2022 trends that will influence the jewellery industry

Many of us see the new year as the perfect time for a style refresh, and consumers who are finding a new sense of style will no doubt be interested in updating their jewellery boxes too. This means it's a particularly important time for businesses in the jewellery industry to make sure that they're staying on top of the latest fashion, shopping, and consumer trends. To give you some inspiration for your business in the coming year, here are the ways in which these trends are influencing the industry in 2022. Fashion trends Keeping up to date with jewellery fashion trends is incredibly important, as these will be the main influencing factors for your consumers. 2022 is set to be a year for big statement pieces, as people go all out after years of minimalism being on trend. A few of the biggest extravagant jewellery trends that are likely to soar this year include: Long drop earrings: Large, bold earrings are predicted to do well in 2022, as consumers get set to make a statement with them. Colourful jewellery: After a long and difficult couple of years, people are looking to brighten up their jewellery box with pops of colour. Coloured gemstones like ruby, peridot, and amethyst are likely to do well this year. Chunky pieces: Chunky necklaces and bracelets are set to be popular this year, as people look to have some fun with their jewellery choices and opt for bolder pieces. However, not every consumer will enjoy the more extravagant trends of this year, as many prefer more subtle and minimalist styles. Fortunately, there are a number of trends for these customers too. For example, according to Pinterest Predicts, pearls are expected to soar in popularity this year, which will appeal to consumers with a more classic style. Shopping trends One of the main shopping trends in 2022 is one that many businesses have already prepared for: the move towards online shopping. While there was already a move towards online purchases pre-pandemic, covid-19 accelerated this shift even faster, and it looks like it's here to stay (World Economic Forum). This is hardly surprising, as not only is it a safer option, but it can be more convenient for consumers too. It's important to make sure that your business is set up for home delivery. It's also a good idea to offer a next day delivery option as well, for customers in a hurry and work on making the store as safe as possible for people who do prefer to visit in person, by increasing the amount of floor space in stores for customers to get around, and encouraging card payments as much as possible. Consumer trends Consumer trends are particularly important to understand, as their priorities have changed a lot over the past couple of years. A consumer trend that is going to be prominent in 2022 is eco-conscious and sustainable purchases. In 2021, the COP26 Conference influenced many people to start taking more action regarding climate change and one of the ways people are taking this action is by speaking with their wallets. Packaging is a major area of concern for many customers, as demonstrated in a recent survey which has found that eight in ten consumers want businesses to use more sustainable packaging (Packaging News). To make the most of this trend, you could aim to use recyclable packaging, and try to cut down on the amount you use too. This focus on the environment is likely to become a long term trend, as 62% of shoppers are expected to be highly concerned about the environment in 2030 (Kantar). So, it's important to consider how you can make your jewellery business environmentally friendly in the long-run. A great way to do this is by offering a healthy collection of pre-owned jewellery. This can be much better for the planet, as it causes no new damage to the environment from the production process. Plus, buying pre-owned is a great way to get top quality products for a more reasonable price, so it's a win-win for your customers. Another consumer trend that's likely to dominate 2022 is personalisation. People want brands to care about them more and understand their needs. In fact, a survey found that 60% of consumers would buy more from a brand if they cared about them more (Qualtrics). So, try to get more personal with your customers and build relationships with them. You can do this by getting to know their tastes so you can recommend products that are unique to them, and consider offering a personalised jewellery range too. 2022 is set to be a great comeback year for a number of sectors, and the jewellery industry is no exception. If you pay close attention to the trends above, you'll be able to help your business thrive in 2022.