Articles and News
Brand News: A Link’s New Website; JM Data Breach Insurance; Apple Finally Launches A Watch; More September 10, 2014 (0 comments)
A. Link Debuts New Website
New York, NY—A. Link is kicking off the 2014 Fall/Holiday Season by announcing the debut of its, created with fresh design and revamped functionality.
The launch represents the A. Link of today and showcases the craftsmanship and achievements of the brand over the years, says a company statement. Both existing and new customers can reference the site for new collections and information and A. Link will be updating the site frequently with new jewelry images and additions to its Store Locator feature.
As a bonus, those who share the new A. Link site and this announcement through social media (using the icons featured on each page), will be entered to win a secret prize to be announced in coming weeks.
A. Link's new homepage, above, and its store locator feature, below.
Alpina Joins Forces For Water Conservation
Geneva, Switzerland—Alpina Watches has joined forces with the Swiss foundation Race For Water, and its ambassador, Aurélien Ducroz (top of page). The Foundation fights for the preservation of both oceans and fresh water, rallying education, business, and the scientific communities to the cause. It organizes numerous missions worldwide, notably in partnership with major international NGOs.
Two-time world freestyle skiing champion and the fourth arriving skipper in the last Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic sailboat race, Ducroz will run future expeditions and races to benefit the foundation. His next documentaries, Latitude Neige/Longitude Mer (Latitude Snow/Longitude Sea) in unexplored territories align with his commitment as "Water Guardian" for the foundation, and will document the evolving water cycle in nature.
Alpina is particularly sensitive to ecological issues and has created a special, limited edition watch with only 400 models available worldwide. The Alpiner "4" Chronograph "Race for Water" is made in the foundation's colors, and part of the profits will be donated to support its activities.
Anne-Cécile Turner, director of the Race for Water Foundation, said, "We are very proud to welcome Alpina as an official supporter, as well as Aurélien Ducroz as the perfect ambassador to represent the Foundation and accompany us in our efforts to raise awareness regarding water preservation."
Jewelers Mutual Introduces Coverage For Cyber Data Breaches
Neenah, WI—Data breaches at nationwide retailers like Target, Neiman Marcus, and, recently, Home Depot made headlines. Data breaches that impact an independent retailer may not make national news—but as more and more information is stored electronically, the potential for data breaches, identity theft, cyber fraud, and other threats is growing—and if it happens to you, apologizing to your customers is only the tip of an iceberg that can severely damage your business, your bottom line, and your reputation.
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has introduced data breach and cyber related protection to better serve the changing needs of jewelers. "47 states have laws in place requiring businesses to notify individuals of breaches involving personal information, and that puts jewelers in a tough spot to navigate the requirements and the associated costs. It's not as simple as saying, 'I'm sorry,' but Jewelers Mutual can help your business recover," says Darwin Copeman, president.
Response coverage from Jewelers Mutual helps jewelers meet state and federal requirements for notification, and includes legal counsel, forensic IT reviews, credit monitoring and identity restoration services.
What constitutes compromised data? A data breach occurs any time a business is responsible for the loss, theft, accidental release or accidental publication of personally identifying information. Small businesses may be more susceptible to data breaches than large corporations because they don't have a team dedicated to information security or the resources to handle a reported breach. In fact, 55% of small companies have experienced at least one data breach, according to The Ponemon Institute, which conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy.
Elevating the risks, many jewelry businesses are selling their products online, to consumers and to other jewelers. Jewelers Mutual also provides e-commerce coverage to protect jewelers from the loss of business income and expenses incurred when they have a covered suspension or slow down in e-commerce activity. It also covers the restoration or replacement of electronic data that is destroyed or corrupted.
Not e-commerce enabled? You’re still at risk. One of the greatest myths about data and cyber security is that jewelers aren't at risk if they don't handle retail transactions online. But according to Copeman, there are many ways criminals can steal data from any business: for example, information stored on a lost or stolen laptop, or an untrustworthy employee who makes a copy of a customer’s credit card, and more.
Jewelers can learn more about JM’s new data breach and cyber related coverage by speaking with their agent by phone at (800) 558-6411 or email at yourinsuranceexpert@jminsure.com.
Maurice Lacroix Launches "How-To" Campaign
Saignelégier, Switzerland—Watchmaker Maurice Lacroix announces its new communications campaign, How-To.
The campaign is designed to showcase the brand’s watches, their complications, and how they work, by revealing them in their own specific environment. Eight informative videos show the watches presented by a watchmaking professional.
By presenting these eight first videos in a long series, Maurice Lacroix rolls out a campaign with three complementary aims:
- The videos emphasize how the watches work and how to use the various functions, such as winding, time and date setting, etc.
- The videos will be sent to the brand’s points of sale for training purposes.
