In the Loupe
In the Loupe is a weekly podcast hosted by Punchmark, the Jewelry Industry's favorite website provider. Each week's episode is focused around the explanation and advocacy of important E-Commerce topics and why every jeweler needs to be focused on their online presence now more than ever.
Episodes
We close the season by revisiting ten standout moments that shaped a year of change, from AI pricing and buying group leadership to gold’s surge, fancy color diamonds, and how Tahitian pearls really form.
• AI pricing tools and the case for fair markup
• JewelCraft as the jeweler’s jeweler for scale
• Google Workspace as a collaboration backbone
• IJO ownership shift and long-term vision
• Gold price drive...
We chart the rebound of jewelry e‑commerce in 2025, why average order value climbed, and how Cyber Monday pulled ahead of Black Friday online. We share two winning models, volume vs high ticket, and a practical plan to hit $50k–$100k next year.
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe
Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com
Inquire about spon...
We unpack how agentic AI shifts marketing from reactive prompts to proactive systems that watch behavior, answer real questions, and stretch budgets. Hope Bellair joins us to map practical steps for independent jewelers, from product data hygiene to Reddit-driven relevance, plus a few warnings about AI ads and synthetic influencers.
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe
...
Mike shares five practical fundamental tips to prepare your jewelry store for Black Friday and the holidays. Quick wins stack up: show energy, make hours obvious, trigger visits with email, and remove online friction.
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe
Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com
Inquire about sponsoring In the Loupe and sho...
We break down how a small DNS error inside AWS rippled into a global outage, and why it affected everything from uploads to streaming to... beds? Andy Szoke, Developer at Punchmark, joins us to explain cloud basics, Lambda bottlenecks, and redundancy.
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe
Learn about Punchmark's website platform: punchmark.com
Inquir...
Michael is joined by three independent jewelers who share how they protect margins, create memorable offers, and keep teams sharp during the busiest weeks of the year.
We discuss gold pricing, VIP outreach, gift guides, and why the week after Christmas can outsell Black Friday.
Guests:
Vincent Spilotro from Arezzo Jewelers
Anna Barnett from Barnett Jewelers
Lee Elgin from Elgin's Fine Jewelry
Mike talks with Komoka’s Josh Humbert about his family pearl farm in Tahiti rebuilt its methods around eco-farming and sustainable handling of oysters. Fish now clean their oysters, helping reefs recover, resulting in the harvesting of hundreds of beautiful pearls that shine with rare color that redefine what quality feels like.
The story of Kamoka illustrates what is possible when working WITH nature, instead of against it.
Learn mo...
We trace Malo Bands’ journey from handwoven artistry to a tech-enabled, service-first business, and how listening to retailers turned beautiful showpieces into scalable, profitable designs. Tony shares candid lessons on customization, B2B tools, tariffs, and why yellow gold is surging.
Learn more about Malo Bands here: https://www.intro.malobands.com/
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/lo...
Mike shares how he's helping rebuild Punchmark’s Premium Vendor Program from a one-way data pipe into a two-way system that gives vendors and retailers real value. He discusses zero-to-one strategy, systems thinking, and practical steps to standardize data, deliver insights, and reduce friction.
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchmark.com/loupe
Learn about Punchmark's web...
Mike sits down with his boss Ross Cockerham, Punchmark Co-Founder & CEO, about how he balances attending trade shows and events vs. being present at his own business vs. family life.
Every business owner learns to balance these roles on their own, as well as how they fold into their own personal lives, but the journey is important and worth discussing! Enjoy the conversation.
Learn about our sponsor JewelerOS: trytheringbuilder.c...
Melisa Monroe from Podium shares exclusive insights from a recent consumer survey of nearly 1000 prospective shoppers about projected holiday spending for the upcoming season, revealing data-driven strategies for retailers to maximize their sales.
Learn more about Podium: https://go.podium.com/tSqRg1
Learn about our sponsor JewelerOS: trytheringbuilder.com
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: pu...
Digital marketing expert Hope Bellair shares insights from HubSpot's Inbound 25 conference and tailored Q4 marketing strategies for different types of jewelry businesses.
Reach Hope Bellair at hope@punchmark.com or 704-910-4774, extension 318 for more information about holiday marketing strategies.
Learn about our sponsor JewelerOS: trytheringbuilder.com
The jewelry industry is evolving with significant technological, market, and policy developments that are reshaping how businesses operate and connect with customers.
- Google Gemini AI tool can place jewelry onto digital hands and ears, offering an alternative to expensive lifestyle photography.
- Taylor Swift's vintage-inspired engagement ring features an antique cushion cut diamond on yellow gold with ornate engraving, likely...
Michael interviews his eldest brother, Joseph, about his custom engagement ring process with Vincent from Arezzo Jewelers, revealing that custom projects can be affordable and quick when incorporating family jewelry pieces.
If you're considering a custom engagement ring, don't assume it will be more expensive or time-consuming than buying off the shelf. Talk to a jeweler about incorporating family pieces to create somethin...
Alexis Padis, President of AGS, shares insights from her first year of leadership and discusses her vision for the organization's future after being re-elected for a second term.
Alexis shares what leadership development looks like in an organization with a storied history, and the humility and foresight required to implement changes that might not come to fruition during her own presidency.
Learn more about AGS: ags.org
Learn ...
GPT-5 has arrived with meaningful improvements in logical reasoning, processing speed, and the ability to dynamically switch between models based on task complexity! The technology excels at pattern recognition in data analysis while software developers are finding new ways to integrate it into their workflow without sacrificing quality.
Mike sits down with Punchmark Back-End Developer, Andy Szoke, to discuss what the arrival of thi...
Michael dives into data pulled directly from the Punchmark E-Commerce platform for Q1 & Q2 of 2025. Punchmark services only the Jewelry industry, which means their platform data offers a unique insight into the e-commerce fluctuations and jewelry trends of the industry as it stands today.
Learn more about our sponsor, Jewel-Craft: jewel-craft.com
Send feedback or learn more about the podcast: punchma...
In the Loupe EXCLUSIVE
Bill Becker, new President of the Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO), shares his perspective on the organization's growth from a small collective buying group in 1966 to a powerhouse with nearly 1,200 members today. As both a multi-store jeweler and industry leader, Bill offers unique insights into RJO's success factors, current challenges, and his vision for supporting independent jewelers.
Michael w...
StoneAlgo's new Jeweler OS product is revolutionizing how jewelers convert website traffic into sales by generating real, manufacturable CAD files for custom engagement rings. The AI-powered tool creates a seamless path from online browsing to in-store purchasing while allowing jewelers to set their own markups.
Learn more about JewelerOS: https://getjeweleros.com/
Learn more about our sponsor, Jewel-Craft: jewel-craft.com
It’s no secret that summer can be a slower season for retail, and the jewelry industry is no exception. After the excitement of spring engagements and before the holiday shopping season ramps up, many jewelers experience a noticeable dip in foot traffic and sales. But a summer slowdown doesn’t have to mean a complete stall in business.
This time of year offers a unique opportunity to refocus on services that deepen customer relation...
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