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In an effort to add to the understanding and
appreciation of the products we sell, Olen Jewelry has launched our
Jewelry Information page. All of this material has been written
exclusively by Olen Jewelry (unless otherwise noted) and may not be
copied or used in any way without permission from the company. If
you would like to use this content, please email
sales@olenjewelry.com for complete details. We
hope that this information will help everyone understand the dazzling
world of fine jewelry a little bit more.
Contents:
Trusting internet retailers
without personal connections
By Jared W. Olen - 2 November 2007
Selling on the internet is in many
ways very different from selling in traditional brick-and-mortar
locations. Internet merchants must first connect and gain the
trust of customers without ever seeing them face-to-face. For the
consumer, this lack of personal connection and inherent integrity often
lead to fear of internet shopping and to shying away from lesser-known
websites for fear that they will not receive the product that they have
purchased or that there will be no one left at the company who would be
able to assist them if any problems arise. Indeed, internet
retailers face an entirely different set of trust issues.
Human beings by nature are social
creatures. Everyone likes to establish interpersonal relationships
whether they be professional or more personal. These professional
relationships are formed on a much more subconscious level. When
one walks into a retail store, the numerous sensory stimuli nearly
instantaneously contribute to a split-second decision that a person
makes about the company. Does the store appear to be trustworthy?
Do I like the products? Is the atmosphere clean and inviting?
Are there associates ready and willing to assist me? Now compare
that to the virtual entry to an internet store: a person either types in
the URL of the company or is directed by a link on another website or
search engine. One cannot look for an associate for assistance
because there are not any. The products cannot be held or felt or
smelled or tasted. Two-dimensional photographs must portray
everything that the actual product would have if a person was in a
traditional store. The displays are also converted into virtual
tables of information and descriptions to provide information.
As far as determining the
trustworthiness of an internet retailer, well that largely depends on
testimonials from friends and other consumers and on accreditations that
the website displays. For example, many companies and
organizations offer businesses various logos after they have completed a
review process in order to assure the consumer that he is shopping with
a qualified and honest retailer. It is important that consumers
find some sort of recognition of an internet retailer. In an age
where traffic rank is measure in millions of websites, the consumer has
more choice in purchasing than ever. Loyalty is earned through
integrity and through the establishment of a personal relationships that
transcend the boundaries of the electronic age.
Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices.
Live the charmed life and
tell your own story
By Jared W. Olen - 31 July 2007
Our extensive collection of
sterling
silver charms will help you express your life's story.
A charm bracelet is something very personal. People may give you a
bracelet or charms, but ultimately, nobody can match the meaning that
the bracelet acquires with yourself. Looking at all the charms you
have accumulated is like looking through old photographs. They
remind you of special events like weddings and anniversaries as well as
emotions like love and happiness. A charm bracelet is a gift to
yourself, and each individual charm is another chapter in the book of
your life. All of our charms
here at Olen Jewelry feature a No-Solder spring clasp for easy
attachment to most any bracelet. Each charm is intricately
designed and polished to provide you with many years of enjoyment.
Choosing the sterling silver charms that you will put on your charm
bracelet is really something that is up to you. There are no
fashion rules that dictate what you can and cannot wear. After
all, you will see the bracelet each and every day, and you need to enjoy
the story that is tells. Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices.
Look twice at your chain
By Jared W. Olen - 28 July 2007
Chains are one of the more
functional parts of your jewelry wardrobe. And yes, you do have a
jewelry wardrobe. While the contents of your closet or armoire
make up your clothing wardrobe, what's inside your jewelry box make up
your jewelry wardrobe. Although chains are traditionally thought
of just in the practical, functional sense, they are beginning to be
worn alone. Certainly our men's sterling silver chains such as the
curb link and marina chains are meant to be worn alone.
Occasionally a very large pendant will be worn on a men's chain.
Other, thinner chains can also be worn alone, however. Try wearing
several different chains of different lengths for a fashionable, layered
look. When looking for your
sterling silver chains, you want to find a balance between durability and
style. A really ornate chain might not look good with a similarly
ornate pendant (there are exceptions). Our sterling silver box
chains are classic chains for any pendant. They are the strongest
of all the chains and resist kinking very well. A box chain has a
bit of texture to it, so it will probably look good with most fairly
plain pendants that have a bit of texture. A smooth snake chain is
great for high-polished pendants or curvy, modern-looking pendants.
