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Brand And Industry News: Graymoor Lane’s Women-Inspired Series; A New Lab-Grown Diamond Method; More February 26, 2020 (0 comments)
Graymoor Lane Explores Mid-Century Women Artists As Collection Inspirations
Chicago, IL—Graymoor Lane, the jewelry brand specializing in mid-century modern design inspired by women, has launched a mini-series of stories about hugely talented but little-known women who have had major impact in the world of design. Those stories are translated into jewelry collections.
The latest installment features the story of Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who graduated from the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in 1954 and opened her own studio in 1956. She initially made a name for herself designing lamps and furniture before expanding to theater sets and complete architectural designs.
Aulenti’s iconic Orocolo lamp and Locus Solus chair are renowned in the furniture world, but her most famous commission was the restoration of Paris’s famed Musée d’Orsay in 1980. Despite the protestations and concerns of formal critics at the time, she transformed the 19th-century train station into one of the city’s top museums with a seamless blend of 19th-century industrial design with 20th-century modern. She also designed similar hybrid-form architectural projects around the world: the Santa Maria Novella station in Florence, Italy; the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain; and the Italian Institute of Culture in Tokyo, Japan.
Following her death in 2012, the city of Milan dedicated the Piazza Gae Aulenti in her honor. A cutting-edge, 21st-century plaza, the undulating glass curves echo much of the bold style in her original designs. Graymoor Lane's pieces are reflective of the Piazza's design and, in gold and diamonds, pay homage to Aulenti's design aesthetic.
Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan.
A Cleaner New Way To Create Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Stanford, CA—A new study from Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has found another recipe for lab-grown diamonds; this one using a type of hydrogen and carbon molecule found in crude oil and natural gas. It is cleaner, purer, and can be done without the inordinate amounts of energy that existing lab-grown methods require, says a news release from the university.
Click here to read the entire article from Stanford and click here to read an article about it in Science Advances.
Related: Independent Report Finds Lab-Grown Diamonds May Use More Energy, Not Less, Than Mined
Pandora CMO Says "There's No Silver Bullet" To Grow The Brand
New York, NY--Charisse Hughes, Pandora's CMO for the Americas, recently spoke on a Glossy.co podcast. In it, she acknowledged the many missteps the beleaguered bead company has made--including a lack of investment, innovation, and an overreliance on a product largely geared to suburban moms--and what is needed to get it back on a growth track. "There's no silver bullet" to get the brand back on a growth track, she said, but a series of steps designed to appeal to a younger customer and innovate the brand's aesthetic are necessary. Click here or on the image below to listen.
Brands And Retailers Join WJA’s ‘March Is Me’ Month Marketing Initiative
New York, NY—The Women’s Jewelry Association’s new consumer marketing campaign, March is Me Month, has a robust roster of jewelry retailers, brands, and trade associations planning to share its message next month. Marketing plans range from advertising and social media to in-case signage and dedicated emails to existing clients.
March is Me Month aligns the jewelry industry with International Women’s Day on March 8, as well as with Women’s History Month. Its goal is to empower every woman to celebrate herself, visit a retail jeweler, and treat herself to a piece of fine jewelry during the month of March – no matter the reason.
At press time, the list of participants includes: American Gem Society (AGS); Ben Bridge Jeweler; Citizens Watch America; Diamond Producers Association; Ella Stein Jewelry; Forevermark; Fred Meyer Jewelers; Hearts on Fire / Chow Tai Fook Group; Macy’s Inc.; Reeds Jewelers; Richline Group; Signet Jewelers; Sonya Ltd.; and Stuller, Inc.
“WJA is delighted these well-known and distinguished brands have joined us to promote the singular message that ‘March is Me Month,’” says Jennifer Markas, executive director of WJA. “The campaign was developed to connect with the consumers who wear our products. WJA and its partners are committed to empowering women to purchase jewelry for themselves.”
WJA’s March is Me Month logo, taglines, and brand guide are available online at the WJA website to all WJA corporate members (including Small Business, Enterprise, and Corporate Partner categories of membership). Any current or new fine jewelry product can be included with the logo, as well as a company’s own brand message. Hashtags include: #MarchisMeMonth, #livebeautifully, #celebrateyou and #womensjewelryassociation. To access the materials, WJA corporate members can click here.
To join WJA as a corporate member, click here and select your corporate category. Or, contact Markas directly at jennifer@womensjewelryassociation.com.
Related: Gender Equality In Jewelry: Yes, It Really Is A Major Industry Problem
Borsheims Promotes Stuifbergen to Manager
Omaha, NE--Borsheims has promoted Jaci Stuifbergen to marketing manager. In her new role, she will manage Borsheims’ marketing department, strategies, programs and campaigns, including the store’s year-long celebration to commemorate its 150th anniversary this year.
Stuifbergen started at Borsheims as a marketing and event specialist in 2012 before being promoted to senior marketing and event specialist in 2018. In her new role as marketing manager, she will guide the store’s print and catalog production, digital advertising and social media, and various marketing events, including the famed Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ weekend.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Stuifbergen also is a former president of the Omaha chapter of the American Marketing Association and a graduate of ICAN’s Defining Leadership Program. She lives in Omaha with her husband, two children, and two dogs.
Jaci Stuifbergen
Samuel B, SHEFI Join Plumb Club
New York, NY—The Plumb Club announces the addition of two new members, Samuel B and SHEFI, bringing its total to 44 supplier firms as members. SHEFI is a 45-year-old manufacturer with programs to provide quick turnaround and top sellers, as well as a robust complement of retailer marketing materials. Samuel B is more than 35 years old with offices in New York and in Bali. It is best known for artisan-crafted sterling silver jewelry from Bali and a roster of retailer and targeted marketing programs.The company also creates a private-label line in gold and diamonds, currently offered to major retailers.
Michael Lerche, President of The Plumb Club, commented, “We are happy to welcome both Samuel B and SHEFI into the organization. Both companies underwent a rigorous vetting process and we definitely feel that we’ve made two great choices.”
Plumb Club members must have maintained U.S.-based offices for a minimum of five years and adhere to the organization’s “Code of Responsibility,” which each member signs annually. Members must also meet stringent requirements on business ethics, practices, and conduct, as well as human rights, social and environmental responsibility and comply with local, federal and international laws. Furthermore, as of 2019, each member must apply within 90 days of acceptance to become certified by the RJC (Responsible Jewelry Council).