Does your jewelry store have a written business plan?
If not, it’s time to write one.
Whether you’re opening a new jewelry store or you’ve been running your business for a while, a written business plan helps you make decisions, set goals, and navigate challenges. In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about writing a jewelry store business plan, plus 10 essential topics to include.
A business plan is a written document that contains key information about your business. Putting your jewelry store business plan down on paper prompts you to make important decisions about your business and record them somewhere you can refer to in the future. This helps you think through these decisions so you can employ an effective and consistent strategy.
A written business plan prepares you to communicate information about your business to important stakeholders, including investors and other lenders. The more well-thought-out your plan is, the more trust you can build in your business. A business plan also keeps you accountable to the goals you’ve set.
While not every business plan is the same, there are essential sections every plan should include. For example, a business plan typically begins with an executive summary and company description. Every business plan should also have an appendix for important documents and details related to the business that might be distracting if placed in another section.
Other sections should include details about a company’s customers, products and services, financial information, and more. Here, we’ll go through the 10 most important sections to include in your jewelry store business plan.
The executive summary is a brief overview of all of the other sections of your business plan. If someone only reads the executive summary, they should have a basic idea of what your business is and what it does. Briefly go over the products and services you offer, who your customers are, and what your most important goals are. Keep the executive summary to a page or two.
A company description allows you to go into more detail about the most important aspects of your business. If you’re already operating, emphasize your business’ strengths and achievements. If you’re starting a new business, emphasize its potential for success.
Before you start conducting business, do extensive research on the local jewelry market, including customers and competitors. Determine who’s most likely to buy your products and start thinking about how you can cater to this audience.
Research similar businesses in the area. In this case, look at other jewelry stores. Ask yourself: Is there enough demand in your area to justify a new jewelry store? If there are similar businesses, think about how you can differentiate your store.
Record all of these findings in your business plan. Communicate why you believe your jewelry store will be successful given the local market.
Related Read: 5 Jewelry Retail Industry Trends To Look Out for in 2024
When you open a new business, it’s important to have a unique selling proposition (USP), which gives your target market a reason to choose your jewelry store over a competitor. A USP becomes part of your brand identity and may become what customers know you for.
In the jewelry industry, you may choose to be known for one of these qualities:
Record in your business plan what your USP is and why it will interest customers.
As you think about which products and services to offer at your jewelry store, be sure to consider the research you’ve done. Determine which products and services are most in demand and choose products that are compatible with your USP and brand.
At a jewelry store, there are a variety of materials and items. Will you stock rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, all of the above, or a mix of a few? Will you emphasize more standard materials like diamonds or unique, rare items?
Your product mix may change over time in response to trends in the market and adjustments to your strategy, but record a rough outline of the products and services you’ll offer in your business. This will help you stay consistent and create a recognizable brand.
Related Read: 8 Jewelry Inventory Software Features To Look for [+ 5 Top Providers]
The best way to manage your retail jewelry store’s operations is with a modern point of sale (POS) system. A POS system has features for payment processing, inventory management, e-commerce, marketing, and much more.
Do your research to find the POS system that’s the best fit for your jewelry store. Even if you haven’t made a final decision yet, include details in your business plan about how you’ll use a POS system to manage your store’s operations.
Related Read: What Is the Best POS for Jewelry Stores?
As you set up your business, make decisions about personnel early. As you do, ask yourself these questions:
Answer all of these questions and record your employment policies in your business plan. Setting employment policies from the get-go will make you more prepared to address issues that arise with employees and will help you keep your jewelry store running smoothly.
To start a business, you need capital. Some business owners have the means to partially or fully finance a business by themselves. If, like most business owners, you don’t have the means to do this by yourself, you’ll need to take out a loan from a bank or find an investor.
You may be writing your business plan to present to a potential investor, in which case you wouldn't have funding secured yet. If this is the case, write your plan for how you aim to gain funding, how much funding you think you need, and what the money would be used for if and when you secure it.
This is one of the most important sections of your business plan, both for you as a business owner and for potential investors who will read it. This is where you predict how much money running your business will cost and how much revenue you think your business can earn, so you can determine how much profit you think you can make.
When it comes to revenue, you’ll have to do some estimating — but the more research you do about the industry and landscape, the better your estimate will be. Be sure to account for the cost of renting or buying retail space, your inventory, marketing, paying employees, and any other business expense you’ll incur.
Try to communicate your estimates clearly in the written business plan. For clarity, you can add graphics and charts to show financial projections. Make it easy for someone who needs to quickly skim over your business plan to understand your budget and your estimated revenue and profit.
Your jewelry store’s business plan should include information about your marketing strategy. There are a variety of ways to get the word out about your business, including traditional print methods and digital methods.
Social media is a valuable marketing tool. You can create accounts for your jewelry store on social media platforms to promote your products and services, spread the word about special deals, and engage in cross-promotion with other individuals and organizations. You can post ads on social media platforms and other sites like Google and YouTube.
You can also use traditional methods like flyers, posters, and billboards to advertise your jewelry store. Determine which strategy will be most effective for your target audience and include details in your business plan about your marketing strategy.
Related Read: How To Market a Jewelry Store: 7 Tips & Tools
The appendix is the place in your business plan for extra documents and resources that pertain to the business. Here you might include product information, licenses and permits, legal documents, and more.
A written business plan helps you develop and implement an effective business strategy, and keeps you accountable to that strategy. It helps you prepare for unexpected challenges you may encounter as you run your business. It also helps you build trust in your business’ potential among its stakeholders and helps you secure funding from investors.
By including these sections, you can create a comprehensive jewelry store business plan that explains everything someone needs to know about your business and guides you towards your most important goals.
To achieve your business’ full potential, you also need a POS system to help you manage your operations. POS systems automate tasks that business owners used to do by hand, saving you time and money.
Jewel360 is a cloud-based system designed specifically for jewelry stores, and is equipped with jewelry-specific features like repair management and access to the best jewelry suppliers in the business.
To see what Jewel360 can do for your store, schedule a demo today!