Gemporia - struggling financially?

[TheManWithNoName]

Yes me too. I love my gemstones, and would be very sad if Gemporia was no longer. I just hope that it is not too late.

Hopefully with Steve's involvement being minimal over the past few years, he can come in and look at things with "fresh eyes" - whereas with Colin, I think it had got to the point where he didn't know how to turn it around.

The three immediate priorities to win customers back, in my opinion, is:

1. Ditch the one-air lectures from Dave, Jake and Toby. This is a MUST. Its been continually raised on the Gemporia Facebook page, on 'unofficial' Gemporia Facebook pages, and on this forum. It's not a few out of many that are complaining. It's a LOT of people.

2. The Jade has to go. Whether its putting it aside for a year before selling it again in smaller batches, or taking a hit by selling it back to the trade (although Jake should be able to sell it at thousands per carat............), people are simply sick of it. It's on Gems TV and Jewellery Maker, continually. Some days, it's literally all they have on Jewellery Maker.

3. The 'tone' and 'Midas' has to go. It looks naff. It doesn't last long. It's junk. Ditch it.

Then focus on quality and prices once they've got those three things sorted as the next priority.

 

[ishoptv]

Hopefully with Steve's involvement being minimal over the past few years, he can come in and look at things with "fresh eyes" - whereas with Colin, I think it had got to the point where he didn't know how to turn it around.

The three immediate priorities to win customers back, in my opinion, is:

1. Ditch the one-air lectures from Dave, Jake and Toby. This is a MUST. Its been continually raised on the Gemporia Facebook page, on 'unofficial' Gemporia Facebook pages, and on this forum. It's not a few out of many that are complaining. It's a LOT of people.

2. The Jade has to go. Whether its putting it aside for a year before selling it again in smaller batches, or taking a hit by selling it back to the trade (although Jake should be able to sell it at thousands per carat............), people are simply sick of it. It's on Gems TV and Jewellery Maker, continually. Some days, it's literally all they have on Jewellery Maker.

3. The 'tone' and 'Midas' has to go. It looks naff. It doesn't last long. It's junk. Ditch it.

Then focus on quality and prices once they've got those three things sorted as the next priority.

Totally agree with all three. Also, bring back live shows at night and the presenters that have gone.

 

[Dazzles]

Hopefully with Steve's involvement being minimal over the past few years, he can come in and look at things with "fresh eyes" - whereas with Colin, I think it had got to the point where he didn't know how to turn it around.

The three immediate priorities to win customers back, in my opinion, is:

1. Ditch the one-air lectures from Dave, Jake and Toby. This is a MUST. Its been continually raised on the Gemporia Facebook page, on 'unofficial' Gemporia Facebook pages, and on this forum. It's not a few out of many that are complaining. It's a LOT of people.

2. The Jade has to go. Whether its putting it aside for a year before selling it again in smaller batches, or taking a hit by selling it back to the trade (although Jake should be able to sell it at thousands per carat............), people are simply sick of it. It's on Gems TV and Jewellery Maker, continually. Some days, it's literally all they have on Jewellery Maker.

3. The 'tone' and 'Midas' has to go. It looks naff. It doesn't last long. It's junk. Ditch it.

Then focus on quality and prices once they've got those three things sorted as the next priority.

Agree with 1 and 2. 3 not so much, as I've never had a problem with Midas and it makes pieces more affordable in my view.....although I've seen some expensive midas on the channel lately for some reason.

I would add:

Go back to the old price pledge policy. Nobody wants to spend £100s more than anyone else because they bought at the wrong time of day or when a piece first came to air. Customers should only feel disappointed for missing an opportunity and never for taking advantage of one a few days or weeks before someone else who comes along and gets it more cheaply. The odd sale or clearance is fine but the policy basically no longer exists. The last pledge I got was from TJC.
Refund within 14 days. Longer is not on and puts people off coming back....and it's not legal. Nobody wants their money tied up for weeks because they trusted you.

 

[AndyW]

Have to say, I don't mind Dave T too much. If I have an off day, he's a bit wearying but he isn't a shouter all of the time. He does have an eye for design, if he's allowed to. I have a black spinel pendant from his "Tendwa" range that is beautiful and has real attention to design, for example the bail is spear-shaped (image attached). Toby is fine. Far less shouty than his time at Rocks&Co and he does know his stuff too. Jake, I'm afraid, does come across a bit like a market trader. Not my favourite but, again, his Fibula collection produced a fabulous axe-shaped brooch with very dispersive zircon and a natural ruby (image attached). It's a real wowser in the afternoon sunshine.

I recently bought Jainey Bennett's coffee mug candle. £19.99 + P&P was a good price. Little risk and it's great. Perfect Christmas present. Smells good too.

So not bad all of the time. As people have said on here, let's hope that Steve & Sarah ring some changes.

