Ronna Lugosch stands in the future doorway of the new extension of the current jewelry-making studio at Peapod Jewelry in Edgecomb. (Christine LaPado-Breglia photo)
Visitors to Peapod Jewelry, in Edgecomb, will notice that changes are afoot. In addition to the newly installed beach-themed displays in the shop’s jewelry cases, one also notices that the showroom seems cozier – and there is a large demarcated space near the jewelry-making studio that appears destined for some purpose.
Lugosch said she is expanding the store’s studio space into this area, which is between the current studio and the showroom, making the showroom smaller at the same time. The change is taking place in part due to increased online sales.
“It was definitely driven by the whole internet growth (of the business),” Peapod Jewelry owner Ronna Lugosch said. Peapod’s online sales of its signature coastal-themed jewelry have grown by about 10 percent in the past couple of years, said Lugosch. Close to 39 percent of the store’s sales are now online.
Additionally, with up to four designers and/or bench jewelers working in the small studio room at any one time, quarters have become tight.
“It’s become too small,” said Lugosch of the jewelry-making studio, illustrating her point by saying that whenever she works at the “wax bench,” she has to move her chair in very close to the bench just so others can go by behind her.
The studio-expansion space is currently delineated by a trio of adjustable AutoPoles, usually used as light-mounting poles for photography studios, with a large vinyl banner strung between two of them. After considering installing actual walls, Lugosch decided against it, opting for a lighter, airier look that will soon feature two large, artistic vinyl banners attached to AutoPoles as “walls.”
The new studio area, which should be completed in about two weeks’ time, will include two workbenches from the existing studio.
As for the smaller showroom, it is “not losing any products. We are just putting them closer together,” said Diane Walsh, Peapod Jewelry’s visual merchandiser. Walsh, who worked as a visual merchandiser in Manhattan for a number of years, is responsible for the attractive new decor in the showroom featuring little starfish and sea urchin shells, driftwood, and real sand.
Peapod Jewelry, open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is located at 40 Route 1, Edgecomb. It is online at peapodjewelry.com.
