In the two years since YouTube hit the airwaves in cyberspace, it has gone from a comical and irrelevant venue for random, offbeat videos, to become a legitimate media source for the latest news and information, often more accurate and insightful than what we get fed by the mass media.
Indeed, You Tube has proven itself to be a formidable and invaluable medium for educating and informing large numbers of people in the most cost effective way.
Finally, it provides a unique way to actually get past the built in formality of engaging readers on the net. Videos provide a unique, informal experience, which in many respects stands head and shoulders above the written word for its appeal and effective means of communication.
I just read an this interesting posting on a jewelry blog, where they point to the fact that police and authorities have recently used the You Tube medium as a platform for appealing to the public to help apprehend suspected jewelry thieves.
At Excel Diamonds we have also launched into the fantastic world of You Tube, with an excellent and growing selection of diamond education videos that we will feature on our website.
These diamond videos and tutorials, are designed to provide the user with a friendly, informal, and unforgettable experience when learning about and browsing loose diamonds and jewelry on our website.
We already have an excellent selection of videos up on the site and look forward to featuring more exciting diamond education videos on a consistent basis.
Feedback thus far has been incredible and we are excited and appreciative for all of the positive support!
About Excel Diamonds
"You don't know how much we know, until you understand how much we care"
Selling diamonds and jewelry on the internet as I do, I sometimes forget how important an effective jewelry advertisement is for companies selling diamonds in cyberspace.
It's not just the traditional jewelry stores that need to think about a good jewelry ad for the magazines.
Indeed, our company also does some periodic monthly print media advertising of our signature diamonds and jewelry in some of the popular bridal magazines.
We also create periodic graphics for the internet, to capture a certain season, or to promote a certain product.
Here are a few examples below:
Some of our best "ads" are actual photos of a thrilled customer wearing one of our custom rings, like the SuperbCert Tiffany Solitaire engagement ring replica above.
Let's face it; an effective advertisement is one that is both captivating and memorable, while sending a clear message about the companies products/services.
Here are a few really memorable and effective ads I found on the net!
Barry tagged me asking which magazines I read off line.
Well, ......I read many.
However, there are some that I really read and there are some that I just skim, looking for specific ads., blurbs, articles, and content.
For the purpose of this entry, I won't distinguish which magazines I peruse and which ones I really read and just give you a list of the industry magazines that come across my desk.
I'm also not gonna share with you the family subscriptions/publications we read at home, as it is not relevant to my business life ;-)
Here is the list:
JCK (Jeweler circular keystone) Magazine
In Store trade magazine
Rappaport Diamond Trade magazine.
Modern Jeweler Magazine
Elegant Bride
Modern Bride
Hr Watches
Robb Report
AD
IW Watches
Newsweek
US News
Europastar watch mag.
Fortune
Fortune small business
IDEX
....I'll just paste up a collage...so you can see for yourself!!
Barry's recent question regarding the industry magazines I read, as well as my response, got me thinking about my approach to business and pleasure...
Typically, I do not mix the two.
Although I consider my business of selling fine diamonds and jewelry on the internet, quite a pleasure, in that I derive joy from the happiness of my customers, it is nevertheless still a business.
Pleasure to me, is spending quality time with my family and the overall pursuit of my singular and familial goals, objectives, and aspirations. Making an honest living is simply a "means to and end", or a way of achieving these goals.
It is for this reason, that I try really hard not to take my work home with me at the end of a work day.
We work extremely hard at our family owned (and operated) diamond and jewelry company.
It is not unusual and quite typical for us to put in 11 hour work days, not including internet communication and correspondence at night which my Dad (View image) has been known to answer at all hours of the night.
For this reason, I have tried to make a boundary between my work life and personal life.
For example; I try not to bring home any industry magazines to read at home. We have family subscriptions at home and that is what we read.
Now here is the kicker...many of you who know me and my work ethic will be surprised to hear that I do not own a computer in my house (currently).
Yup! You got that right!
I do not have a computer at home...cuz' if I did, I would be on the Internet all evening from home answering the boat load of e-mails we get to Excel Diamonds, processing orders that came in during the day and BLOGGING!
Therefore, when I leave the office....I leave the office.
No virtual working from home (for the moment.....not sure how long it's gonna last..but we have already surprised ourselves..!).
As an aside, we do not have a television, cable, DVD, or Nintendo..etc. in our home.
No, we are not backwards people living in the stone age...simply a family that wishes to keep the ills, perversions, and every conceivable cancer within our society and culture from permeating our home.
The machine helps strengthen the main muscle groups and improve flexibility and balance. The gold look is applied with gold foil. The machine costs around 10,000 euros and is also available in other finishes.