- Brand image is also boosted by offering high quality content to the general public in points of sale, through digital media, and PR.
- In these eight videos, lasting from one to two and a half minutes, the brand’s key timepieces are presented and handled. With the help of a voice-over and a montage of close-ups and wide-angle shots with graphic inserts, the functions of each watch are clearly explained.
- Along with the videos, a series of photos consisting of three views (top, top close-up, and PR shot) has been shot for each watch. Each series presents the watch and story-telling objects associated with its world, taking the viewer to the heart of its identity.
Click here to watch the How-To Campaign.
Pascal Lacroix Celebrates 35 Years with Retailer Social Media Giveaway
Nevada City, CA—Renowned bracelet designer Pascal Lacroix is celebrating 35 years as a successful artist with a social media-driven giveaway designed to give back to the retailers that have supported him these many years.
A microsite (www.pascallacroix.com/lucky) on Pascal Lacroix’s website will go live September 23 with a registration form for a drawing of a hinged bracelet in 14k gold and 1.10 ctw. diamonds, from the designer’s new Weave Collection. Retail value is $7,500. A link to the microsite will also be available via Pascal Lacroix Design’s Facebook page.
Each entrant will be assigned a unique serial number. The winning serial number will be chosen via random drawing on October 14, 2014. Lacroix’s retail partners will be able to publicize the giveaway through Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, email blasts, and postcard mailings to their customers, and the store that refers the grand prize winner will be able to stage the delivery of the bracelet to the winner and generate additional excitement.
The referring retailer also will receive a 14k gold hinged bracelet (retail value, $3,500) from the Weave Collection if they are identified as the referring party. Retail partners of Pascal Lacroix that have not yet received the promotional materials for this exciting promotional giveaway can email pascal@pascallacroix.com.
The retailers’ customers and Pascal Lacroix’s private clients can also participate by sharing the giveaway on their own Facebook pages. The person or store sharing the opportunity will receive the second prize if properly identified as the originating referral for the winning entry. If there is no referral identified, or if the winner found the giveaway organically from Pascal Lacroix’s website or Facebook page, then the second prize will be awarded by a second drawing from the remaining referring parties. No purchase is necessary to win. No cash equivalent will be given and no substitutions are allowed. Only one grand prize and one second prize will be awarded.
New AsscherQueen Cut Brings Greater Brilliance And Margin to the Branded Diamond Category
Los Angeles, CA—Quadamas, Inc. introduces the “AsscherQueen” diamond, a patented extension of the firm’s Asscher cut princess line. Developed by Israel “Izzy” Itzkowitz, Quadamas designer and CEO, AsscherQueen diamonds are available in calibrated loose stones from 3.1 mm and up, as well as 0.5-ct. and larger stones starting from M/S12 up to higher grades. Each has its own GIA certificate and an “AsscherQueen” logo laser inscribed on the girdle.
Additionally, a small bridal jewelry collection designed by Itzkowitz and featuring the AsscherQueen stones will be available.
The creative new cut combines the legacy of Joseph Asscher’s 1902 cut with innovations to the princess cut developed by Itzkowitz and his former partners in 1980. Itzkowitz worked the two cuts together, combining the Asscher facets (four steps) on the crown with modified princess facets on the pavilion, effectively doubling the number of facets on the pavilion. The AsscherQueen’s higher quantity of facets produces greater brilliancy, scintillation, and dispersion for additional sparkle, along with decreased fragility due to the cut corners. This creates a more durable stone with greater resistance to daily wear fractures.
“We are excited to offer the retailer a completely new branded diamond to increase their margins and grow the market share for Asscher cut stones,” says Itzkowitz. “The lower quality colors and clarity levels will add a whole new price category to the Asscher cut market, without sacrificing the brilliancy or sparkle.”
Quadamas offers the potential for exclusive market distribution for the AsscherQueen, and is launching a new logo for use in marketing materials and at point-of-sale. A series of high definition videos will also be available on YouTube for retailers to use in digital marketing and promotions, or for educating consumers, as well as for customized use on their own retail websites.
For more information, contact Quadamas, (213) 995-9595, ext. 15, or email israel@quadamas.com.
Apple (Finally) Unveils Its First Watch
Cupertino, CA--The suspense and speculation is over. Apple on Tuesday unveiled what will be its first foray into wearable technology; i.e. a watch. Dubbed the AppleWatch (as opposed to the expected iWatch) the new device will be available starting next year, in two sizes and at three price points, starting at $349 for the entry level model. There also will be mid-tier model called the Sport and, unlike other smart watches such as Samsung's, Apple is expected to also offer a luxury version (called the Edition) with an 18k yellow or rose gold case.
Like Apple's other portable smart devices, its new watch has swipe technology, boasts some familiar icons, and contains a sensor for the wearer's movement as they turn to view it.