In the Loupe

40 Episodes

By: Punchmark

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.

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I Went to Fifth Ave in NYC and All I Got Was This Podcast Episode

#32

Today at 7:00 AM

Mike walks the length of Fifth Avenue in New York City and reacts in real time to what luxury stores feel like from the inside. He compares jewelry, watches, fashion, and activewear to figure out how scent, security, service, and brand cues shape whether we feel inspired or out of place.

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The 2026 Punchmark State Of The Union ft. the Punchmark Owners

#31

09/29/2026

Mike sits down with Punchmark partners Ross Cockerham, Brian Cockerham, and Dan Sirois for a clear-eyed look at what’s changing in jewelry e-commerce and what we’re building to help retailers keep winning through 2027. We talk ADA compliance, AI-driven workflows, AEO, and the practical platform upgrades that make shopping easier and unify online with in-store.

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The First Three Quarters of 2026 Jewelry E-Commerce Stats

#30

09/15/2026

We break down jewelry e-commerce performance for the first three quarters of 2026 using real platform data from 500 independent retailers across the US and Canada. We share what’s rising, what’s cooling off, and what actions actually move online revenue when the middle of the market starts climbing.

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"Jewelers For Children" and the Impact They Bring to the World

#29

09/08/2026

Mike sits down with Jewelers for Children Executive Director, Sarah Murphy, and board member Ross Wesdorp to unpack how the jewelry industry has donated over $66 million to help kids through nine trusted nonprofit partners. We talk through what makes Facets at JCK Las Vegas so effective, why JFC runs lean with a working board, and how small, repeatable giving tools like Roundup can turn everyday purchases into real impact.

Learn more: https://jewelersforchildren.org/

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Meet Elle Hill, the Mind Behind the Biggest Jewelry Brands

#28

09/01/2026

We talk with Elle Hill of Hill & Co about what really breaks and what finally clicks when a jewelry business scales beyond founder-led hustle. She shares hard-earned lessons from building Plukka, advising global brands, and pushing the jewelry industry toward data, systems, and operational AI.

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Tales from the Bourbon Trail ft. Jim from Arthur's Jewelry

#27

08/25/2026

We take a break from shop talk and relive a two-day Kentucky Bourbon Trail run built around IJO and RJO shows, with Ross Cockerham and Jim Messier sharing how it came together, the spots they stopped out, and the friends they made along the way. They trade notes on distilleries, tastings, and the small traditions that turn a fun trip into lasting jewelry industry friendships.

Learn more about this event: https://www.punchmark.com/blog/events-conferences/ijo-bourbon-trail-excursion

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How Jewelers Should Be Marketing for Q4 This Year

#26

08/18/2026

Mike sits down with Hope Bellair, Digital Marketing Manager at Punchmark, to get real about why Q4 marketing feels stressful and why starting in August is often the difference between getting seen and getting drowned out. We share a practical plan for jewelry store holiday marketing, from Meta ads and email strategy to SMS and event tactics that actually drive people into the store.

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Exclusive First Interview with the Plumb Club's New President ft. Steven Lerche of Goldstar

#25

08/04/2026

We sit down with Steven Lerche, President of Goldstar and the Plumb Club, to unpack how a supplier-led group builds real connection across the jewelry and watch supply chain. We talk JCK, innovation, responsible sourcing, and why a shared mindset can beat a zero-sum approach in a fast-changing market.

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How Dropshipping And Tariffs Are Reshaping Jewelry Retail and Other Hot Topics

#24

07/28/2026

Mike is solo this week while everyone’s at RJO and IJO, so he's running through five jewelry industry topics that have been on his mind. I talk about faster fulfillment through dropshipping, the real-world ripple effects of tariffs, and why seemingly small website choices can make or break sales.

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Interviewing the New AGS President ft. Bryan Moeller & Alexis Padis

#23

07/21/2026

Mike sits down with outgoing AGS president Alexis Padis and incoming president Bryan Moeller to talk about what a smooth leadership handoff really takes and why education, ethics, and consumer protection keep the organization aligned.

We also discuss the upcoming AGS Conclave, the pressures reshaping jewelry retail, and how independent jewelers can earn trust with today’s hyper-informed customers.

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Essentially Human: On Sales and Salespeople ft. Peter Smith

#22

07/14/2026

Mike talks with Peter Smith about why selling stays “Essentially Human” even as AI and short-form content reshape how people pay attention. Along the way, we pull practical lessons from stories about music, used cars, pricing, and resilience that help you sell with more clarity and less anxiety.

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Do These 10 Marketing Techniques Still Even Matter??? ft. Hope Bellair

#21

06/30/2026

The marketing world moves FAST, which is why Michael checked-in with Digital Marketing Manager at Punchmark, Hope Bellair, to ask if these 10 Digital Marketing techniques still matter. Hope gets candid with us about everything from hashtags and following counts to AEO and Podcasts. You won't wanna miss this one!

