Articles and News
Brand News From Gumuchian, Frederique Constant, Jewelers’ Mutual, More February 05, 2014 (0 comments)
Gumuchian Hires New Director of Business Development
New York, NY—Luxury designer brand Gumuchian has hired industry veteran Barbara Palumbo as its new director of business development for the southern part of the country.
“I am thrilled to announce the addition of Barbara Palumbo to the Gumuchian team,” said Myriam Gumuchian, vice president of sales. “Barbara’s years of experience and personal passion for jewelry will be the perfect fit with our force of women.”
“I could not have selected a position with a company that fits my style, personality, and drive better than this one,” says Palumbo, 40, whose previous positions include senior vice president for successful online retailer Union Diamond and who currently writes the jewelry blog Adornmentality.com.
“I am a long-time admirer of the Gumuchian brand, so to be a part of something you have such a love for, with a company you deeply respect and believe in, makes for a wonderful opportunity.”
The Gumuchian team formally introduced Palumbo to clients at the Centurion show in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Frederique Constant Finishes Private Watch Fair On High Note
Geneva, Switzerland—Following an intense week at its factory in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneve, watchmaker Frederique Constant announces more than double the orders compared with the 2013 event.
Every year, the brand organizes its Private Watch Fair in January, in conjunction with SIHH fair in Geneva. Selected customers visit the firm’s factory to see and order the new collection well before the Baselworld fair at the end of March.
"We never had so many customers visiting our Manufacture in January," said Aletta & Peter Stas, Frederique Constant's co-founders. "It was a pleasure to show the expanded T1 Movement Ateliers as well as our new luxury furniture concept."
In 2013, the company’s production exceeded 128,000 timepieces, sold in over 2,800 points of sale in 100+ countries around the world. Sales of the Frederique Constant brand grew more than 8%, while sales of the Alpina brand grew over 40%. The company is predicting 20% growth for 2014, positioned in the accessible luxury segment. The brand targets both younger affluents and all consumers who like understatement, with prices between $1,000 and $5,000.
Sarah’s Hope, Jewelers Mutual, and Local Jewelers Raise $20,000 For Charities
Middleton, WI—For the third consecutive holiday season, local jewelers and their customers across the United States and Canada chose to make an impact with the Giving Back Locally charitable giving program by Sarah’s Hope Jewelry.
During the peak jewelry sales period of November/December 2013, 40 jewelers across the U.S. and Canada raised $20,000 for local charities through the purchase of Sarah’s Hope Jewelry. From fighting cancer to stocking food pantries, whether donating $50 or a few thousand dollars, the program has generated a grand total of $100,000 in holiday donations to jewelers’ local charities since the program began in 2011.
Participating retail jewelers showcased select Sarah's Hope Jewelry pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and awareness ribbons, donating a percentage (20% is suggested) of each sale to a local charity hand-picked by each individual retail jeweler.
As it has done since the Giving Back Locally program’s inception in 2011, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company awarded an extra $1000 bonus to the charity of the store that sold the most Sarah’s Hope Jewelry during the promotional period.
“We were honored to once again partner with Sarah’s Hope Jewelry in the Giving Back Locally program and share in the giving spirit with jewelers across the country and within their local communities,” said Joel Matthies, senior vice president of personal lines, at Jewelers Mutual.
Bogart’s Jewellers, with seven locations throughout eastern Canada, received this year’s $1000 contribution from Jewelers Mutual, raising $6,218.60 to split between its two selected charities: the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and The Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“Every day of the week, our customers are touched by one of the health issues supported by our charities. Both they—and we—love knowing that they are making a difference with their jewelry purchases,” said Bogart’s founder and owner, Richard Rooney. “It just feels really good to help out.”
Sarah Smith, founder of Sarah's Hope, with Richard Rooney, founder of Bogart's Jewellers of Canada.
Since its founding in 2004 with a mission to help women achieve their dreams of small business ownership, Sarah's Hope Jewelry has helped lift up hundreds of women throughout the U.S. and the developing world to achieve their dreams of economic self-sufficiency.
In addition to the seasonal Giving Back Locally program, each purchase of Sarah's Hope Jewelry gives back domestically and internationally year-round, by supporting important programs that fund microloans and small business education scholarships for women around the world.
“While our company continues to assist with international and domestic programs, our Giving Back Locally program has proven to be a wonderful opportunity for retail jewelers to contribute directly to charitable work happening right in their own backyards,” said Sarah J. Smith, Founder of Sarah’s Hope Jewelry.
To learn more about the Sarah’s Hope Jewelry Giving Back Locally program, call (877) 888-8058, or email info@SarahsHOPEJewelry.com.
Avilan Launches ‘Sustainable In Style’ Initiative
New York, NY--Avilan announces the launch of Sustainable In Style, a program that pairs leading socially aware jewelry designers with its recycled Storied Diamonds. Sustainable In Style joins independent designers, such as Jennifer Dawes, Megan Thorne, Toby Pomeroy, Rebecca Overmann and Sofia Kaman with Avilan Storied Diamonds to create pieces and capsule groupings that feature various cuts of its recycled, eco-friendly diamonds.
Jana Hadany, vice president of marketing at Avilan, explains, “It was natural for us to join forces with these relevant artisans whose values are in sync with our own. These designers understand the desire of today’s savvy consumers for beautiful, sustainable jewelry. Our commitment is to provide a responsible choice that is beyond conflict-free by being socially and environmentally sound. We are dedicated to preserving limited natural resources and creating positive change in the jewelry industry.”
Sofia Kaman says, “I love the idea that each diamond imbues a touch of living history into each piece of jewelry, all the while sparing the earth’s natural resources,” and Megan Thorne adds, “The idea that diamonds should be passed on is romantic and thoughtful and adds a beautiful soulfulness to the jewelry. Using sustainable diamonds and recycled metals for engagement rings deepens the value of already priceless pieces.”