Description:

No technical stuff here. I'm too new at this craft to have much solid ground to stand on. BUT, I am good at being an information sponge since I have to do much research online during my lunch hour. I've surfed many, many sites and while most of them are generous with information to certain extents, this is the absolutely Queen of the Hill in terms of the overall, genuine rapport with your users, members and potential customers. I applaud everyone involved, from Eni down to even me. (I'm the one who got short-sheeted by my Explorer Favorites shortcut link...). Eni is more than generous with her time and support, and by the looks of her many features in this site, just as genuinely interested in anyone who even takes a peek. I expect she's the type who would pour you a cup of something wonderful if you came to visit and would then invite you to sit down and chat for a while - just to get to know who you are. This site is full of life, fun, and very real help. Someone should suggest to your peers somehow that you're raising the bar on IT presentations in the jeweler's community.

To give you just an example of what's prompted me to write this, I just opened up your site and saw the Story Teller's Links challenge article and was curious, so I read it. I was absolutely blown away at how open, vulnerable, and interactive it intends to be as well as how accountable it has to be. Your site deals in real time with real people and I guess the word I would use that most describes the impressions I have of it is "immediate." You are an immediate sponsor, with an immediate staff, and your site makes a reader want to respond immediately. KUDOS for not leaving a stand-alone, remote-control site that no longer needs you to make it viable and vital.

Further, as I read the Story Teller's article, I got so excited and inspired, I thought, "Wow, I have to respond to this. This is soooo cooool!" Well, in most of the sites I've visited, I could not have done that easily. I would not have been invited to, certainly, at least, not beyond the formality of a "Contact Us" link in fine print at the bottom of the screen somewhere as if the site owner/webmaster really doesn't want to hear from anyone at all. But then, it hit me: Eni isn't like that; this site isn't like that; she/they actually seem to want feedback and involvement. "Even more way coooool!" was my next thought. So, seconds later, here I am. Thank you.

I would like to see a short presentation from Eni and staff summarizing their professional perspective(s) on why this site is so "involved with its members" as it is - as opposed to too many others whose aim is obviously commercial first, and whose presentations are dry, boring, and very, very uninvolved to boot.

I would also appreciate some commentary on the opinions of making jewelry in an economy that leaves very little discretionary spending to be indulged in by anyone.

My name is Marian