ColumnistsMay 17, 2022
What You Need to Know About the Google Analytics 4 RolloutColumnistsMay 24, 2022
The PR Adviser: 10 Questions to Contemplate
Columnist Lilian Raji wants to walk you through the customer journey. But first, she’d like you to answer a few questions.
Lilian Raji is a strategic communications and PR adviser who helps companies understand their marketing problems, then designs and executes strategies to solve them.
Greetings, my beloved readers!
When we last left off, I gave you the rallying cry of “give me evolution or give death,” preparing you for the changes ahead as I help you to become a lean, mean jewelry-selling machine. And then I disappeared for three months!
My sincerest apologies, alas, as the last three months have not been without their challenges, replete with a trifecta of major issues to test my adaptability.
First, there was a sudden and unexpected move from one apartment to another.
Second was an emergency room visit during my move because of excruciating abdominal pain, revealing a kidney infection. This forced me to take a long, hard look at how I treated my body and subsequently led me to a new health-focused lifestyle that has me feeling better than I have in 20 years.
Third, there was an emergency two-week trip to Atlanta to take care of my mother, who had suddenly fallen ill.
My time with her helped renew her spirit after losing me to Miami a year ago and her dog to cancer three months after I left. She is now in good health and back to her fighting self, which, as you can imagine since you know her daughter, was really the only possible outcome.
I share this with you as caveat emptor in preparing for your evolution. Things are going to arise beyond your control as you venture down this path and you’ll have to just roll with the punches. I believe the saying is “man plans, and God laughs.”
I give you permission to punch back, but always strategically. Note how I came out ahead in all the chaos? This is what evolution ultimately is about, being better than you were the day before.
Now, shall we begin?
Where we begin is with the customer journey.
You probably have heard this phrase 1,001 times by now since I first brought it up three years ago. If you haven’t, the customer journey is simply all the steps it took for someone to finally become your customer.
It begins the moment they first hear your name and continues until they finally buy from you.
Some people like to end here but I believe the journey never ends—not if you want to have a ready audience enthusiastically awaiting your next collection. As long as you’re in business, you want your customers to always continue journeying with you.
Related stories will be right here …
When we last left off, I gave you the rallying cry of “give me evolution or give death,” preparing you for the changes ahead as I help you to become a lean, mean jewelry-selling machine. And then I disappeared for three months!
My sincerest apologies, alas, as the last three months have not been without their challenges, replete with a trifecta of major issues to test my adaptability.
First, there was a sudden and unexpected move from one apartment to another.
Second was an emergency room visit during my move because of excruciating abdominal pain, revealing a kidney infection. This forced me to take a long, hard look at how I treated my body and subsequently led me to a new health-focused lifestyle that has me feeling better than I have in 20 years.
Third, there was an emergency two-week trip to Atlanta to take care of my mother, who had suddenly fallen ill.
My time with her helped renew her spirit after losing me to Miami a year ago and her dog to cancer three months after I left. She is now in good health and back to her fighting self, which, as you can imagine since you know her daughter, was really the only possible outcome.
I share this with you as caveat emptor in preparing for your evolution. Things are going to arise beyond your control as you venture down this path and you’ll have to just roll with the punches. I believe the saying is “man plans, and God laughs.”
I give you permission to punch back, but always strategically. Note how I came out ahead in all the chaos? This is what evolution ultimately is about, being better than you were the day before.
Now, shall we begin?
Where we begin is with the customer journey.
You probably have heard this phrase 1,001 times by now since I first brought it up three years ago. If you haven’t, the customer journey is simply all the steps it took for someone to finally become your customer.
It begins the moment they first hear your name and continues until they finally buy from you.
Some people like to end here but I believe the journey never ends—not if you want to have a ready audience enthusiastically awaiting your next collection. As long as you’re in business, you want your customers to always continue journeying with you.
Over the next few months, we’re going to cover your role in every part of the customer journey.
You have a lot more influence over how someone first learns about you than you think. This is where PR and publicity come in and act as, perhaps, the strongest accelerators in the customer journey.