It is recommended that you remove all your jewelry
before sleeping, shower, swimming or doing other activities that may
compromise the integrity of your jewelry. Some people rather keep
their jewelry on at all times. If you are one of those people,
avoid delicate and really thin chains. You want to avoid anything
that tends to kink. If a chain ever does kink, you can usually
remove it by "massaging" the kink out. Be gentle when doing this,
however. Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices.
Bracelets: Why and how to wear them
By Jared W. Olen - 28 July 2007
A
sterling silver bracelet is a great
fashion accessory. Like a ring, bracelets are one of
the pieces of jewelry that you view most frequently.
Earrings and necklaces are eye candy for those around you
where as a sterling silver bracelet is a gift to yourself.
With one of our charm bracelets, you can create your own
life story through the addition of No-Solder charms.
And no matter what type of shirt or suit you are wearing, a
bracelet is usually seen on your wrist.
One of the most common uses for a
bracelet I have found is to balance one wrist against your
other on which you wear a watch. Watches are like a
functional bracelet and may make you look unbalanced without
something on the other wrist. A sterling silver
bracelet is perfect for when you are wearing a
silver-tone or a two-tone watch.
Most of our sterling silver bracelets
are designed to be worn loose. Unlike a cuff bracelet,
a regular bracelet is made up of chain-like structure that
is flexible and constantly changes shape. A tight
bracelet will most likely be an uncomfortable one. A
general rule of thumb is that wider bracelets should fit a
bit more snug than smaller, thinner ones. To find your
size for a cuff bracelet, most likely you subtract one-half
of an inch from your normal bracelet size. The most
common bracelet size is 7 inches, but we carry other sizes
as well. If a bracelet we offer is available in more
than one size, you are protected by our Right Size
Guarantee. Buy a new sterling silver bracelet from
Olen Jewelry, and start expressing yourself today! Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices.
What is paua shell and what makes it so special?
By Jared W. Olen - 23 July 2007
Having been in the jewelry business for several
years now, I have seen many types of gemstones both mineral-based and
organic. Organic gemstones are those such as pearls, amber, mother
of pearl, abalone, and paua shell that are formed naturally and are
prized for their beauty. Even pieces of wood are used in fine
jewelry to make that age-old connection between man and the earth.
Paua shells is one those gifts from Mother Nature that make us truly
appreciate our world.
Paua shell is found exclusively off the coast
of New Zealand. The primary use for the mollusk is for its meat.
For centuries, the indigenous Maori people have treasured the meat of
paua shells. It is a part of every wedding in Maori tradition.
The remaining shell is regarded as a "Taonga," or treasure. Maori
people use it in their carvings to add life and brilliance to eyes and
other parts of their work. Today, paua shell has become known
throughout the world as the finest type of abalone. Its
iridescence is superior to that of mother of pearl, and its vast array
of colors are dazzling.
Olen Jewelry is proud to be able to offer paua
shell jewelry to its customers. We hope that you will enjoy this
natural wonder as much as the Maori people have for centuries.
Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices.
Why brick-and-mortar stores hate the internet
By Jared W. Olen - 8 July 2007
The internet has revolutionized the way every
industry does business. Consumers now have a unlimited access to
product information and customer reviews. The internet also
provides almost instant satisfaction. Point, click, buy.
It's that easy. And for internet jewelry sales, that means you
never had to deal with sales associate much less walk into a jewelry
store. If you are like many internet shoppers, you probably also
got the best deal you could find anywhere on the web.
The jewelry industry is divided into two camps:
those that are for the internet and those that are against it.
Those that are for the internet are the internet-based jewelry retailers
and other members of the supply chain who can benefit from instant
access to unlimited information. Those that are against it are
usually the traditional brick-and-mortar jewelry stores that are not
about to change the way they see and do business in the jewelry
industry.
For the sterling silver jewelry industry, the
dominance of internet-informed consumers has meant a virtual
equalization in pricing. Internet retailer know that they cannot
succeed with the traditional retail profit margins. To maintain my
integrity in the industry, I will not reveal the average percentage
mark-up for sterling silver jewelry, but there is no question that
low-priced items provide high profit margins.
You, the consumer, can be proud that you have
revolutionized the sterling silver jewelry industry. You can now
compare e-businesses and choose the one that offers the lowest priced
items at the highest quality. Welcome to a whole new world.
Jared W. Olen is the Founder and President
of Olen
Jewelry, an internet retailer specializing in high-quality,
.925 sterling silver jewelry at low prices. |
