NEW YORK— Jewelry storage is on the rise. Costume jewelry has become more affordable and consumers have more money to spend on it, vendors said, leading to collections of stackable bracelets, rings and large statement piece necklaces accumulating in the home. While jewelry boxes have been a place for consumers to hide away their valuable baubles, consumers are seeking out solutions to organize their go-to, everyday jewelry, and keep in places where they can easily access and select what they will wear.
“Since the economy is recovering from the crash, people are purchasing more elaborate necklaces and buying more jewelry in general,” said Arielle Dunn, marketing manager, Honey-Can-Do International.
With the affordability of jewelry, consumers can change up their look with every outfit, alternating daily between silver and gold, or mixing and matching the two, noted Ronda Sheldon, senior merchandise manager, Richards Homewares.
Consumers are also faced with an increasing number of places to pick up these impulse buys. Jewelry-focused retailers are popping up, such as Charming Charlies, noted Sheldon, and stores are adding jewelry and accessories to their assortment. “You can walk into almost any clothing store and they have accessory pieces such as necklaces and earrings to make an outfit complete,” said Sheldon.
The consumer is not only collecting costume jewelry, but they are layering: stacking bracelets on their arm or rings on their fingers, combining short and long necklaces, and donning larger statement pieces.
Richards Homewares, at this year’s Housewares Show, dedicated the largest square footage it has ever devoted to the jewelry storage category in its booth, and it is planning to repeat that focus in 2017, said Sheldon. The company showcased everything from stacking jewelry trays and tiered bracelet bars in faux leather to over the door metal jewelry organizers, small and large jewelry boxes, and storage drawers and trays in its new Clearly
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Chic polystyrene organization line.
Consumers are also looking to jewelry organizers as a way to tidily display their wares on a dresser or throughout the home.
“There is a rise in do it yourself jewelry storage. A lot of this can be attributed to the popularity of Pinterest,” said Dunn.
A jewelry organizer, from this standpoint, is also an impulse buy. Ami Wilson, marketing designer, Household Essentials, said that it is “one of those simple things that make things a bit easier. It’s a special present to yourself.”
Some retailers display the organizers on an end cap for Mother’s Day or the holiday season for gift giving, noted vendors. They have been promoted for back to school as well.
Décor driven jewelry organization solutions that allow consumers easy access to their jewelry, while still keeping it untangled and tidy, are trending.
Honey-Can-Do debuted its HCD Refined line of acrylic jewelry storage earlier this year at the Housewares Show, meant to display jewelry on a dresser or vanity, rather than hidden in a box. Having a clear display also allows for easy access.
Accessibility and multi-functionality are key attributes to Umbra’s jewelry organization offerings, said Marisa Battaglia, Umbra’s senior global category manager, décor. For example, Umbra’s Prisma trays can be placed in different areas of the house, such as in the entryway. The trays are a place where consumers can drop rings and watches when they take them off when they get home, and easily find them to put them on when leaving the next day. Offering unisex designs is also important to Umbra, as men need a place to hold multiple watches and sunglass pairs, which are also trending.
Ring holders are items that are used by both men and women. Many consumers keep them around the home, particularly near the sink, such as in the kitchen for holding rings while dishwashing, said Battaglia.
In addition, Wilson noted, “Jewelry organizers have got to be able to save space while keeping the jewelry accessible.”
For Household Essentials, dual sided hanging canvas jewelry organizers are positive sellers for the company. They can be hung in the closet or behind the door and also can be laid out on the bed beside an outfit in order to choose the best coordinating accessory, suggested Wilson.
Household Essentials’ black jewelry clutch features pockets and loops in which consumers can place their jewelry and fold for compact placement in a travel bag.
Multi-functionality is also important, noted Wilson. “Consumers are looking for that adaptability. Rental spaces are getting smaller,” said Wilson. She said that while jewelry is still the most popular use for Household Essentials’ hanging organizers, consumers have gotten creative, utilizing the product for cosmetics, or craft or sewing supplies.
“We’re finding a lot of our trays are cross functional. People also use them for office and desk storage for pens, pencils and paper clips,” added Battaglia.