Here is when the future customer first reads about you in a magazine or blog.
It could also happen via the original PR—they learn of you from a friend. (Technically, it’s called word-of-mouth, but I am claiming it as the “original PR” for public relations professionals everywhere.)
Another route is through social media, which has become the most domineering source when used correctly.
Simply setting up an Instagram account is not going to flood your business with orders. But applying creativity in your posts and a bit of advertising will. We’ll cover this.
But first, before you run off to layer yourself in every last piece of your jewelry and film yourself doing the Humpty Dance in hopes of going viral, let’s take a huge step back.
Whenever I begin working with new clients, I make them complete a 12-page questionnaire. They hate it.
Everyone hates it, except for me of course. I love it because the answers always give me deep insight into not just how the client thinks, but also why they need me in the first place.
“You can literally put words in the mouth of people who write or talk about your brand. [So] you must be crystal clear on how you want others to talk about you.”
Take, for instance, this question: Why should someone buy from you?
If I had a dollar for every time the answers begin “because we only use high-quality materials” or “our customer service is white glove” or some variation of being the best, I’d have a villa in Tuscany. And if I got a dollar for how many of you thought these things when you first read the question a moment ago, I could probably challenge Elon Musk for the rights to Twitter.
If you can’t give me an original reason as to why I should buy your jewelry or shop in your store, why should a potential customer bother?
I’m feeling some eye rolls emanating from those who are wondering what any of this has to do with selling jewelry.
Let’s go back to the beginning of the customer journey. How does your customer first learn about you? If they’re reading about you in a magazine or their friends are telling them about you, what do you want them to say?
You know you have control over this, right?
You can literally put words in the mouth of people who write or talk about your brand. With such great power comes the responsibility of knowing exactly what you want them to say. This is the reason for 12 pages of questions. You must be crystal clear on how you want others to talk about you.
Here are more questions for you to contemplate:
• Why was your company started?
• What are your company’s greatest strengths?
• What motivates you to keep going with the company?
• What must change for your company to become a leader in the marketplace?
• How are your company’s products different than others? What needs do they meet that make it a must for consumers to have?
• Describe your ideal customer, the person who wears your jewelry. Who are they? What are they like?
• What do they see in your jewelry that makes them want to own one of your pieces?
• What do you want prospective customers to think about your company?
• Why should they believe it?
I know, I know! You immediately want to jump into how I’m going to help you make Harry Winston jealous of your success.
But, as I’ve learned in my years of racing cars as a hobby, we must slow down in order to speed up.
Take this next month to really answer these questions. And if you’re a teacher’s pet type, feel free to email me your answers at lilian@lmrpr.com.
We’ll continue the customer journey in my next column.
However, I might just squeeze one column in between to directly address anyone who emails me their answers. Don’t worry, no names or identifying information will be revealed. I only want to help.
Until next month, my friends!
• Why was your company started?
• What are your company’s greatest strengths?
• What motivates you to keep going with the company?
• What must change for your company to become a leader in the marketplace?
• How are your company’s products different than others? What needs do they meet that make it a must for consumers to have?
• Describe your ideal customer, the person who wears your jewelry. Who are they? What are they like?
• What do they see in your jewelry that makes them want to own one of your pieces?
• What do you want prospective customers to think about your company?
• Why should they believe it?
I know, I know! You immediately want to jump into how I’m going to help you make Harry Winston jealous of your success.
But, as I’ve learned in my years of racing cars as a hobby, we must slow down in order to speed up.
Take this next month to really answer these questions. And if you’re a teacher’s pet type, feel free to email me your answers at lilian@lmrpr.com.
We’ll continue the customer journey in my next column.
However, I might just squeeze one column in between to directly address anyone who emails me their answers. Don’t worry, no names or identifying information will be revealed. I only want to help.
Until next month, my friends!
More on Columnists
The Latest
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink DiamondThe Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2025
The NYC Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show Returns in NovemberNYCJAOS is set for Nov. 21-23 in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
