Is it difficult to buy jewellery online?

Many people say that to me when I tell them about JAM Gallery.

However, it can't be that difficult as there are some very successful online jewellers out there. I think it is a matter of the level of confidence that the purchaser has in the site they are buying from.

Also, when you speak to people who regularly buy online, they have a different attitude to their purchasing. Savvy online shoppers do not think twice about buying 3 or 4 items from one store, then trying them on at home to decide which one (or two) they will keep. Yes, they have to go to the post office to return them but when you consider the convenience of being able to try them on at home with outfits you already have AND ask your friends/boyfriend if they like them, it is time well-spent.

It means that you have an original piece of jewellery that very few people have access to without having to treck over to a different part of town (or a different city) to pick it up.

Think about it and while you are doing that, go to www.jamgallery.co.uk to find some beautiful jewellery worthy of all this effort!

Giving up wine is bad for you.

It happens every January - my husband gives up drinking and insists that I join him. I gave up drinking while pregnant (3 times), I say. I don't need to give up drinking. But he still says 'having a glass of wine, are you?' when I have a glass of wine and makes me feel guilty.

I wouldn't mind giving up drinking if it made me feel good but actually I feel dreadful. Since 1st January, I have had a cold, a cough, a migraine and almost daily sense of missing out that comes around at 6pm. Nothing that a good glass of wine couldn't cure.

Don't misunderstand me, I don't drink a lot - it's just a little treat that I award myself a couple of times a week and at the weekends. A glass of something delicious at the end of the day. Like Prosecco... Sauvignon Blanc... or Beaujolais Villages.

I think I have just given up giving up drinking!

You can count on jewellery...

So Christmas has come and gone and all we have to show for it is an expanded waistline. I ask myself every January - Why do I let myself go so much and allow excess to become the norm instead of the exception?

Oh well, the sales are on and even though none of my trousers fit anymore, there is always jewellery. It doesn't matter how big your bum is, nice jewellery still looks nice! And the same goes for shoes and handbags.

I always think that this is the main reason why women are so weak when it comes to these things. No matter what kind of a day you are having, a beautiful piece of jewellery will always look appealing and will make you feel good about yourself.

Jewellery is linked to self-esteem and therefore is compulsory. Enjoy some with our blessing at the jamgallery.co.uk 20% off sale.

How much shopping have you done and do you feel calm and organised?

So we have less than 2 weeks to go till the big day and the pressure is starting to build. Early on in the month, it's great as there is a wonderful feeling of anticipation and excitement about putting up the decorations, making lists of things to organise and people to see. There is also the small matter of Christmas presents.

Every year, I start off feeling excited about having an excuse to spoil everyone I know. I see things in the shops and think 'that will be prefect for ...'. As the month progresses, however, I forget what I saw and who I need to buy for. It all becomes less enjoyable and more of a chore.

There are some who start planning Christmas in January. They are the smug ones who have completed their gift-buying by October and their wrapping by 1st December. They are clever as they spread the cost too.

I am not one of those. If I started that early, I would surely misplace most of the things or forget that I bought something and buy two. I bought a game for my son at the end of November and spent most of this weekend searching the house for it to no avail. I know it will turn up eventually - probably around March!

Anyway, Christmas will come and go. We will all have a lovely time with our families and it won't really matter who gets what or if I forgot someone. The embarrassment of someone arriving at my house with a present when I haven't got one for them only lasts a few days...!

So, I'm off to check my shopping list and my memory for who I forgot last year. Enjoy the shopping - 'tis but once a year that we can buy, buy, buy!

Well, suddenly everyone is thinking about Christmas.

I think that's because all our children and grandchildren have started reahearsing their Christmas plays and we have to work out how to dress them as sheep or in my case, Saxon Farmers. Nothing that a pair of tights and some earthy-coloured fabric can't fix.

The shops are busy which is great news as things for everyone have been slow for a while. People who love shopping are grateful to have an excuse to shop again!

They switched on the Christmas Lights in Richmond on Friday and it was so crisp and cold. Just like I imagine Victorian Christmases used to be. We were all huddled round the local Richmond Hill butchers barbecue waiting for lovely warm sausages and listening to the school choir sing carols. Oh nostalgia!

In the JAM Gallery shop, we are preparing for Arundel by Candlelight on 11th. That's when the town lights are switched on and we serve sparkling wine in the shop from 2 til 7pm. The whole town gets involved and its another lovely Christmas thing for us to take part in.

Bring it on! It's the most wonderful time of the year, of course.

Pre-launch angst

So excited about our new site being launched tomorrow but obviously quite stressed too. There is just so much to do!

I am planning a little launch party at my house tomorrow so not only is there jewellery to organise but also wine, nibbles and how to display everything.

I hope we have lots of guests. So excited to show off our lovely new stock which is quite different from our usual style. That is what is so exciting about working with Jackie our MD and buyer - she won't just get the same old stuff because it sells well (and it does, trust me!) because she loves new and different things and bringing unique individual jewellery to the market is what she loves to do.

That's why her shop does so well and why the site is going to be great too.

There we go, I have made myself feel much better by chatting out loud to you all... Thank you!

