Articles and News
BRAND AND RETAIL NEWS: DAN SCOTT HONORED, ELLEN LACY RETIRES, ANTONINI’S NEW COLLECTION, MORE November 20, 2012 (0 comments)
Scott Kay’s Dan Scott Nabs Top Honor in Marketing World
San Francisco, CA—Dan Scott, chief marketing officer for Scott Kay Inc. was selected as one of the leading CMOs in the United States, according to ExecRank, a ranking service of global executives.
In its latest grading of 15,000 CMOs across the country, Scott was selected as number 11, and joins two other jewelry-industry CMOs—from Tiffany and Zales—in a first of this ranking within the industry.
The ranking is created by an algorithm measuring specific experience in executive marketing, quantitative business results, professional achievements, speeches, articles, digital adoption, level of formal education, industry reputation, peer recommendations, and nominations. All data is electronically evaluated then given to non-bias, executive committees to evaluate the results.
Dallas Bond, lead analyst for ExecRank, highlighted Scott’s accomplishments, which include sitting on the North American board of the CMO Council for three years; being a finalist as CMO of the Year; having a 10-year tenure at Scott Kay; sitting on the editorial board for Henry Stewart Publications; being a founding member of QVC, and holding a masters’ degree in marketing from New York University.
“I am extraordinarily honored to be in the company of Apple, Nike and Coca-Cola, all selected within the top fifteen CMOs by Execrank. After learning about the fine-tuned and detailed analytics within this ranking, I now understand why best-in-class executives hold this study in such high regard,” said Scott of his honor.
He also offers a key piece of marketing advice: Ask people around you to write down three words they think best represent your brand. If everyone comes up with synonyms, that’s good. If certain words remain the same, that’s great. But if everyone has a different set of words, it’s time to revisit your brand book, and fast.
Scott will now be listed as Execank’s “Featured Marketing Executive.”
Lacy and Ban, Two Well-Known Jewelry Families, Exit Business
El Paso, TX—Ellen Lacy, owner of Lacy & Co. here, a leading independent jeweler in the industry, has announced her store will close at the end of 2012. In this article in JCK, the former American Gem Society president says that while business is strong, she’s been unable to find a buyer for the store and she and her husband, Charles, want to retire while they’re still in good health.
Separately, Andy Ban, owner of the renowned gold chain supplier Leslie’s, also plans to retire after 43 years in the business. Like Lacy, he says, “it’s time” for him and his wife to retire. Leslie’s has been sold to Fairfield, OH-based Quality Gold, which JCK reports will keep the Leslie's name, product guarantee, stock-balancing program, and most of the outside sales force.
Lacy & Co.'s website announces its closing after six decades in business.
Antonini Launches New St. Moritz Collection
Milan, Italy—Antonini has launched a new classic white gold and diamond collection that goes back to basics but updated with a contemporary flair. Called the St. Moritz collection, it debuted in Moscow, Russia, in October during a gala dinner at the Italian Embassy. The St. Moritz collection is a limited and numbered capsule collection of the musthave pieces in a woman’s wardrobe, says Wolfgang Mockel, the company's U.S. director.
A pair of classic white gold and diamond earrings from Antonini's new St. Moritz collection.
Forevermark’s Holiday Campaign Opens to Praise
New York, NY--Forevermark debuted its first-ever national television commercial last week to praise from its retail partners and positive Twitter comments from consumers. The commercial celebrates Forevermark’s “The Center of My Universe” concept, and airs on broadcast and cable networks. Since its debut earlier this month, Forevermark executives say traffic to www.ForevermarkDiamond.com has increased 704% compared to the four weeks prior to the ad running.
The commercial also is airing on more than 1,800 movie screens in 61 markets nationwide through the end of the year, as part of a co-op cinema program with Forevermark retailers. The participating movie theaters were selected for both high attendance and location in areas with a high ratio of Forevermark’s target demographic of affluent consumers. Cinema industry research claims frequent moviegoers are 33% more likely than the average person to buy diamond jewelry, and 47% more likely to have spent over $1,000 on fine jewelry in the past year.
Charriol Partners with Paramount Pictures in Cirque Du Soleil Promotion
San Diego, CA—Charriol USA is partnering with Paramount Pictures this holiday season for a consumer marketing campaign supporting the studio’s upcoming theatrical release of Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 3-D. The film, which opens nationwide December 21, tells the story of a young couple who when separated must journey through the astonishing and dreamlike worlds of Cirque du Soleil to find each other.
Charriol USA will offer an exclusive gift-with-purchase at 50 select independent fine jewelry retailers nationwide from November 15 through December 31: with any Charriol USA purchase made during the promotion, customers will receive two free tickets to the movie. Additionally, the brand will offer a drawing at participating independent retailers. The grand prize will include a $2,000 Charriol shopping spree at the store where the winner entered, film-themed prizes, and a private screening of the movie in that town. Four runners-up will receive a Charriol USA Le Cirque bangle valued at $495, and a filmed-themed gift. The drawing opportunity opened November 15 and closes December 26.
JADED Hosts Treasures of Umbria
New York, NY—Boutique jeweler Jaded recently hosted a special showing of jewelry by 10 renowned artisans from the Umbria region of Italy. The jewelry featured special hand-worked techniques such as filigree, pave, open latticework, stone and coral carving, and blends of colored gems and pearls.
Featured master artisans included: Enrico Morbidoni of Spoleto Gioielli; Giangiulio Chiattelli of Luigi Chiattelli; Graziella Bennati of Graziella Bennati Creazioni; Mauro Belia of Belia Riziero & Figlio; Maurizio Tini for Granduca Gioielli; Pietro Cona of Conart; Mario Mioni of Mio Oro; Orietta Benedetti of Cesari & Benedetti Gioielli; Katia Galinari of Katia Galinari Orafo; Raimondo Paradisi of Rai & Co. and Bottega dell’Orafo.
A diamond, beryl, and peridot ring in 18k gold by Enrico Morbidoni, left, retails for $16,000. At right an 18k yellow gold and tourmaline butterfly retails for $28,000. Both are part of the Treasures from Umbria exhibition at Jaded, New York City.