhaps more so during this pandemic. Taking a second look at your existing inventory would mean letting go of some hard-to-sell items, increasing production or ordering for fast sellers, and offering promos and discounts to speed up sales.

Don’t forget to check up on your staff

Because of changes to operations, you may need to re-orient your people to new rules around the workplace. Make sure they practice health protocols and are in good shape before they are made to face the customers once again. Provide them with the necessary support to help them transition into “the new normal.”

See to it that your tech systems are all ready to go

Going cashless and contactless is a safe way to conduct payment transactions during the health crisis, so make sure you have the technology ready to make them possible. Expanding your shop’s presence online can also help you sustain operations by catering to those who are still shopping from the comfort of their homes.

Categories: business best practices, COVID-19, earring display, Nile Corp, safety and health precautions