Let’s create jewelry people can’t live without.

First time reading? Come join!

Hey, it’s Jenessa.

In today’s issue:

• Deep Dive: The First Rule of Selling Luxury (That Chanel Forgot)…

•DEEP DIVE

What Do Chanel, Bethenny Frankel, and a Bread Basket Have to Do With Selling Jewelry?

Stick with me…

Because this story about a celebrity being turned away at a luxury boutique reveals something crucial about how we treat our clients (and how we define luxury in the first place).

Whether you sell fine jewelry, design interiors, or run a creative business, these five snob-free strategies will help you elevate your luxury brand without losing your humanity.

I Have a Confession: I'm a Total Pop Culture Addict

I can't help myself.

When I'm not working on jewelry, I'm probably lost in a social media spiral—keeping up on celebrity drama, fashion trends, and online feuds.

Honestly, it's hereditary.

When I was a kid in the ’80s, visiting my grandparents meant spending time in their family room, sitting next to a space heater that buzzed like a hornet’s nest, across from a towering stack of gossip magazines always within arm’s reach.

They had all the good ones—from People and Us Weekly to the truly trashy National Enquirer, complete with sightings of Elvis, Bigfoot, and the occasional alien baby.

So yeah—pop culture is in my DNA.

Which is why I couldn't look away when Bethenny Frankel—former Real Housewives of New York star and founder of the Skinnygirl brand—called out Chanel for refusing to let her into their Chicago boutique.

😳 The Chanel Showdown

Here's what went down...

Bethenny had just gotten off a plane, still in a sweaty T-shirt and no makeup.

She tried popping into a Chanel boutique—only to have the door barely cracked open…

No smile…

No greeting…

Just a rude, "Do you have an appointment?"

She didn't.

And she was turned away.

She was furious about how rudely she was treated and believed it might have been because she wasn’t “dolled up” or dressed to “look wealthy.”

To prove her point, she returned to Chanel the next day, dressed to the nines in a tweed suit and heels.

This time?

She was greeted warmly, welcomed inside, and given the complete luxury treatment.

She shared the whole experience on social media, calling it “elitist and exclusionary.”

It wasn't the required appointment policy she had a problem with—that part made sense.

Her problem was simple—

Selling luxury doesn't excuse rude behavior. Even if you have an appointment-only policy, there's still a way to enforce it with kindness and professionalism.

As Frankel put it:

💎 How Do You Sell Luxury—Without the Ick?

Luxury feels gross when it's wrapped in snobbery.

But real luxury isn't about being cold or condescending—it's about meaningful connection, exceptional craftsmanship, and creating a thoughtful experience from the first hello to the final thank-you note.

So, how do you apply that to selling high-end jewelry?

Here's your cheat sheet.

✨ 5 Luxury Marketing Tactics (That Actually Work)

These are straight from the Chanel / Hermès / Burberry playbook—and 100% usable in your jewelry business.

No rudeness allowed.

1. Controlled Scarcity (Limited Access)

What They Do: Hermès intentionally makes Birkins hard to get. Chanel quietly retires specific colors and styles.

How You Can Use It:

2. Price Integrity

What They Do: Luxury brands never offer discounts. Chanel often raises prices to increase prestige.

How You Can Use It:

3. Storytelling & Heritage

What They Do: Burberry leans on its 1856 British roots. Hermès handcrafts each piece in France.

How You Can Use It:

4. Private Client Experience

What They Do: Chanel has private salons. Hermès keeps detailed notes on returning clients.

How You Can Use It:

5. Visual Consistency

What They Do: Everything matches, from fonts to photography to the tissue paper in their boxes.

How You Can Use It:

🧠 Bonus Wisdom from Bethenny Frankel

I'm paraphrasing here, but during one of her rants about the whole Chanel situation, Frankel put the luxury experience into a refreshingly simple—and spot-on—analogy:

And she's right.

Luxury isn't just about the product—it's about how you make someone feel the moment they encounter your brand.

That's a wrap!

Until next time, let’s continue creating jewelry people can’t live without!