Mitchell Wein

Today, luxury is no longer just competing with other luxury brands, it’s competing with experiences - the modern shopper isn’t only choosing between items, they’re choosing between how they want to feel. More and more, this choice is defining where customers want to spend their time, attention, and money. In place of a luxury item, it could be a perfect meal, a landmark trip or a moment an experience and feeling they can carry with them. That means the real luxury battleground is no longer just about product, it’s about emotion, immersion, and meaning. To win today, brands must stop asking: “How do we sell more?” And start asking: “How do we matter more?” This requires curated and crafted experiences which meet the customer in new and unexpected ways and places. Moments where they can live the brand experience and take more with them than just a product. In 2025, real-life experiences must be truly liveable. #LuxuryStrategy #CustomerExperience #RetailInnovation #TravelRetail #LuxuryRedefined #EmotionalConnection #BrandRelevance #Luxury2025

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The Coming Split in the Jewelry Market As gold and platinum continue their upward trajectory, an interesting transformation is unfolding in the jewelry world. We’re heading toward a clear market split. On one side, the high-end segment where craftsmanship, rarity, and emotional value matter most will continue to thrive. In this space, customers aren’t buying metal or gemstones alone; they’re investing in meaning, legacy, and the art of fine jewelry. Here, platinum and gold will remain the metals of choice, paired with natural diamonds and precious gemstones that carry enduring emotional and intrinsic value. On the other side, the mainstream market will evolve rapidly. Rising material costs are pushing creativity in new directions: we’ll see more silver and gold-plated jewelry, often set with lab-grown diamonds or semi-precious stones. These will cater to design-driven consumers who seek beauty, fashion, and accessibility without the higher investment threshold. The irony is striking today, a 3-carat lab-grown diamond costs less than the gold required to set it. It’s a sign of the times and a reminder that the materials shaping jewelry’s future are being redefined before our eyes. None of this is “better” or “worse.” It’s simply evolution. Every segment serves its purpose and audience. But one thing feels certain: as prices rise and availability shifts, natural diamonds and rare gemstones will only become more desired and less attainable. Interesting times lie ahead for those of us who love this craft and understand its cycles. The jewelry market is changing shape, and those who adapt with clarity and authenticity will lead the way. What do you think are we witnessing the biggest divide in jewelry since the rise of mass production? #JewelryIndustry #Gold #Platinum #LabGrownDiamonds #NaturalDiamonds #Gemstones #LuxuryMarket #JewelryDesign #Trends #Shimansky

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New Podcast Drop! 🎙️ On the latest Rapaport Diamond Podcast, Sean Dunn, VP of J.R. Dunn Jewelers, joins Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman to discuss the growing importance of diamond origin and traceability. ✨ How blockchain is setting a new standard for transparency ✨ Why provenance matters to consumers and the industry’s future ✨ The story behind J.R. Dunn’s collaboration with Botswana’s Zoe Diamonds ✨ Lab-grown trends, tariffs, and the strength of high-end independents 👉 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/eFvs7eYA #RapaportPodcast #DiamondIndustry #Traceability #Blockchain #JewelryBusiness #Sustainability

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If you only listen to your first-layer customer, you’ll miss the real gold. Gore-Tex. On paper, they sell to brands like Nike, Arc’teryx, and Patagonia. Those brands then sell either D2C or through retailers to the end consumer. The risks of Gore-Tex only speaking to intermediaries: 1/ Immediate customers (brands like Nike, Arc’teryx, Patagonia) give a partial, self-serving view. Their truth may be accurate for them, but not for the whole market 2/ Retailers (REI, Cotswold Outdoor, Amazon, Nordstrom) add another valuable lens but they’ll tell you what makes their metrics better, not necessarily what end users want 3/ End users (hikers, city runners, workers) are the only ones who reveal actual needs, benefits sought, and decision processes If you ignore them, you risk mis-specifying your product, mispricing, mis-communicating the benefit, or misjudging distribution. The upside of listening to the end user: ✅ You uncover the real benefits sought ✅ You speak in consumer language, not technical jargon ✅ You create demand pull that gives you market power over intermediaries ✅ You build equity that protects you from commoditisation Gore-Tex is proof. They could have stayed an invisible supplier. By shifting from technical spec to consumer truth - “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry”- Gore-Tex 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗿𝗲-𝗧𝗲𝘅, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄. ------------------------- ➕ Follow me, David, for more on brand growth and effectiveness

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GR Global is pleased to announce its first shipment of used Nomex III A (Meta-aramid) FR fabric and garments from South Asia is on the water and headed to our aramid recycling facility in Val-des-Sources Quebec. Meta and Para-aramid garments used by industry around the world all have the same disposal problem…they are 100% non-biodegradable. General Recycled is expanding in strategic locations around the globe, offering our closed-loop recycling program of flame-resistant garments to all companies and governments using aramids. Aramids should no longer be sent landfill, as FR garments can be recycled in a cost-effective closed-loop program that works with existing value chains already long established. It starts with a conversation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Natural diamonds are in focus and this is backed by real data. From inventory cycles to sales patterns clubed with retailer feedback and consumer sentiment, except the uncertainty of the tariffs which are looming. While synthetics (LGDs) have undeniably gained traction in specific segments, natural diamonds continue to deliver long-term value as they remain unmatched in rarity, story, and lasting significance. At Finestar, we’ve always stood by the natural diamond business. For us, natural diamonds are more than a product- they represent timeless value, emotional depth, and the essence of true luxury. From that perspective, this resurgence is not a trend- it’s more like a market correction. One that reaffirms what we’ve always believed: natural diamonds are irreplaceable. The trajectory of synthetics was just one of the topics we discussed on the Rapaport Diamond Podcast. You can listen to the full episode here: Podcast: Fancies, Lab-Grown and the JCK Show 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dp-CJiGT #FinestarDiamonds #RapNet #RapaportDiamondPodcast #NaturalDiamonds #NileshChhabria #FancyDiamonds #Traceability #ConsciousLuxury #DiamondIndustry #diamondtrends #trending

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