Articles and News
Brand News: Lisa Nik’s New Ad Campaign; Pandora Cuts Jobs; Ritmo Mundo Taps US Sales Team; More February 11, 2015 (0 comments)
Lisa Nik To Debut New Ad Campaign
New York, NY—Designer Lisa Nik will launch a new advertising campaign this spring. It will feature items from her Rocks, Colors, Twisted Wires and Sparkle collections, and feature a world-famous hand model who has been featured in ads for shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s signature red nail polish, as well as photo shoots for Christian Dior, Chanel, Sephora, and other leading beauty brands. The campaign was shot in Los Angeles over the 2014 holidays and will run throughout various trade, regional, and national publications in 2015.
Two of Lisa Nik's upcoming ads for both trade and consumer publications. A digital version is shown top of page.
Pandora Lays Off 70 In USA
Baltimore, MD—Although things have been brighter for Danish bead manufacturer Pandora after several tough years, Pandora Americas—encompassing Canada, the United States, and Latin America—recently underwent a streamlining operation resulting in the loss of 70 jobs. According to a report in National Jeweler, the restructuring was a local initiative of Pandora Americas, not a direct order from the company’s global headquarters in Copenhagen.
The jobs were cut from the division’s visual merchandising team but the restructuring also reduced territory sizes, creating more territories and some new openings both in the field and at its Baltimore headquarters, for which former employees may be re-hired.
Alpina Ambassador Tina Maze Wins Silver In Super G; Unveils New Model
Vail, CO—Just minutes after the FIS Alpine World Ski Championship medals ceremony in the main square of Vail, CO, silver winner Tina Maze, ambassador for Alpina Watches, unveiled the brand’s new Comtesse group, a new range of women’s luxury mechanical timepieces.
Alpina first launched its Comtesse collection with automatic movements in 1963, and this year it re-introduces the line to mark its long tradition of creating fine women’s sport watches, begun in the 1920's.
The new collection consists of five watches, which range from a stainless steel model to a yellow gold two-tone model with a diamond bezel and 11 diamonds on the dial. All models feature a refined guilloche pattern of the Alpina triangle symbol on the dial and are 100M/330ft water-resistant.
Michael Belleveau And Regina Leadem Join Ritmo Mundo
Beverly Hills, CA—Watch industry veterans Michael Belleveau and Regina Leadem will spearhead the re-launching of the Ritmo Mundo watch brand and the debut of its Reflex watch in the United States, says Ali Soltani, founder and president of Ritmo Mundo Group here.
The appointments were effective Feb 1 as Belleveau’s company MJB Solutions LLC is responsible for wholesale business development in an eight-state area spanning from Connecticut through Maryland, in addition to the opening and management of national accounts.
Belleveau has held management positions with Cartier, Victorinox/Swiss Army, Bulgari, and Raymond Weil as well as having held the post of President/CEO of both Baccarat, Inc. and Trollbeads United States, Inc. He will serve as director of sales. Leadem, who has been vice president/director of sales for Victorinox/Swiss Army, Christian Dior, and Gucci, as well as vice president of client development for GE Capital, will function as national account manager.
Leadem also sits on the board of directors of Jewelers Vigilance Committee and Women’s Jewelry Association and is a Diamonds course graduate of the Gemological Institute of America.
Soltani said, “The Ritmo Mundo and Reflex brands are poised to invigorate the watch industry in the US and globally. Both our cutting-edge marketing campaign and enhanced distribution network will demonstrate this over the coming months. I am delighted to welcome these two well-respected industry professionals to our team. Their expertise will ensure a positive outcome.”
Ritmo Mundo has been the official watch of the Indycar Race Series, the Ocean’s 11 and Ocean’s 12 movies, The Fast And The Furious movie franchise and HBO’s Entourage and Sex and the City series. In 2014 the brand announced its latest partnership with the LA Galaxy major league soccer club, which captured the 2014 MLS Cup.
Frederick Goldman Buys Scott Kay
New York, NY--Frederick Goldman, best known for its bridal and men's jewelry brands, has purchased the assets of bridal rival Scott Kay just two months after the sudden death of the brand's designer and namesake. According to reports, the acquisition was not in process at the time of Kay's passing. The Scott Kay brand will continue to operate independently as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frederick Goldman, and will remain in its Teaneck, NJ headquarters. Tiffany Kay, daughter of the late designer, remains as head of merchandising. She recently did an appearance on QVC on behalf of her father. CEO David Minster is leaving the company, however.