The problem
Bespoke inquiries take a thread of messages to agree a time, and a no-show wastes an hour with stones already out of the safe. If a jeweller gets 8 inquiries a month at 20 minutes each to arrange, and 2 no-shows waste an hour each, that's 160 + 120 = 280 minutes, 4.7 hours a month.
What the AI does
Square Appointments is booking software. Its UK pricing page lists an online booking site, automatic reminders and prepayments on the free plan for a single location; the Plus plan, $39£29€35A$56C$55 a month, adds cancellation policies and fees. Create a 'bespoke consultation' service with the length you need and only the hours the designer is free, and send the booking link in reply to every inquiry. If you take a payment when they book, say clearly whether it comes off the final price and when it is refundable. Card fees for online payments are 1.4% + 25p for UK cards.
A worked example
An independent jewelry shop in York with the owner, a bench jeweller and one sales assistant gets about 8 bespoke engagement and wedding ring inquiries a month and asks for a $67£50€60A$96C$94 payment at booking, taken off the final price.
Before
8 inquiries at 20 minutes of messages plus 2 no-shows at 60 minutes: 280 minutes, 4.7 hours a month
After
8 inquiries at 3 minutes to send the link plus about 1 no-show at 60 minutes: 84 minutes, 1.4 hours a month
What it's worth
About 3.3 hours a month saved (196 minutes), worth around $130£98€117A$188C$184 if the designer's time is worth $40£30€36A$58C$56 an hour. The free plan covers booking, reminders and prepayments; card fees on 8 payments of $67£50€60A$96C$94 are about $11£8€10A$15C$15 a month (8 x ($0.93£0.70€0.83A$1.34C$1.32 + $0.33£0.25€0.30A$0.48C$0.47)). Plus at $39£29€35A$56C$55 a month is needed only if you want cancellation fees.
How to set it up
- Create a free Square Appointments account and add a 'bespoke consultation' service with its length and price.
- Set the hours the designer is free, blocking out workshop days.
- Turn on prepayment and write a short policy: what it pays for, whether it comes off the final price and when it is refunded.
- Put the booking link in your inquiry replies, website and Instagram profile.
- Make a test booking from your own phone and read the reminder as a customer would.
What goes wrong
- Customers have rights over payments for services they cancel; a payment that isn't refunded must be reasonable and explained before they pay.
- Cancellation fees need the Plus plan at $39£29€35A$56C$55 a month; on the free plan the prepayment is your only protection.
- If the shop diary and the booking calendar differ, customers can book a slot the designer has already promised.
- Check in your settings whether you can take a part payment as a deposit; the pricing page lists prepayments but not the options.