Articles and News
Industry News: CBG’s Miller Celebrated; DEF Grants $130K To Botswana Students; Closings Drop; More October 25, 2017 (0 comments)
Preferred Jewelers’ Laurie Miller Featured In Local Article
Miami, FL—Laurie Miller’s unusual career was profiled last week in an article on voyagemia.com. Prior to joining Continental Buying Group/Preferred Jewelers International, Miller (left) was part of a band popular on the famous Miami music scene of the mid-1980s and enjoyed a 14+ year stint as a headlining guest entertainer on Princess Cruises. She still teaches yoga, as well, specializing in Yoga Fusion.
“There’s no one better than an entertainer to give exceptional customer service,” she said in the interview. Jewelers who work with both CBG and Preferred Jewelers International know her legendary service well—and those in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area can also take yoga classes with her as she still teaches three to four days a week.
Diamond Empowerment Fund Awards $130,000 To Botswana Top Achievers Program
New York, NY—Amid the convergence of high-level dignitaries and global leaders attending last month’s United Nations General Assembly, the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) presented a check for $130,000 to the Botswana Top Achievers program at a reception hosted by the Botswana delegation. The grant will be used to continue the support of Batswana youth through access to higher education so they, in turn, can help contribute to the economic development and diversification of Botswana. D.E.F has supported the Top Achievers program with over $740,000 in donations since 2011.
The reception in D.E.F’s honor was hosted by the Botswana ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Charles T. Ntwaagae, and Botswana vice-president Mokgweetsi Masisi. Mr. Masisi will become the next president of Botswana in April of 2018. Present for the reception included Botswana Ambassador to the United States, H.E. David Newman, Mrs Neo Masisi, and delegates from Botswana attending the UNGA.
“Everyone from Botswana attending this reception today in some way benefitted from diamonds. We thank the Diamond Empowerment Fund for investing in the future of our next generation of leaders” said vice president Masisi during the check presentation ceremony.
Botswana is one of the top producers of diamonds by carat weight and value in the world. It is also a shining model of the positive impact diamonds have on communities when good governance is combined with good corporate social responsibility and best business practices in the private sector. The Top Achiever program is administered through Botswana’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development.
D.E.F.’s support of Botswana’s Top Achievers and other programs in diamond communities is made possible through fundraising efforts such as the annual Diamonds Do Good Awards Gala, held in June in Las Vegas in conjunction with the JCK Show. Visit diamondempowerment.org for more information.
Industry Consolidation Rate Slows, But Store Closings Continue
Warwick, RI—Statistics from the Jewelers Board of Trade show 236 jewelry businesses closed in the third quarter of 2017. That’s significantly fewer—by 40%—than the third quarter of last year, and the third quarter in a row where closings declined, but with only 40 new businesses entering the industry in the quarter, it still shows a net decline of 196 businesses.
Don’t expect that to change anytime soon: it’s a generational issue, not a financial one. Many businesses have no next-gen family to take over, and it’s very hard to sell a jewelry store today.
First Lesbian Bridal Magazine Launched
Sydney, Australia—Dancing With Her, billed as the first bridal magazine for lesbian couples, has been launched in Australia, but also will serve American lesbian couples with a directory of LGBT-friendly wedding services here. The publication’s content otherwise will include all the typical wedding-planning must-haves.