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BRAND NEWS: HOF DONATES TO BOSTON; MONICA RICH KOSANN ASKS ‘WHAT’S IN YOUR LOCKET?’; MORE April 24, 2013 (0 comments)
Hearts On Fire Donates $100,000; Pledges Up to $500,000, to Aid Boston
Boston, MA—Hearts On Fire has made a $100,000 donation to The One Fund Boston charity, created by the Boston mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick to serve as the central fund to help those whose lives were affected by the Boston Marathon terrorist bombing. Three people were killed in the April 15 attack, and more than 180 were wounded.
“We feel blessed to have made it through safely, but want to do all we can to help in our city’s recovery,” said a statement from Hearts On Fire, which is based in downtown Boston.
In addition to the initial $100,000 donation, the company has pledged up to $500,000 to the fund, through any online sales made on heartsonfire.com from April 23, through May 31, 2013. 100% of all proceeds from sales on heartsonfire.com (excluding sales tax) in this time period will be donated to the fund.
In 2012, Hearts On Fire launched the Copley Collection, which reflects the beauty and strength of its historic home city. The new Copley Love Pendant (left) has been selected to symbolize the resilience and pride of Boston. In addition to purchasing this pendant at heartsonfire.com, the Copley Love Pendant is now available at authorized Hearts On Fire retailers with all proceeds on sales made during the April 23-May 31 timeframe going to The One Fund Boston.
Says the company, “Hearts On Fire extends our sincere thanks to all those who have aided our city in its recovery process. We also want to thank everyone around the world for your messages of strength and support. Bostonians, and our nation, will rebound stronger than ever!”
Monica Rich Kosann Debuts #WhatsInYourLocket Digital Campaign
New York, NY—Monica Rich Kosann announces the launch of #WhatsInYourLocket, a new digital and social media campaign that celebrates the storytelling aspect of lockets. The designer is known for her 18k gold and sterling silver jewelry—especially lockets—that celebrates storytelling.
A consumer competition to win a Monica Rich Kosann sterling silver locket opened this week and runs through May 20. To enter, consumers must upload images of themselves wearing their own lockets, while answering the question, “What’s in your locket?”
The designer’s style team collaborated with photography students from Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) as part of the campaign for a street-style feature, and also photographed tastemakers wearing the same locket, with a sentence about what would be inside theirs. Both features can be viewed on MRKStyle, the brand’s e-magazine.
Images from the campaign.
To enter the contest, consumers can either upload their own image using the #WhatsInYourLocket hashtag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or submit their image via e-mail to wiyl@monicarichkosann.com. On May 20, Jade Frampton, senior market editor of ELLE, will choose three winners to receive the locket and be featured on both ELLE.com and MRKStyle.
“A locket allows a woman to capture, celebrate and share her story,” says Monica Rich Kosann, the brand’s eponymous founder and designer. “The #WhatsInYourLocket campaign epitomizes our brand’s essence of storytelling by inviting students, tastemakers, and our customers to share their stories with us.”
As a brand built on storytelling, Monica Rich Kosann creates enduring pieces of jewelry that tell the personal story of the women who wear them. The #WhatsInYourLocket campaign began with photography students from FIT, who were given a Monica Rich Kosann sterling silver locket and challenged to capture unique street-style shots of friends and passersby wearing the piece, while answering the question, “What would be in your locket?”
The students’ photos were featured under the “FIT” heading on MRKStyle, and the winning photograph will be included in The New York Times “Sunday Styles” section as part of the brand’s 2013 ad campaign.
Kosann and the MRKStyle team also have photographed people on the street as well as an elite group of New York tastemakers wearing the locket. They will be featured under “Street” on MRKStyle. The list includes Athena Calderone, Cameron Silver, Kerry Diamond, Kelly Framel, Jade Frampton, Jaqui Lividini, Felicia Gordon, and Jeremiah Brent, among others.
A selection of Monica Rich Kosann lockets in silver, above, and 18k gold with rock crystal, blue topaz, and rose quartz over mother-of-pearl, below.
Forevermark Hosts Second Annual Canadian Partner Forum
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada—Forevermark and Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd. hosted the second annual Forevermark Canadian Partner Forum at the Prince of Wales Hotel here from April 19-21. The forum offered an opportunity to share ideas and expand the Forevermark brand presence in Canada.
Forevermark representatives were available to discuss marketing and partnership services. Canadian retailers were invited to actively market “The Center of My Universe” product concept, with access to “The Center of My Universe” television commercial, print ads, digital banners and in-store collateral. Attendees also had the opportunity to view the latest collections from Forevermark manufacturers Crossworks, Martin Ross Group, and M. K. Diamonds.
“The success of the second Canadian Forevermark Forum is a testament to the growing strength of Forevermark in Canada and around the world,” said Dylan Dix, group executive of marketing and external relations,for Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd.. He noted the Forevermark retail partners make up the top 1% of Canadian jewelry retailers. Retailers in attendance at the Forum included: Brinkhaus, Gem by Carati, Clowes Jewellers, Davanna’s Jewellers, Foster & Sons Jewellers, Independent Jewellers (Edmonton), Independent Jewellers (Winnipeg), Knar Jewellery, Lugaro Jewellers, Montecristo, Nash Jewellers, Nortons Jewellers, Premier Jewellers, Prestige Jewellers, Richardson’s Jewellery, Spicer Cole Fine Jewellery and Taing Jewellers.
Finally, Tom Ormsby, director of external and corporate affairs of De Beers Canada, overviewed De Beers Group mining operations in Canada from which the majority of diamonds supplied to the Forevermark Canadian program are sourced.
Michael Newman Joins Joshua J
Los Angeles, CA—Joshua J. Fine Jewelry announces the appointment of Michael Newman as director of sales for the western United States. Newman brings more than 25 years’ experience in the industry and relationships with guild jewelers across the country.
Richemont Profits Higher Than Expected
London, United Kingdom—Compagnie Financière Richemont, parent of top luxury brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Baume & Mercier, reported its year-end profits will be 30% higher than the previous year, helped largely by favorable exchange rates.
In an article in Women’s Wear Daily, the brand said sales in the year to March 31 grew 14% (9% on a constant-currency basis). Operating profit is expected to increase 18%, net profit by 30%. Last year its net profits soared by more than 42%.