Articles and News
Brand News: Richline Buys Honora, Saul Bell Design Award Winners, Neimans and Saks Won’t Merge, More June 05, 2013 (0 comments)
Richline Buys Honora
New York, NY—First retail, then gold, then tools and machinery, now pearls. Berkshire Hathaway’s jewelry empire just keeps growing with last week’s announcement that its Richline Group division has reached an agreement in principle to buy Honora, a 60-year-old family-owned brand that has become known as the dominant freshwater pearl fashion brand in the United States.
Dennis Ulrich, CEO of Richline Group, said, "Honora’s CEO, Joel Schechter and president, Ralph Rossini, have created and managed a unique branded entity that has a great product line, talented people and long term relationships with its clients.”
Said Schechter, “We are tremendously excited about our future as a member of the Richline Group, and look forward to leveraging their tremendous strengths as we continue growing the HONORA brand to consumers.
Schechter and Rossini will run the company as a standalone brand within the Richline Group.
Berkshire Hathaway also owns Borsheims in Omaha, NE, Seattle, WA-based Ben Bridge, and Kansas City, MO-based Helzberg, which has starred in some clever cross promotion efforts with BH’s Geico Insurance division. Watch the Christmas commercial here and watch the latest bridal commercial here.
Neiman’s and Saks: The Wedding Is Off
Dallas, TX—Neiman Marcus nixed the proposal of a merger with rival luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue. According to the Wall Street Journal, the retailer was concerned about both overlap of stores and the difficulty of merging two distinct retail identities. But with Neiman’s private equity owners looking for an exit strategy, a sale or IPO remains a strong possibility for the retailer. Its owners, TPG and Warburg Pincus, are reportedly shopping the retailer out to Asian and Middle Eastern wealth funds. At the same time, rumors also are swirling of a potential Saks sale. The retailer reportedly has hired Goldman Sachs to investigate the possibility.
Rio Grande Announces Winners of the 13th Annual Saul Bell Design Award
Albuquerque, NM—Rio Grande announced the winners of the 13th annual Saul Bell Design Award competition at a celebration dinner held June 1 during JCK Las Vegas. More than $30,000 in prizes and awards were presented to one grand prize winner and eleven category winners. Category winners received a $2500 Rio Grande gift certificate for first place and a $1000 gift certificate for second place; the grand prize was a $10,000 certificate.
The 2013 winners were:
- Hollowware, first place, John Lunn, John Lunn Flutes, Newport, NH; second place, Michael Boyd, Michael Boyd Studio, Pueblo, CO
- Gold/Platinum, competition grand prize, Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd., Chimayo, NM; second place, Michael Boyd, Michael Boyd Studio, Pueblo, CO
Ryan Roberts' earrings won the Grand Prize, left, while John Lunn's flute won the hollowware prize.
- Silver/Argentium silver, first place, Megan Clark, Megan Clark Jewelry, Inc. Raleigh, NC; second place, Jinbee Park, New York, NY
- Metal Clay, first place, Wanaree Tanner, Jade Orchid, Quincy, IL; second place, Christi Anderson, Elemental Adornments, Marana, AZ
Megan Clark's silver necklace, left, and Wanaree Tanner's metal clay bracelet, right.
- Beads, first place, Guzialia Reed, Japan; second place, Laura McCabe, Just Let Me Bead, Stonington, CT
- Enamel, first place: Inja Kim, Seoul, South Korea; second place, Nena Potts, Nena Jewelry Designs, Rogersville, MO
Guzialia Reed's beaded bib necklace, left, and Inja Kim's enameled hairpins, right.
Finalists were: Elizabeth Gualtieri, Zaffiro, Portland, OR; Michael Lane, Michael Lane Designs, Collie, Western Australia; Greg Neeley, Greg Neeley Design, Cortez, CO; Yuka Okane Inoue, Lake Forest, IL: Aaron Bass, Aaron Bass Joaillerie FINE Jewellery, Lévis, Quebec, Canada, Mylissa Corlew, Flux Silver, Queensbury, NY; Noël Yovovich, Eve J. Alfille Gallery & Studio, Evanston, IL: Christi Anderson, Elemental Adornments, Marana, AZ: Evan Chambers, Pasadena, CA: Anna Mazon, Cracow, Poland, Liz Hall, Lizards Jewelry, Lovettsville, VA; Cindy Silas, Cindy Silas Design, Dale City, VA; Gloria Danvers, Gloria Danvers Designs, Saint Augustine, FL; So Young Park, So Young Park Studio, Vestal, NY; Holly Goeckler, San Antonio, TX; Kristin Holeman, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Lessley Burke, Guilded Lynx Studio, Ridgefield, CT; Amy Roper Lyons, Amy Roper Lyons, Summit, NJ
For information about the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition, click here.
Mad Men Star Jared Harris Engaged With Erica Courtney Ring
Los Angeles, CA--Mad Men's Jared Harris recently proposed to longtime girlfriend Allegra Riggio with a heart-shaped diamond rose gold engagement ring that was custom designed for the couple by Erica Courtney. It features an "H" initial on the gallery, and has diamonds around the band. Here's a shot from People magazine:
