THE EDGE INSIDER

 

 

Updates, news, and advice from Dick Abbott, President

 

 

Why Do We Do What We Do?

 

We do it for one primary reason: to help you run a profitable business using proven retail best practices.

 

It's that simple.

 

Of course, we need to be profitable to stay in business, but profit is not what drives us. We’ll gladly earn it—if we deserve it. But our real satisfaction comes from seeing you succeed and reach your full potential.

 

The fundamentals of retail haven’t changed in thousands of years. The playing field has, but the core principles remain the same:

• You need the right products.
• You need to let customers know you have them.
• You need a capable staff to help make the sale.

Powerful Tools to Maximize Your Business Potential

 

The Edge helps you assemble an optimal product assortment—items with a high likelihood of selling, tailored to your store. It also offers powerful tools to reach both current and prospective customers. The methods have changed—radio and newspaper ads have given way to email, text messages, social platforms, and yes, even Postcards.

 

In fact, personalized postcards often deliver the highest response rates. Think about it: a customer is far more likely to notice a card with their name written in champagne bubbles or on a movie theater marquee. Through our partnership with Drive Retail, you have access to over 1,000 card and email templates that can be coordinated and posted to Instagram and Facebook. Drive Retail helps not only with customer retention, but also new customer acquisition—and it’s all built right into The Edge.

 

Today’s retail environment demands proactivity. Encourage customers to build Wish Lists and engage with them at the right time. Start a Rewards program—they work if you work them. Use the built-in automation in The Edge to ensure you never miss a birthday, anniversary, or important follow-up.

Understanding What Drives Customers into Your Store is Essential

 

John Wanamaker, often considered the father of modern retail advertising, once said, “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don't know which half.”

John didn’t have Why-In, but you do—use it to track your advertising performance and get the most from your marketing dollars.

Your staff also plays a critical role. The Edge provides tools to measure performance and identify areas of improvement. Our staff reports are designed to help you help them get better.

 

At its core, The Edge supports the timeless retail formula:

• The right products
• The right messages
• The right people

That leads to better inventory, smarter advertising, a more effective staff—and ultimately, a more successful business.

 

Of course, The Edge includes a wide range of operational tools, but every feature is developed with one purpose in mind: your success.

New Features Coming Soon

 

🔹 In-Store Financing:  A long-awaited feature that will help make your products accessible to a broader customer base. We’re excited to finally bring this to you.

 

🔹 Marketplace:  A new sourcing and ordering platform with~ 125 vendors who share our vision of community. You’ll gain insights from real-time sales data from over 4,000 stores—making it easy to stock top-performing inventory in just 20 minutes a week. No manual effort required—just tag the items.

 

🔹 Updated User Interface:  We’re working to make The Edge more intuitive and easier to navigate. While we’ve always prioritized function, we’re now turning our attention to form. A redesigned Repair Intake screen is coming soon—and we think you’ll love it.

 

🔹 Mobile Selling:  We’ve tested a $289 Windows 11 Pro tablet (12GB RAM, 3.4GHz processor, 10.1” screen, detachable keyboard) that works great for mobile sales and conducting physical inventory - with a scanner attached.

 

🔹 QR Code Tags:  We’re experimenting with using the tablet camera to scan jewelry tags via QR codes, potentially eliminating the need for a separate barcode scanner. We’ll keep you posted as this develops.

 

And Above All...

Please know this: you matter deeply to us.

 

We are committed to helping you thrive in the jewelry industry—today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Sincerely,
Dick Abbott
President, Abbott Jewelry Systems