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Buy Like a Guy ft. Andy Koehn

#20

06/23/2026

Mike sits down with retail jeweler and podcaster Andy Koehn to talk about why many men feel lost in jewelry stores and what actually helps them buy an engagement ring with confidence. We get into meaning over metrics, why the story matters more than the 4 Cs, and how a simple book became an unexpectedly powerful tool for earning trust and closing sales.

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Omnichannel Lessons From A Lumber Yard

#19

06/09/2026

Mike discusses a surprisingly great purchasing experience he recently had at a... Lumber Mill. This had him thinking deeper about ways retailers can pull out practical omnichannel lessons jewelry stores can use right away.

He focuses on what made the experience feel premium and stress free, then translate those moves into ways to rebuild trust, delight, and loyalty in modern jewelry retail.

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Let's Discuss Diamond Prices ft. UNI Diamonds

#18

06/02/2026

Mike sits down with Yoav Singer from UNI Diamonds to unpack what their real-time marketplace data reveals about diamond pricing, buyer behavior, and where demand is actually moving. We also talk through how tariffs, gold prices, memo, and better education are reshaping how retailers source stones and build trust with shoppers.

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Five Personal Jewelry Stories That Are Impacting My Life

#17

05/26/2026

Mike goes solo and shares five real-life ways jewelry shows up in our world, from a family brooch tradition to the surprising value hidden in old coins. Along the way, we unpack what “worth it” really means when selling an old piece of jewelry.

Learn more about Stratus Estate Buyers: stratusestatebuyers.com

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Oxygenate Your Consumer Base with Estate Buying Events ft. Stratus Estate Buyers

#16

05/19/2026

Mike sits down with Justin VanMatre from Stratus Estate Buyers to unpack how in-store estate buying events work and why they can feel like a limited-time “carnival” that brings new energy into a jewelry store. They discuss the economics, the trust factor, and the real-world mix of items people bring when they need cash or clarity.

Learn more: stratusestatebuyers.com

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What If Your Store Never Ran Out Of Options ft. Nivoda

#15

05/12/2026

Mike sits down with Andre Woons from Nivoda on what it takes to help jewelers sell from global inventory while keeping fulfillment fast, reliable, and margin-friendly. We also dig into why gemstones are harder to sell online, how in-store tools change the customer journey, and what comes next with finished jewelry and flexible credit.

Learn More about Nivoda: https://nivoda.com/

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Lenny from The EDGE's First Podcast Interview // LIVE!

#14

05/05/2026

Recorded LIVE from the 2026 Punchmark Client Workshop in Charlotte, NC!

Mike sits down with Lenny Prion, the voice and educator so many jewelers know as “Lenny from The Edge,” to talk about the early days of The EDGE Point of Sale system and what he learned from working for many years in a retail jewelry store. We dig into how reporting, reorders, inventory aging, and smart automation can make a store run calmer, faster, and more profitably.

He also teases the biggest feature update to The EDGE in the last 25 years... you wont want to miss...

What You Learn in Your First Year as a Jewelry Retailer ft. Cole from Ware's Jewelers // LIVE!

#14

04/28/2026

Recorded LIVE from the 2026 Punchmark Client Workshop in Charlotte, NC!

Mike sat down with Cole Rowland from Ware's Jewelers to unpack his jump from jewelry vendor to first-generation store owner at Ware's Jewelers. He transparent about what it takes to buy a jewelry store after running a going out of business sale, rebuild inventory and credit, and earn the trust of a community that already has sky-high expectations.

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Why Those Engagement Ring Ads Keep Finding You ft. Hope Bellair

#13

04/21/2026

We break down retargeting as clienteling at scale and explain why it feels like ads “follow you” after you browse jewelry online.

Hope Bellair shares practical ways to segment audiences, choose platforms, set budgets, and measure success beyond last-click sales.

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Breaking Down the Best - Group Communication (Slack, Teams, Discord, Gmail)

#12

04/14/2026

Mike breaks down the real differences between Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord so you can choose a communication platform that fits your team size, tools, and day-to-day work.

We also call out why group Gmail threads, group texts, and WhatsApp usually create noise instead of clarity and how to build a single source of truth.

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What Stephen Barnes Learned from His First Year as Owner of IJO

#11

04/07/2026

Stephen Barnes shares what his first year as owner of IJO really looked like, from decision-making and show strategy to staying grounded when gold prices swing. We talk through how independent jewelers can win with stronger vendor partnerships, smarter education, and a practical approach to tech and e-commerce.