Did you ever wonder what a diamond mine actually looks like?
Welcome to the world's largest operating diamond mine!
This mine is located in Mirny, Siberia and is a whopping 1200 meters deep!
It is so deep in fact that the surrounding "air zone... is closed for helicopters" after "a few accidents when they were 'sucked in' by downward air flow..."
Take a look at these aerial photographs for a sense of perspective.
Finally, for the kicker!!..
.........look for the tiny red arrow in the following photograph; it's pointing to a 220-ton rock-hauling truck more than 20' tall.
Not much of a surprise here...but the diamond industry has its fair share of representatives on Forbes recently published list of world's richest people.
Meet 3 diamond billionaires.
Ranked at 158 on the list is Nicky Oppenheimer and family of South Africa. Nicky, who is 61 years old, is the CEO of De Beers and has a net worth estimated at $5 billion.
Nicky Oppenheimer
Lev Leviev is ranked at 210 on the Forbes list. He is the Russian born, 51 year old self made billionaire who lives in Israel and owns a few diamond mines and some crazy real estate. He is also the world's largest cutter and polisher of diamonds. His estimated net worth is $4.1 billion.
Lev Leviev
Chairman of the Steinmetz Group, 50 year old Israeli, Benny Steinmetz, ranks 583 on the list with an estimated worth of 1.7 billion. He is reportedly De Beers largest customer.
Sure you're thinking marriage is all bliss and fun..right?
Think again.
I just stumbled across this hilarious marriage snippet in cyberspace.
Obviously it is not a reflection of all of our collective situations...it's still pretty funny though!!
The Wedding Ring Coffin - Give A Dead Marriage The Proper Burial!
This is one of the funniest and most clever marketing ideas I have seen in a very long time!
The Wedding Ring Coffin
The company that manufactures and sells this product, markets it with the following blurb:
Give a dead marriage
its proper, final resting place.
The Wedding Ring Coffin is the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one for bringing closure after a divorce. It’s time to......BURY IT!
The best part, is that for the $29 it costs to purchase this coffin, you can even add your own customized faceplate and message to the coffin, so that you can really stick it to your Ex!!
Business Pro Says "Don't Speak ill Of Your Competitors".
From time to time, we are placed in a position by a customer or prospective customer, to knock our competitors.
Now, while we think many of you would agree that simply bashing the @!#$%^& out of a competitor is in poor taste and makes the person doing the bashing look really bad, some of you might feel a bit differently if/when it is indeed justified.
There are many times when we are faced with exactly this type of scenario, where we see sub-par workmanship and craftsmanship on engagement rings that were labeled as "custom" by some of our competitors.
We see diamonds that were sold as being "ideal cut" or close to it by diamond dealers who have no morals and scruples and pass off junk in the name of "ideal cuts" on some poor unsuspecting customer.
Our usual habit and practice is TO NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BASH OUR COMPETITORS.
Obviously, there are certain mitigating circumstances like the ones above, where we see a customer getting ripped off or cheated and we are asked to intervene and we do. This is only when the customer has asked us for an opinion and has already voiced displeasure or discomfort.
However, as a general rule, we will never pro-actively seek to simply knock my competitors for the sake of our own personal gain, even when entirely warranted.
It is absolutely in poor taste and would be a horrible reflection on our company.
We try to promote our loose diamonds, engagement rings, and jewelry based upon actual merit and not by bashing others who sell diamonds and jewelry.
I learned that there are two ways for a person to reach higher; one can climb a ladder and reach great heights, or, one can dig a ditch around themselves and bury everyone else, even as they "appear" to climb.
Would you buy a diamond engagement ring from this guy?
Where others in the diamond trade may seek to "dig trenches", it has always been our policy to climb and reach great heights.
We were delighted to read this recent quote from Tom Peters, who is a bestselling business author:
"It is best to always remember the golden rule in business, even when competition is tough..........Badmouthing competitors diminishes you, period...........................Win with better product, win with better relationships, and win when your industry is prospering and has a good reputation.
This is a message we hope every diamond dealer, jeweler, and salesman would try to internalize.
Our offices get extremely busy during the day and many times I personally find myself juggling phone calls literally one after the other.
During a really busy stretch, I try to make a habit of creating a Post It note (these are the famous yellow little sticker-reminders, the whole world uses..) for each phone call so that I remember exactly what I am supposed do.
This customer wants additional diamond photos, this guys wants an update on an engagement ring order placed recently, this woman wants additional information on our famous SuperbCert Tiffany replica engagement ring....and on and on......
Usually, I will post the notes on my computer monitor so that it stares me in the face and I don't forget to deal with it. As I accomplish each task/reminder, I remove the note and trash it, so I could make room for the next one.
The problem arises when my post it note level exceeds my task completion rate.
When this happens, the yellow notes begin to swarm my monitor like some kind of deadly virus, until they eventually obliterate my screen!
This morning, I got so flustered, I simply trashed all the notes and brought my monitor back to life!
I really need to figure out a different system...
Here is a very cute picture I found which really resembles what my monitor looked like a short while ago!
Want That Really Expensive Jewelry? Marry This Guy!
My Sister In-Law sent me this really funny link this morning, which I embedded on You Tube (I subsequently found it plastered all over You Tube...).
For all you diamond and jewelry lovers out there and all you gals who have specific ( and usually substantial..;-)) diamond engagement rings on your dream "wish list", this guy would make the Perfect Husband!
A Heartfelt Testimonial For www.ExcelDiamonds.com!
I am always touched when we receive a heartfelt testimonial from one of our many thousands of satisfied customers.
It seems that folks always know how to contact a company if/when issues arise (and G-d knows we are all human...;-)).
However, people sometimes tend to forget to give the same constructive feedback when they are thrilled with their product(s) and services.
If we received a testimonial for every happy customer, we would have thousands of them!
Unfortunately, not even a fraction of customers send a thank you note....
Therefore, when we do get a beautiful note like the one below (received today via e-mail) we are extremely touched.
I just wanted to thank you for your great customer service and for the absolutely wonderful diamond. Your web site was very informative and answered a lot of questions I had. Barry your patience was very much appreciated and went a long way to alleviate a lot of my anxiety at buying a diamond online. We received the diamond on Friday and when I looked at it I was taken back by how beautiful it is. I knew this was an exceptional diamond when I saw it sparkling in the sunlight through the window. It brought tears to my eyes. I absolutely love it and I will never ever by another diamond through a store again!!! We went to have it appraised for my insurance and to choose my setting on Saturday at one of Ottawa's Finer Jewellers and (I am sure you know the value).
The appraiser called my .80 Superbcert Hearts and Arrows D VS1, with adjectives like " wow, an absolutely stunning, top of the line Brilliant Diamond. Gorgeous!
That just made me smile. I have my diamond with me and when my ring is ready, I will bring it in and watch them set it. I couldn't part with it.
This diamond ring represents 21 years of marriage to a wonderful man and this diamond has truly captured that.
Thank you guys very much and I will recommend www.exceldiamonds.com to my friends or anyone that asks me. You guys really know your stuff and are a pleasure to deal with.
I just saw this beautiful testimonial placed up today on Pricescope.com from one of our very happy customers!
"Just wanted to share our terrific experience with Barry at Excel Diamonds, who helped my fiancé & I get an absolutely stunning engagement ring. I came upon Barry after conducting extensive internet research (I read a lot of positive reviews on him and Excel Diamonds) and meeting with a number of jewelers in the NYC diamond district that were recommended by friends. Barry is a consummate professional and it was a pleasure dealing with him from start to finish. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable (which not all jewelers, surprisingly enough, are), we decided to go with Barry as he respected out budget and really worked with us to find the best quality stone within our price range - not once did he try to pressure us into raising our budget (as many jewelers will do). Barry was also extremely patient, and happily answered all of the questions that we had. In the end, we decided to get both the stone and setting from Barry – we went with the Superbcert Tiffany replica and couldn’t be happier. We feel that we got a tremendous value for our purchase and the appraiser confirmed our belief, as the estimated replacement value was indeed materially higher than what we paid. The stone is absolutely gorgeous, and the craftsmanship of the setting is really stunning. I looked long and hard for a 6 prong setting for several months and was disappointed with every setting I saw. Many 6 prong settings are not that great – a lot of them just look like afterthoughts. The Tiffany replica setting, however, is not only aesthetically beautiful, but is also an engineering feat as it enhances the natural beauty and size of the stone. The ring is absolutely stunning, that’s the only way to describe it. Barry is a real pleasure to work with and I will happily recommend him to any of my friends and will certainly go to him for any future purchases".
How Does ExcelDiamonds Compare With Other Diamond Sellers On The Internet??
ExcelDiamonds.com is but one of many websites on the Internet that sell diamonds and diamond engagement rings. Assuredly, we would all love to earn your business. However, very few of us actually work hard to provide maximum value and service in this most important and significant purchase.
Let me explain to you why ExcelDiamonds is absolutely unique amongst all other diamond Internet websites, including some of the best known diamond stores on the net.
For example, many customers ask us how we compare with well known online retailer of diamond engagement rings and jewelry, www.bluenile.com.
Both of our companies have a stellar reputation on the Internet, for our products, services and prices. Additionally, both of our companies have customer service policies (including a return policy) in place, which are designed to protect the consumer.
To be sure, BlueNile is a reputable company and claims to be the largest online retailer of diamonds and jewelry.
However, our two companies could not be more different from one another.
Our company, is a fourth generation diamond and jewelry manufacturer located in the heart of the N.Y.C. Diamond District.
At ExcelDiamonds, we actually manufacture and/or own a significant portion of our diamond inventory. We also have our own factory where we manufacture our own exclusive settings and famous Tiffany Replica Engagement Rings. BlueNile primarily sells loose diamonds of other companies manufacture. These diamonds are from wholesalers who do not deal directly with the public, but sell through diamond internet websites like BlueNile instead.
Although our company similarly showcases and sells many thousands of diamonds we do not own and which are not of our own manufacture, there is a significant difference in our approach and unlike BlueNile, we actually add tremendous value to this process.
While most Internet diamond stores (including BlueNile) are engaged in the dangerous form of "Diamond "Drop-Shipping", which is a form of selling where the seller acts as a middleman for the wholesaler and never actually sees or inspects the merchandise (shipped directly from the manufacturer to the end consumer) prior to the sale, our company insists on bringing in each and every diamond our customers are interested in, for a complete evaluation and analysis prior to the sale.
Drop-shipping, is a fact of life and a very common way of selling products on the Internet, since a website does not need to actually operate a store and own their own inventory to display for their customers. Rather, it is much cheaper and more cost effective to attach a virtual list of products owned by a wholesaler or manufacturer and act as a middleman to sell those items with a built in profit margin. When these items are purchased over the middleman's website (99% of diamond websites on the net act as middlemen/drop-shippers), they are shipped directly from the manufacturer to you, the consumer.
ExcelDiamonds is possibly the only diamond store on the Internet that does not engage in blind drop-shipping. Rather, every loose diamond is shipped in to us at our own expense for an evaluation and comprehensive "work-up".
We will provide our customers with an unrivaled level of actual diamond information up-front. This includes actual scans of the reports and grading certification, as well as an analysis on cut quality and light performance of the diamond. We take full color photos of the diamonds under various lighting conditions and levels of magnification. There is never any pressure to buy and we are happy to hold each diamond in reserve for a short grace period during your deliberations.
No two diamonds are alike and every diamond must be evaluated according to its own individual merits. Some diamonds are beautiful and brilliant; others are lifeless. The reality is that you could take two diamonds with the same exact specs. and "numbers" and they will look completely different to your eye. Some diamonds exhibit visible imperfections that can be seen by the naked eye; others do not. Is your selected diamond visibly yellow? Does your selected diamond have an inclusion that poses a threat to the structural integrity of the diamond?
BlueNile representatives cannot possibly talk to the quality and other crucial aspects of any diamond, since they never actually inspect the stone. The most they can do is to call the manufacturer and ask them for an "honest" opinion on a diamond they are of course looking to sell!
In fact, because Blue Nile never actually sees the diamonds they sell, there have been documented cases on the Internet where customers purchased diamonds from Bluenile that were temporarily lost in the mail on the way from the manufacturer to the consumer. When the customers called Bluenile representatives, they were forced to wait while Bluenile contacted the wholesalers to find out what happened with the shipments! There has been much written about this on various popular Internet forums and blogs. This incredible situation is quite scary when you are spending significant money for a diamond over the net, regardless of how reputable the company might be.
In addition, because the "Drop-Ship" business model is becoming obsolete amongst the savvy consumers who realize that there is another option, Blue Nile is having trouble with their inability to adapt.
This severe limitation and handicap is true for the 99% of diamond websites who are engaged in drop-shipping.
This is just another reason why Excel Diamonds does not drop-ship the diamonds we sell. We bring each and every diamond in-house and give you all of the crucial diamond information and data upfront so that you can make an informed buying decision.
We do not charge you for this information and our prices are still amongst the lowest on the Internet. Indeed, we are less expensive across the board than BlueNile for any comparable item.
Thus, you have the opportunity to obtain the most comprehensive information and data on your purchase...and at the lowest possible price!!
Finally, at our family owned and operated business, we treat our thousands of customers like family; with incredible attention and a pervasive commitment to full customer service.
No question is too simple and no request is left unanswered.
Unlike some of the other big companies on the Internet who cannot escape the well deserved stigma of "mass-selling" (whereby the customer feels like they are on a virtual assembly line with no opportunity for the lost art of the personal touch), here at ExcelDiamonds, it is precisely the personal touch that sets us apart!
We hope you'll give us a call and look forward to earning your business!
