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Originally Posted by Pearlsintime  The Macro Cascades over the Micro in this case, all lux products will take a varied hit over the next few quarters world wide. In my honest opinion this would be the time you make a even more concerted effort into providing the absolute highest quality product without even thinking about cutting a single corner... the bottom-line is never cut corners to try and increase profit. |
I think the same is actually quite true for consumers too. This is a great opportunity to focus a limited luxury budget on supporting quality goods, including the pure nacre FWs we believe will be increasingly valuable if/when FW bead nucleation matures.
Then, at the end of the slump, the best companies will still be comparatively strong, and people who love durable fine goods will have collections they might never have enjoyed in a boom.
While perusing pearls, I saw an eBay listing by a woman who said she was liquidating her Trollbead collection to help her child pay for college. First, that's tragic because that education makes the student an even greater asset to the country and no one should have to scrape out the trinket box for it. But even worse, whatever she paid for that stuff was at least 50% pure, perishable novelty.
I suppose she might say the same of my gadget infatuation, though at least most electronics do something useful. It reminded me of how trends drain wealth and heirloom-quality goods can help maximize it or build it a bit.
Speaking of building wealth, perhaps companies whose sales are down could look at something like add-a-pearl, but for much higher-end merchandise. I don't know how many middle class consumers will go for a $10k strand of pearls in the next two years, but I'd suspect there's plenty who'd get halfway through a strand of large, rare FWs or South Seas treating themselves once in a while and building them onto a chain. Maybe brooches will come back into style. Small, affordable luxury, etc.
Ultimately, this may be a good economic culture in which to raise the profile of fine FW pearls. Just not before I own 10 strands, OK?