I'll update you on how the party went on Friday. Don't forget to check out www.jamgallery.co.uk

Vintage dreams

We have just been discussing making some of our own vintage necklaces and bracelets.

It would be a very exciting new departure for us as usually we only make semi-precious and silver items but we absolutely LOVE the new vintage trend and would like to try our hand at it.

Jean who makes the jewellery is up for it and Jackie our buyer and MD is going to source the raw materials so watch this space.

Lots of lovely photos will follow!

We are back

Sorry we have not been blogging for a long time but now we are back and exciting things are happening at Jam Gallery. Whilst the shop has continued to thrive over the past few months, we have also been working hard on re-designing our online shop at www.jamgallery.co.uk

It's not quite ready yet but we are hoping to have everything live by Friday 12th November 2010 so keep an eye out for our gorgeous new look and new products to tempt you.

Good afternoon everyone.
High spirits at Jam Gallery reign supreme.We are waitng we are waiting.For what??????
For the very ultra beautiful jewellery winging its way to Arundel all the way from an architects studio in venice.Very nice.I will put a link in when it arrives.There have been numerous pre arrival orders so we are very excited.
Our lady in Sussex Claire is doing another jewellery party for us tonight.Poor girl, it always seems to rain heavily when she does these events.But it seems that she is happy to go on doing them.If you are interested in jewellery parties-doing or having then drop us a line or come in.Its a decent earner!!
Bye Bye Bye,
dominic

Good afternoon everyone.
The shop did well today.And we also had a few good internet sales.
However, the day started a little rough, as Jackie the owner, walked in,in a bad mood thanks to the weather and i was tired and hungry due to my daily wake up call of 5.30 am. and rather small breakfast.
We are in the process of setting up another trade fair in Earls court.Jan 17th-19th.
We only have one product- a silk sari bracelet.More on that at a later date.
Im off.
bye bye.

Hola everyone.
Thank god the sun is shining.We've had a hard time of it over the past 3 or 4 days.
Arundel-the shops location, is being or rather has been dug up.It's the pipes, they tell us.The weather was terrible the recession was on and Arundel was under seige from the men in orange with their pneumatic drills.Just to top it off the local radio chipped in by kindly warning people to stay away from Arundel this weekend.
As i was saying.The sun is shining and we got off to a flying start this morning selling one of our favorites from Gail Klevan.
Fingers crossed for the rest of the week.
And a big kiss to all those who have already started to do their christmas shopping.
Until tomorrow.
Dominic

Well today was difficult.Builders are building a new road outside the shop.Human traffic is non existant, oh dear oh dear.On the bright side, jean a colleague had a jewellery making class today upstairs in the workshop.It was as far as icould tell from all the oohhs and agghhhs a rather exciting class where i hope she took on board a lot of money making tips.Well done Jean.
Im off to watch the football so can't stay long,bye bye bye.cmon chelsea.

Monday monday

What a great weekend for the shop.Apart from sunday morning which was not surprising seen as though the weather was more patagonia than west sussex.
We sold out on our stock of Oceanic which is now a real staple for us.Thank god we found them when the recession hit.The prices are cheap but the quality of design and materials are surprisingly high.
We recieved bags.Handbags clutch bags big bags and small bags, all from Blondie mania.These really are high quality items,although i must admit, being a man i can't really see the with the eyes of a woman when it comes to an item as bland as a bag.However, i am assured by many that these are to die for!!
Today was quiet.My mother and i got on with a lot of paperwork.We listened to some good music on the shops mp3 and turned it up for a couple of rolling stones and Jimi Hendrix records.Don't we live dangerously!!!
Blondie mania bags will be on the website this week.Don't miss out.
dominic

Good Afternoon,
All is well in Arundel.The shop did very well today.
But i am in a double rush so i can't talk for too long.
We just had vogue ring us up.Apparantly they are doing
big big price cuts on the advertising editorial they run.
Do i want to advertise???
I dont know.There are so many things we need to spend our
money on. Bills included,even though we tend to put them to
the back of the pile...haha!
Here we go.My mum-Jackie, just walked in the shop.She is the
owner.The big boss.She has exellent taste but is not very
logical or tidy!!Thank god she can't turn on the computer.
Bye bye bye

Hard day at work but very rewarding indeed.
We sold loads of Hello Hitty stuff mainly because of the kids school holidays.
We also recieved an order from Blondie Mania bags.They are great sellers exellent value
and super quality.
Im tired so will retreat to my home.Its ok it is only a 4 minute walk.Lucky me.
Roll on Thursady....

At last we are part of the blogging world.
Hi!My name is Dominic.I run a small boutique shop in Arundel west sussex in England.
It is my mothers shop.We sell mainly jewellery.Unique unusual or very pretty that is the staple.
The best part of running the shop is definately the buying.We go all over the globe to purchase.Infact i started to buy for my mothers shop when i lived in India for a couple of years.
Anyway there is a lot to tell but i have customers in the shop so i must go now.
Today by the way has been an alright day, quite productive really plus we got a new consignment from a well known singer/jewellery maker, it is called Punky Allsorts very funky quite young and quite a hit for christmas.
http://www.jamgallery.co.uk/