 

[AndyW]

Agree with 1 and 2. 3 not so much, as I've never had a problem with Midas and it makes pieces more affordable in my view.....although I've seen some expensive midas on the channel lately for some reason.

I would add:

Go back to the old price pledge policy. Nobody wants to spend £100s more than anyone else because they bought at the wrong time of day or when a piece first came to air. Customers should only feel disappointed for missing an opportunity and never for taking advantage of one a few days or weeks before someone else who comes along and gets it more cheaply. The odd sale or clearance is fine but the policy basically no longer exists. The last pledge I got was from TJC.
Refund within 14 days. Longer is not on and puts people off coming back....and it's not legal. Nobody wants their money tied up for weeks because they trusted you.

I agree on the point about Midas. It's picking the right item, I've found. Bought a unisex ring years ago, when they first did a plated design. The plating came off in very short order, rendering the ring as scrap silver. Partly my fault because I wore it a lot and washed up with it on.

More recently, I bought a brooch from the "Mrs N" collection (image attached). The sort of thing that Gemporia does well; a fantastic back story about an influential female jewellery designer with items that reflected her pieces. Really liked this one.

 

[Anna]

Agree with 1 and 2. 3 not so much, as I've never had a problem with Midas and it makes pieces more affordable in my view.....although I've seen some expensive midas on the channel lately for some reason.

I would add:

Go back to the old price pledge policy. Nobody wants to spend £100s more than anyone else because they bought at the wrong time of day or when a piece first came to air. Customers should only feel disappointed for missing an opportunity and never for taking advantage of one a few days or weeks before someone else who comes along and gets it more cheaply. The odd sale or clearance is fine but the policy basically no longer exists. The last pledge I got was from TJC.
Refund within 14 days. Longer is not on and puts people off coming back....and it's not legal. Nobody wants their money tied up for weeks because they trusted you.

Exactly. They have to regain trust. I've seen items being sold and then they go back on sale at a cheaper price on the website. The long delays with refunds puts me off ordering. I've ended up paying for an item long after I no longer have it If I had just sent it back I would accept that, but a month later is unlawful.

 

[TheManWithNoName]

Midas and plating in general I guess is ok for low contact wear - such as brooches, pendants and earrings - but for rings and bracelets, that are always coming into contact with things, it's useless. It doesn't last.

Sadly, if Lynn Jinks is correct in what she's just said, Jake Thompson has been made managing director. He's part of the problem - not the solution to it, so i expect the lectures from the 3 amigos to remain, along with other dubious claims and tactics.

 

[Deasmum]

Midas and plating in general I guess is ok for low contact wear - such as brooches, pendants and earrings - but for rings and bracelets, that are always coming into contact with things, it's useless. It doesn't last.

Sadly, if Lynn Jinks is correct in what she's just said, Jake Thompson has been made managing director. He's part of the problem - not the solution to it, so i expect the lectures from the 3 amigos to remain, along with other dubious claims and tactics.

I was actually going to post about what Lynn had said but you beat me to it. I am truly surprised, because I too see him as part of the problem. It makes me think that Steve and Sarah's return may not be the laying down of the path to recovery that I expected, if they thought it was a good idea to promote Jake to managing director.

 

[Anna]

Obviously we don't know all the ins and outs, but I too am disppointed in Jake Thompson being made MD. Dave Troth was on again yesterday, so I just knew that things would drag for that hour, so turned off, once more.
I cannot quite get my head around why they think the endless lectures are a good idea. If you are reading Steve, they certainly are not!

 

[rubia]

Obviously we don't know all the ins and outs, but I too am disppointed in Jake Thompson being made MD. Dave Troth was on again yesterday, so I just knew that things would drag for that hour, so turned off, once more.
I cannot quite get my head around why they think the endless lectures are a good idea. If you are reading Steve, they certainly are not!

I missed that announcement from Lynn and that could be because I switched off as soon as I heard her talking about chakra I really am not interested in things like this and how do they think they are specialists in this? It's like Angelina give classes on the menopause???? This is not good imo.

 

[Deasmum]

I missed that announcement from Lynn and that could be because I switched off as soon as I heard her talking about chakra I really am not interested in things like this and how do they think they are specialists in this? It's like Angelina give classes on the menopause???? This is not good imo.

Totally agree with you. They think they are experts in health and wellbeing and dispense advice which I think might potentially be dangerous. I was actually left fuming with the health and vitality candle with affirmation cards. Suggesting we attract health! So it's my fault that I have incurable life limiting cancer: it's because I failed to do the right affirmations, light the right candles and instead of health attracted my cancer and my death in my early thirties???? Sorry about the rant. They just made me so mad!

