Despite the slowdown in the US economy, the wedding industry is still going strong. According to statistics, American couples will spend over $62.8 billion this year to make their wedding special. Earlier, analyst Ken Gassman drew attention to the growing number of U.S. weddings and predicted an upturn in the wedding and engagement segment of the jewelry industry despite the recession.
Now it is difficult to surprise an American customer with an opportunity to take part in designing his or her engagement or wedding ring. So the market is generating new marketing moves.
Entrepreneurs.com reports that Wedding Ring Workshop USA has come up with a new service: Couples not only design, but actually create their own wedding rings under the guidance of an experienced jeweler.
Owner Lewis Barnes explains: “We don’t really sell rings, we sell an experience. It’s great fun, and it’s a loving memory for the whole of their lives.” The company offers video films of the ring making experience to its clients.
The first do-it-yourself workshop opened in San Diego, and Barnes has added four locations in the past 18 months. Another location is scheduled to open shortly in Boston.
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