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How Jewelry Can Help Us Remember a Loved One

#10

03/31/2026

Mike talks through the loss of his grandmother and the unexpected way her jewelry becomes a bridge between grief, family history, and love.

He shares the story of how an immigrant life, a box of jewelry on a bed, and one garnet brooch shape his view of what jewelry is really for.

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How to Secure the Same Day Yes ft. Caratwise

03/24/2026

Michael talks with David Berdugo, CEO of Caratwise, about why custom jewelry sales break down when momentum stalls and how better UX helps independent jewelers give confident answers fast. We dig into transparency, real-time design, and the ring builder choices that turn “imagine it” into “see it now.”

https://www.caratwise.com/

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Proactive by Design: How Punchmark Is Reshaping Online Jewelry Retail

03/10/2026

We check in with Ross Cockerham about Punchmark’s sprint into faster payments, a rebuilt Vendor Marketing Library, and a shift to a proactive client strategy. Along the way we talk AEO, rising AoVs, and why human support still drives the biggest wins.

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Four Stories That Reframe Jewelry & Luxury Business

03/03/2026

Mike talks through four topics not about jewelry that he has been paying attention to that can help reframe the jewelry conversation in a new and interesting way.

The crashing of the rare plant market, an Olympian who capitalized on the spotlight, how publishing Instagram Reels helps with reach in 2026, and a book release event.

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Exclusive First Interview with Edge Retail Academy's New CEO ft. Becka Johnson Kibby

02/24/2026

Mike sits down with Becka Johnson Kibby, the new CEO of Edge Retail Academy, to unpack real jewelry retail benchmarks, smarter inventory moves, and the coaching habits that outperform the market. We cover vendor partnerships, clienteling that actually works, and how to protect margin without leaning on discounts.

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Physical Retail, The Beginning or the End? ft. Peter Smith

02/17/2026

What if brick‑and‑mortar isn’t dying, but splitting into winners and roadkill? We sit down with Peter Smith, former Hearts On Fire president, columnist for National Jeweler, and sales behavior coach, to unpack why independent jewelers just had their strongest five‑year stretch while the total number of stores keeps falling. Peter makes a compelling case that physical retail is both a beginning and an end: a beginning for operators who evolve with data, people, and design, and an end for those who stay stuck in habits from another era.

Read the full Nat...

Gold, Growth, And Getting Better ft. Ostbye

#4

02/10/2026

We talk with Ostbye president Craig MacBean about leading through volatility, integrating a business acquisition without losing its soul, and why staying focused on independent jewelers' wins keeps a vendor business grounded.
Gold climbs, tariffs become unpredictable... yet smart operations, better data, and classic designs keep momentum strong.

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Gold At $5,000... Let's Talk About It ft. David Siminski

#4

02/03/2026

We discuss gold’s leap past $5,000 (and back) and unpack why refiners are pausing intake even as demand soars. David Siminski explains the credit and capacity squeeze, the silver backlog, and how jewelers can navigate cash settlements versus physical exchanges.

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Charming Commerce ft. Rembrandt Charms

#3

01/27/2026

We talk with Eric Lux, President of Rembrandt Charms, about why charms convert so well online, how vertical integration keeps shelves stocked, and what smart marketing does for repeat sales.
Learn more about Rembrandt Charms: rembrandtcharms.com
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Unpacking 2025 Engagement Ring Trends & Data ft. StoneAlgo

#2

01/20/2026

We bring back StoneAlgo's CEO, Devin Jones, to share how a human concierge turns website visitors into verified, high-intent appointments. We also dive into engagement ring trend data across lab grown and natural diamond purchases, straight from the StoneAlgo platform.

Book a Demo with StoneAlgo: https://getjeweleros.com/
Read the full Engagement Ring Trends report: https://getjeweleros.com/2025-engagement-ring-trends

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Season 7 Kickoff: What I'm Thinking About for 2026

#1

01/13/2026

We set the tone for Season 7 with a focus on substance: vendor stories without the pitch, real data that guides decisions, and platform upgrades that make selling online easier for everyone. 2026 gets a bold forecast as we track ADA progress, performance trends, and the metrics that matter.
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Wrapping Up 2025 - The Best Bits

#45

12/23/2025

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 drivers from rates to geopolitics
• Reporting crime with care, not hype
• Fancy color diamonds and profit logic
• JCK Las Vegas
• RJO's leadership focus on systems and learning...

2025 Jewelry E‑Commerce Performance Explained

#44

12/16/2025

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.

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Agentic Marketing, Explained

#43

12/09/2025

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.

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5 Tips to Prep Your Store for Black Friday

#42

11/18/2025

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.

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The AWS Outage and Why It Matters

#41

11/11/2025

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.

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Retailer Roundtable: Doing Things Differently This Holiday Season

#40

11/04/2025

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

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