A Diamond Christmas 2004!
When Archduke Maximillian of Austria bestowed a diamond ring on Mary of Burgundy in 1477, giving a diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was birthed. Prior to this only royalty wore diamonds, believing they symbolized strength and courage. The root of the word diamond comes from the Greek word "adamas", which means unconquerable". Other folklore surrounding diamonds links them to Cupid, whose arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds. A diamond is an exceedingly rare item.
Over 250 tons of ore must be processed to come up with just one 1-carat diamond of any quality. There are five nations in the world which account for over 90% of the world's rough diamond supply, and those are Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Russia and South Africa. Several other countries produce smaller but significant stones, like the Canadian Excellent Cut diamonds from the Arctic circle. Now that we agree that they are rare and quite valuable, why still do we want to give them as gifts? Because they're beautiful! And elegant, dazzling and all the other adjectives she'll likely apply when she opens the gift you've come up with. Diamond jewelry is like nothing else, and if you're looking to make this a Christmas or Holiday to remember, the gift of diamonds will make this an unforgettable Holiday season! So how do you go about purchasing that diamond bauble she's always wanted? Here are some guidelines to follow that will give you the best chance at success! WHAT DOES SHE WEAR NOW? Notice her style now.
To have the best chance at finding a diamond style that compliments her natural chosen style you need to come armed with the knowledge of several things. Some of those include does she like classic, contemporary, or vintage styling? What metals does she wear. Is it exclusively gold, platinum, silver? Does she like bold or muted pieces, and the relative size of the jewelry in her possession now. WHAT SIZE DOES SHE WEAR? You may have to be sort of James Bondish to get this information in order to preserve the surprise, but getting ahold of a ring just long enough to have it sized would be the mission, should you choose to accept it! That said, there is always the option or buying a loose diamond and letting her shop for the setting. You're still a hero and she gets exactly what she wants! THE SHAPE & SETTING Diamonds come in many shapes and settings.
Would she like a round diamond, a marquise cut or oval, a princess cut or emerald, pear or heart; there are many choices available to you to find just the diamond jewelry she wants. When your're out shopping,linger by the jewelry counters long enough to let her look but not long enough to arouse suspicion. You may be rewarded with hints of preference that will help you. Take into consideration the size and shape of her hands. This will have a bearing on how the ring looks on her.
For instance large rings sometimes overwhelm small hands. Try to think proportionately. THE OCCASION What is the occasion? Is it a Christmas or Holiday gift? A birthday bauble? Anniversary? Engagement? Whatever the occasion, know that she'll look upon this gift as something special, a gift of love and endearment. Choose wisely! SHOPPING FOR DIAMOND JEWELRY Choosing where you buy a diamond has never been easier. Besides the plethora of diamond retailers in your very neighborhood, the internet has made diamond shopping incredibly convenient.
Most of the major jewelers have an online presence, and often this will get you more stone for the money, as they have little or no overhead online. Most offer guarantees and return privileges, and buying online is in my view very much safer than handing my credit card to an eighteen year old with a spending problem. Also, as you know if you're reading this, information is readily available online, and suspect at times offline. A website is not on commission or limited so mcuh by inventory as a commissioned salesperson might be. Do some discreet research, gather your data, go online and find the rock of her dreams! Make this a Diamond Christmas!.
Keith Thompson has done more diamond shopping than he cares to admit! This article is available for reprint as long as none of the content or links are changed. Keith is the webmaster of two hot business sites:http://www.DiamondChristmas.com andhttp://www.GiftsForBiz.comkeith@diamondchristmas.comA GREAT TIME FOR A HOLIDAY
Holidays are a blessing to some and others dread their arrival. Why do we have Holidays? Surely celebrating a big event like the Fourth of July or Christmas is definitely time to bring out the decorations and prepare meals fit for a king or queen. But does everyone feel the same - are there always smiles and anticipation? Holidays were created as a respite from our day to day workabout world. Even our founding fathers realized that pioneers and settlers needed that "time out". All through the generations, holidays have served as a means of bringing family, friends, neighbors, and assorted critters together to share a meal, watch a parade, listen to a band, and have fun.
But not all holidays are met with the same amount of enthusiasm. Many people do not relish the idea of gathering with friends or family and would prefer to just keep on working or doing whatever it is they do. This is fine for them, but for others this would eliminate a very vital part of our lives. People celebrate...
A GREAT TIME FOR A HOLIDAY
Christmas > A GREAT TIME FOR A HOLIDAY
12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales
The following is my 12-month promotional marketing calendar. Keep it handy, as you'll need to refer to it throughout the coming year when forecasting your promotional messages. By no means is this list exhaustive. In fact, you should add to it based on your industry-related activities. There are many holidays throughout the year that may be a natural tie-in with your product or service, such as National Book Week in January, if you're an author or editorial-related service or American Heart Month in February, if you sell health-related services or products.
My calendar list focuses on the major holidays when most Americans have been trained to spend extra money or participate in a ceremonial activity. Generally speaking, you want to link your marketing promotions to a time of year when customers have their wallets out. Thus, you're simply positioning your product or service as the perfect gift or solution for the celebrated event. Be PreparedYou can never be too early in preparing...
12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales
Christmas > 12-month 2005 Marketing Calendar that Boost Sales
Never Pay Full Price for a Book!
Are you an avid reader? Are you trying to instill a love of reading in your children? My whole family loves to read! Right before bedtime every night, every one of us can be found with our nose in a book! It would be very easy for us to spend a fortune every month on books. But, since we don't have a fortune to spend every month, over the years I've found several ways to get good books and never pay full price! 1. Garage and yard sales are a prime source for both hardback and paperback books. There are people who will buy a book, read it once, and they're ready to get rid of it. I pick up lots of books at yard sales and never pay more than 50 cents each.
2. Used bookstores are another place to find good reading material. Store policies differ but most do something like sell the books at half the cover price. If you bring in books to trade, a store will usually give you credit for one-fourth of the original purchase price. I sometimes buy books at garage sales for 50 cents, read...
Never Pay Full Price for a Book!
Christmas > Never Pay Full Price for a Book!
College Logoed i-Pod and Tech Accessories Hot Selling Christmas Gift for College Students and Alumni
(ContentDesk) December 3, 2005 -- If you think the Apple iPod is a major hit - then take a look at the phenomenal secondary market in accessories and add-on toys that the iPods popularity has spawned: sound systems and speakers for home and auto to play your tunes wherever you are, wireless remotes, voice recorders, skins and cases to cover every conceivable fashion moment...one Japanese company even offers coolers and purses with iPod speakers, so you can "share" your music on picnics or shopping!According to Bob Schroeder, owner of Licensed to Sell, an EBay store that specializes in NCAA licensed college and sports logoed gifts, one of the hottest Christmas gifts is a new leather iPod case, emblazoned with college logos. Not being an iPod owner myself, I had no idea how popular these would be, says Schroeder, a 25 year veteran of the gift industry. But we seem to have a triple
play going on with college logoed techie toys - we carry optical mice, Flash memory sticks...
Christmas > College Logoed i-Pod and Tech Accessories Hot Selling Christmas Gift for College Students and Alumni