Articles and News
Brand And Industry News: CIBJO Books Updated; The Edge Launches New Business Program; More February 15, 2017 (0 comments)
Correction To Centurion Design Awards Winner Announcements
Merrick, NY—In the 2017 Centurion Design Awards winner announcement video and article, the Bridal/Engagement Ring category winner (below) should have been identified as Noam Carver for CrownRing Bridal House, rather than simply Crown Ring as it was originally identified. Centurion apologizes for the error.
The Edge Retail Academy Launches Tiered Business Academy Programs
Omaha, NE--The Edge Retail Academy (ERA) announces its all-new Business Academy services in time for the spring 2017 selling season. The new highly customized, itemized consulting service plan identifies key challenges and areas of improvement for a given retailer, then aligns that retailer with ERA business advisors who have expertise and experience in that particular area.
The new program starts at $695 per month with no contractual commitment. With it, a retailer can gain access to a wide variety of itemized services that relate specifically to the store’s goals and objectives, and program offerings are tiered based on the retailer’s budget. As an added benefit, retailers participating in the Business Academy program also gain free entry to the ERA/Edge two-day educational conference.
“We are excited to bring our clients these dynamic new business solutions in an evolving and rapidly changing retail market,” says David Brown, president. “Let’s face it: retail strategies from just a few years ago are no longer working, just as today’s effective strategies will not work in two years’ time. I am proud to offer highly customized, cutting edge tools that lead to constant and continual improvement for our clients.”
Categorized by Silver, Gold and Platinum levels, the new Business Academy Program offers an array of itemized services from customized sales plans and business development programs to analysis of sales performance and recruiting, as well as inventory strategies and retirement/succession planning. Each participating retailer can customize the ERA services based on their specific challenges and their commitment level, receiving consulting, training and/or assistance from an ERA business advisor with expertise in that particular field.
For more information, visit www.edgeretailacademy.com. To schedule an appointment or consultation during the upcoming the IJO Show this weekend (February 17-20) contact Becka Johnson Kibby at Becka@EdgeRetailAcademy.com, (714) 925-2456.
Arrests Made In Roberson's Armed Robbery
Little Rock, AR--Police in Oklahoma have arrested two gunmen suspected in the September 2015 smash-and-grab armed robbery of Roberson's Fine Jewelry in Little Rock, AR. According to this report in National Jeweler, a press release from Christopher R. Thyer, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the arrests of 27-year-old Quinshod Shaw and 29-year-old Darris Denton, both of Oklahoma City, OK.
Shaw was taken into custody Monday afternoon in Norman, OK, and appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin in the Western District of Oklahoma. Denton, meanwhile, was served an arrest warrant on Monday while being held in the McAlford Corrections Center in Stringfield, OK, on unrelated state charges.
Read the full article here.
Diamond Empowerment Fund Elects New President Anna Martin; Welcomes New Board Member Stuart Lee
New York, NY--The Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) has elected Anna Martin president of its board of directors. Martin is senior vice president global development and beneficiation for Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She follows the successful five-year term of outgoing board president Phyllis Bergman, who oversaw the growth of D.E.F. to embrace a global mission of education empowerment for youth from diamond communities around the world. She also championed the organization’s consumer messaging strategy, Diamonds Do Good, a focus Martin will continue.
“Never has there been a more important time to communicate to the next generation of diamond purchasers the positive narrative surrounding diamonds” says Martin. “I am confident that with the depth of talent on our board from all across the diamond pipeline, and with the support of every member of the industry, we will impress on consumers that ‘Diamonds Do Good’.
Martin’s fellow leadership team includes vice presidents Ed Hrabak and Varda Shine; secretary Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president of Reed Jewelry Group, and treasurer Richard Slomovitz, CFO of Rush Communications.
The Diamond Empowerment Fund also welcomes to the board Stuart Lee, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of Signet Jewelers, Inc.. Says Lee, “I’m proud to be following in Ed’s footsteps and I look forward to working with Anna and the rest of the Diamond Empowerment Fund board as we find ways to ensure the world indeed understands that ‘Diamonds Do Good’.”
The Diamond Empowerment Fund’s 2017 Diamonds Do Good Awards Gala will be held Sunday, June 4 at the Four Seasons Ballroom, Las Vegas.
Updated Editions Of All CIBJO Blue Books Available For Download
Milan, Italy--The latest editions of all six CIBJO Blue Books of standards and nomenclature are now available for downloading from the CIBJO website. They're shown at top of page.
The six CIBJO Blue Books are definitive sets of grading standards and nomenclature for diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls, coral, precious metals, and gemological laboratories. They are consistently reviewed and updated by the relevant CIBJO Commissions, whose members include representatives of trade organizations and laboratories active in each respective area of the industry. In the almost complete absence of jewelry-industry standards endorsed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), the CIBJO Blue Books are the most widely accepted set of globally accepted standards.
"The Blue Books are living documents, which are designed to facilitate a common language and benchmarks for members of our industry, irrespective of where they are located," said Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO. "We update them from year to year, to reflect changing circumstances, new discoveries and developing technologies."
The updated versions can be downloaded here. Individuals who are members of an industry organization that belongs to CIBJO may download free contact the relevant organization to arrange delivery of the relevant Blue Books by email. For non-members, each individual download will cost 9.90 Swiss francs or all six Blue Books (Diamond Book, Gemstone Book, Pearl Book, Coral Book, Precious Metals Book and Gemmological Laboratories Book) can be downloaded as a single package for 49.90 Swiss francs.