In the Loupe
Weekly ecommerce podcast by Punchmark (a leading jewelry industry web agency) focused on the topics that matter to retail jewelers online. Host Michael Burpoe and guests explain key ecommerce concepts, digital marketing, and online strategies in simple terms – highlighting why a strong web presence is critical for jewelers now more than ever.
What Stephen Barnes Learned From His First Year as Owner of IJO
In this episode of In The Loop, Stephen Barnes reflects on his first year as owner of IJO, one of the jewelry industry's largest buying groups. He notes that ownership has given him full financial decision‑making authority, but the day‑to‑day leadership feels much the same as his prior role as president. Barnes highlights the success of recent IJO shows—especially the Colorado Springs event at the Broadmoor—and previews a upcoming show in Charlotte, NC. He also discusses how fluctuating gold prices and global events, like the Middle East conflict, are affecting retailers and vendors, emphasizing that demand for jewelry remains resilient despite price volatility.
Proactive by Design: How Punchmark Is Reshaping Online Jewelry Retail
In this episode of In The Loop, CEO and co‑founder Ross Cockrum discusses how Punchmark has streamlined its platform, enabling rapid feature releases and boosting client morale, highlighted by a surge in "be‑back" customers. He explains the new payment gateway...
Exclusive First Interview with Edge Retail Academy's New CEO Ft. Becka Johnson Kibby
In this episode, Michael Burpo interviews Becca Johnson‑Kibbe, the newly appointed CEO of Edge Retail Academy, about the company's role as a business‑coaching and data‑analytics arm of the Edge POS system, the industry’s most widely used jewelry point‑of‑sale platform. Becca...
Gold, Growth, And Getting Better Ft. Ostbye
In this episode, Craig MacBean, President of Ostbye, discusses navigating market volatility, especially with rising gold prices and unpredictable tariffs, while maintaining the core culture of the business after a recent acquisition. He emphasizes the importance of smart operations, leveraging...
Charming Commerce Ft. Rembrandt Charms
In this episode, host interviews Eric Lux, President of Rembrandt Charms, about the booming online market for charms and the factors driving high conversion rates. Lux explains how vertical integration ensures consistent inventory on retail shelves and streamlines fulfillment. He...
Unpacking 2025 Engagement Ring Trends & Data Ft. StoneAlgo
In this episode, StoneAlgo CEO Devin Jones explains how their human concierge service converts website traffic into verified, high‑intent appointments for jewelers. He also reveals the 2025 engagement‑ring trends report, highlighting shifts between lab‑grown and natural diamonds, including rising consumer...
Season 7 Kickoff: What I'm Thinking About for 2026
In the Season 7 kickoff, the hosts outline a shift toward substance by featuring vendor stories without sales pitches, sharing data-driven insights, and announcing platform upgrades that simplify online selling. They present a bold 2026 forecast, tracking ADA compliance progress,...
Wrapping Up 2025 - The Best Bits
The episode recaps ten pivotal moments from the past year, covering AI-driven pricing tools and the push for fair markups, the scaling role of JewelCraft as a jeweler’s jeweler, and Google Workspace’s importance for collaboration. It also examines gold price...