 

[SnowMoon]

No need to apologise. They're being twats and just focusing on the dollar signs. Big squishy hugs xxx

 

[Anna]

Totally agree with you. They think they are experts in health and wellbeing and dispense advice which I think might potentially be dangerous. I was actually left fuming with the health and vitality candle with affirmation cards. Suggesting we attract health! So it's my fault that I have incurable life limiting cancer: it's because I failed to do the right affirmations, light the right candles and instead of health attracted my cancer and my death in my early thirties???? Sorry about the rant. They just made me so mad!

So sorry about your cancer Deasmum. I don't blame you for being mad. As I don't buy candles I haven't seen these inappropriately named items. Attract health, my you know what. I send you a hug and all my best wishes. xxx

 

[TheManWithNoName]

Dave Troth was on again yesterday, so I just knew that things would drag for that hour, so turned off, once more.

When he came on, I decided to go for a shave.

By the time he had finished talking, i had to go and have another shave.

I was actually going to post about what Lynn had said but you beat me to it. I am truly surprised, because I too see him as part of the problem. It makes me think that Steve and Sarah's return may not be the laying down of the path to recovery that I expected, if they thought it was a good idea to promote Jake to managing director.

Companies need managing directors that are experienced in successfully managing a Company. Promoting friends and family to the role is not a good idea. I'd have thought they would have learnt after Colin that they need a proper leader in the role.

In my opinion, Jake has only been promoted in the company over the years simply because he's married to Steve's daughter.

 

[rubia]

Totally agree with you. They think they are experts in health and wellbeing and dispense advice which I think might potentially be dangerous. I was actually left fuming with the health and vitality candle with affirmation cards. Suggesting we attract health! So it's my fault that I have incurable life limiting cancer: it's because I failed to do the right affirmations, light the right candles and instead of health attracted my cancer and my death in my early thirties???? Sorry about the rant. They just made me so

Totally agree with you. They think they are experts in health and wellbeing and dispense advice which I think might potentially be dangerous. I was actually left fuming with the health and vitality candle with affirmation cards. Suggesting we attract health! So it's my fault that I have incurable life limiting cancer: it's because I failed to do the right affirmations, light the right candles and instead of health attracted my cancer and my death in my early thirties???? Sorry about the rant. They just made me so mad!

Sorry to hear about your cancer I can see why that would make you very mad it should be stopped they have no experience and should never talk about things like that. It's totally wrong to put it out there stay strong.

 

[Dazzles]

Obviously we don't know all the ins and outs, but I too am disppointed in Jake Thompson being made MD. Dave Troth was on again yesterday, so I just knew that things would drag for that hour, so turned off, once more.
I cannot quite get my head around why they think the endless lectures are a good idea. If you are reading Steve, they certainly are not!

The endless waffling is to convince people who wouldn't buy the piece primarily for its look, but for its rarity and perceived value as well. I think it targets a particular demographic that buys often and likes to believe they're slowly building a goldmine. So probably your granny on a half-decent pension who will someday bequeath to you jade Buddha pendants in every colour, bits of shell and other assorted knick-knacks.

 

[Anna]

The endless waffling is to convince people who wouldn't buy the piece primarily for its look, but for its rarity and perceived value as well. I think it targets a particular demographic that buys often and likes to believe they're slowly building a goldmine. So probably your granny on a half-decent pension who will someday bequeath to you jade Buddha pendants in every colour, bits of shell and other assorted knick-knacks.

God, I hope not

 

[TheManWithNoName]

The endless waffling is to convince people who wouldn't buy the piece primarily for its look, but for its rarity and perceived value as well. I think it targets a particular demographic that buys often and likes to believe they're slowly building a goldmine. So probably your granny on a half-decent pension who will someday bequeath to you jade Buddha pendants in every colour, bits of shell and other assorted knick-knacks.

Sadly, there are people that believe it. There's the lady in the VT that says about Gemporia being like "one big family, and you can just communicate with them".

Then there's the lady that used to text in all day, every day, and spent hundreds each week who said she was "building a legacy". She passed away recently - but her family had set up a Just Giving page (or similar funding websites) saying that she'd passed owing a lot of money on bills that needed clearing plus the cost of the funeral.

It's sad when people are made to feel "part of the Gemporia family" to the extent that they're so loyal, that they put buying jewellery over paying essential bills.

 

[Anna]

Sadly, there are people that believe it. There's the lady in the VT that says about Gemporia being like "one big family, and you can just communicate with them".

Then there's the lady that used to text in all day, every day, and spent hundreds each week who said she was "building a legacy". She passed away recently - but her family had set up a Just Giving page (or similar funding websites) saying that she'd passed owing a lot of money on bills that needed clearing plus the cost of the funeral.

It's sad when people are made to feel "part of the Gemporia family" to the extent that they're so loyal, that they put buying jewellery over paying essential bills.

That's so sad to hear.

 

[rubia]

That's so sad to hear.

That's just awful